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Idaho Falls council rejects bids for hauling and spreading of liquid biosolids
Summary
Council voted to reject two bids for hauling and spreading liquid biosolids after the apparent low bidder included several material exceptions; staff will solicit contractors on the open market to meet DEQ requirements.
Idaho Falls City Council on a unanimous vote rejected bids for haul-and-spread services for liquid biosolids and authorized staff to seek new contractors on the open market.
The council acted after Municipal Services Director Pam Alexander told members the department received two bids for the hauling and spreading of liquid biosolids, and the apparent low bidder attached multiple exceptions the department considered “substantial.” Alexander said the service is required by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and recommended rejecting the bids and pursuing more economical contractors.
“On opening both bids, the apparent low had a number of exceptions that they attached to the bid,” Alexander said. “These exceptions…were substantial enough to recommend a rejection of the bids received and go out on the open market to provide the service.”
Council discussion noted the low bidder had provided the service the previous year but added requirements this year that the city found unacceptable. One council member described the exceptions as creating “a double nightmare” because the bidder sought to restrict performance while still collecting payment under the contract.
The council moved and seconded a motion to reject the bids for IF25020 (haul and spread of liquid wastewater biosolids), to find the services can be procured more economically on the open market, and to authorize the mayor and staff to secure contractors. The city clerk recorded the vote as unanimous: Francis (yes); Freeman (yes); Dingman (yes); Larson (yes); Bradford (aye); Burtonshaw (yes); Damon (yes). The motion carried.
The city will re-solicit the work; council materials say the hauling and spreading are required to comply with the Department of Environmental Quality mandate, and staff will proceed to procure services that meet the department's terms.
No additional cost or contract terms were adopted at the meeting; council directed staff to return with contracts procured on the open market.
