Minot council directs staff to draft local-contractor preference language after out-of-state bids win

The Minot City Council voted 4–2 on April 7 to direct city staff to draft procurement language that would give preference to local contractors for some city projects not funded by federal dollars.

The measure arose after council members raised repeated instances of local contractors losing bids to out-of-state firms. Alderman Rob Blessum said he’s heard from local builders upset that their bids were not selected and argued the city should consider a preference rule — for example, awarding to a local firm that bids within a fixed percentage of the low bid. “If we don’t start to prioritize our local contractors, in 5 to 10 years we will have no local contractors around here,” Blessum said.

Finance director Dave (last name not specified in the record) told council that the city’s procurement policy already includes tiebreaker language listing local ZIP codes for goods but that federal procurement rules bar geographic preference where federal funding participates. Dave said SRF loans and other state/federal financing can complicate preference language because those funding sources forbid geographic preference on procurements linked to federal rules.

Alderman Paul Fuller moved to direct staff to draft appropriate language; the motion was seconded and carried 4–2, with dissenting votes from Alderman Lisa Olsen and Alderman Aldrin Pittner. Council members said staff should identify limits required by federal or state finance programs and craft language that would apply only to projects wholly funded by the city or other non-federal sources.

Staff said they would review past procurement language and return with draft ordinance or procurement-policy language for council consideration.