Idaho Falls Council OKs contract for biosolids hauling with Iron Horse/Marsh contractor

The Idaho Falls City Council on July 10 approved a negotiated service contract to haul and spread the city's biosolids through the end of the calendar year.

Public Works Director Chris Frederickson told the council staff negotiated terms on the open market after rejecting all original bids for project IF-25-20. "Staff subsequently sought and received approval to negotiate service terms on the open market," Frederickson said, adding the city reached an agreement with an established provider the city has used in prior years.

Frederickson told council the negotiated rate is $1.95 per thousand-gallon-mile and the contract total is $243,750. Work is scheduled to continue "through the end of the year till the ground freezes, whichever comes first," he said.

Councilor Kirk Larson moved approval of the contract naming the vendor; the motion authorized the mayor and city clerk to execute the necessary documents. The city clerk recorded votes in favor by Councilors Francis, Freeman, Dingman, Larson, Bradford and the council president; the motion carried.

The contract follows an earlier council decision to reject submitted bids for the original procurement and move to negotiate directly with a market vendor, Frederickson said. Council members asked procedural and measurement questions about the per-thousand-gallon-mile unit and whether the contract included a not-to-exceed total; Frederickson confirmed the pricing is established per unit and the total depends on actual hauling performed.

The contract amount is consistent with prior years' costs, the director said. The contract will remain in effect until either the ground freezes or the calendar year ends, whichever occurs first.

The record shows no objections from the public at the meeting and no amendments to the motion by council members.