Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement Rescind Ems Project topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislature rescinds 2003 procurement resolution to broaden bidders for sheriff’s EMS facility project
Summary
Montgomery County legislators voted to rescind a 2003 resolution that restricted bidding preferences, clearing the way for nonunion and local contractors to bid on a sheriff-led EMS home and garage construction funded largely by a $1,575,000 grant.
Montgomery County legislators voted to rescind Resolution 175 of 02/2003 on an add-on measure Monday, a move county leaders said was needed to allow wider bidding for a sheriff-led EMS home and garage construction project funded primarily by a federal grant.
The change matters because the county received a $1,575,000 grant from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for the project, the sheriff told the legislature. "The equipment has been spent. That part of the project was about $600,000 for ambulances, equipped ambulances, and fly cars. And now we're into the construction phase," he said, adding that about $900,000 remained for construction.
The sheriff and sponsors said rescinding the 2003 resolution does not prohibit awarding a contract to a union company but would remove a requirement that, in practice, had limited competition and sometimes increased costs. "By resending this resolution does not mean that we could not award a bid to a union company. But it does mean that we're not mandated to and it opens up many of our local contractors and companies who have... already communicated with us about construction of this project," the sheriff said.
Nut graf: County officials said the action is intended to increase competition among bidders so local, smaller contractors can participate in the construction phase of an EMS home and attached garage tied to the grant; the rescission was presented as temporary administrative relief to meet project bid timelines while a longer-term procurement review is considered.
The sheriff told the legislature the vendor procurement timeline is tight: the architect planned to advertise the construction bid with USDA approval on Monday, March 10, and county leaders said they wanted to meet that schedule to complete the project in winter 2025–26.
Legislator discussion referenced the age and dollar figures in the 2003 law and said the county may draft an updated procurement measure later. Chair Papp introduced the add-on resolution and the item proceeded to a voice vote. When the chair called for "all in favor?" the session response was recorded as "Aye" and the presiding officer announced the measure passed.
Ending: County officials said the procurement rules would be reviewed and that rescinding the 2003 resolution was intended to allow the sheriff's office to solicit bids without the earlier preference language in place. No contract award was made at the meeting; the sheriff said the construction phase bidding was the next step.
