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DeKalb committee approves $75.8 million 'find-and-fix' sewer contract after procurement questions
Summary
DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee voted to award a multi-year, unit-price consent-decree sewer assessment and rehabilitation contract to SAK Construction Inc. and Vortex Services LLC totaling $75,826,623 after staff outlined the bid evaluation and commissioners requested a further procurement briefing.
The DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee voted to award a multi-year consent-decree “find-and-fix” sanitary sewer assessment and rehabilitation contract to SAK Construction Incorporated and Vortex Services LLC for a combined amount not to exceed $75,826,623.
The contract, described by staff as a unit-price agreement, covers sanitary-sewer assessments using closed-circuit television (CCTV), integrated sonar-and-camera inspection techniques and rehabilitation work on pipe including 24-inch diameter lines. Committee Chair Commissioner Robert Patrick opened the item and said staff had planned a procurement-process briefing that was postponed because key procurement staff were unavailable.
The item drew extended questions from commissioners about how bids were evaluated. Commissioner Shakira Johnson said the committee needed clarity on bid handling: “we have to accept what was submitted at the time of the bid and not fairly give 1 opportunity to make an adjustment without allowing all to make an adjustment.” Commissioner Johnson also asked staff for documentation showing how the county totalized multiple line items to determine the lowest responsible bidders.
Commissioner Terry pressed about the procurement timeline and whether the solicitation and evaluation were recent. “I had not realized that this original contract was actually put out for bid in 2023,” Terry said, asking staff to confirm why the contract resurfaced in 2024 and whether funding availability delayed award.
Reginald Wells, of the Department of Watershed Management, told the committee that staff had provided additional documentation after the prior meeting and that the department was prepared to answer questions: “I’m here to serve. If there’s any questions or anything we need to discuss openly, I’m here.” Wells and other staff explained that unit-price awards can produce different lowest-price outcomes depending on the mix of line items required for a given work order (for example CCTV inspection, traffic control, erosion control and restoration). Wells said the county evaluates the combined set of line items and the expected work-order mix when identifying the lowest, responsible bidders.
Commissioners asked procurement and watershed staff to prepare a clearer line-item totalization and an operational example (a sample work order) showing how unit prices would be applied to typical projects. Patrick said the committee intends to hold a procurement-process review at a future meeting when procurement staff are available to present.
Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the item and Commissioner Patrick seconded. The motion carried unanimously in committee.
The award will proceed to the Board of Commissioners for final action. Staff said they will return with the requested procurement briefing and with clearer documentation showing how the evaluation produced the recommended awards.
