Greer staff recommends award for city fuel-tank replacement after no bidders; council discusses rebid risk

City procurement staff told the Greer City Council that a March solicitation for fuel-tank repairs and dispenser replacement drew no bids, and staff recommended awarding the work to Environmental Laboratories Inc. for $109,857 based on a previously obtained estimate.

Rosalind Carchemmo (procurement) told council the solicitation was published on Feb. 23 with a March 13 deadline — a little more than the 10 days required by state procurement law — and was advertised through the city's newspaper, online procurement and the state business opportunity portal. Carchemmo said staff notified about 47 companies and followed up with those that expressed interest; none submitted a responsive bid. When contacted, several firms cited internal staffing changes, timing or lack of capacity as reasons for not submitting.

Council members asked whether the tanks posed an environmental hazard and whether the project was urgent. City staff and the project manager said the underground tanks are more than 30 years old and at end of life, but there was no immediate environmental emergency; pumps and dispensers were functioning. The project was previously budgeted this fiscal year, with $100,000 allocated. Staff said the recommended price exceeds that budgeted amount and that industry costs (including pump prices) have increased since the original estimate.

Council discussed options including rebidding for a longer solicitation period, but staff warned that delaying to rebid could produce higher prices or still yield no bidders. Staff also said the procurement used the newer OpenGov platform intended to reach more vendors. The transcript includes staff recommendation to award to Environmental Laboratories Inc., but the excerpt does not record a formal motion and vote to finalize the award.