Pocomoke City council approves emergency ordinance to accept $1.273 million grant, awards Phase 2 waterline contract

Pocomoke City’s mayor and council on Monday approved an emergency ordinance to accept a $1,273,000 federal grant administered through the Maryland Department of the Environment for the Market Street SIP water main lining Phase 2 project and awarded the Phase 2 construction contract to Mainlining America LLC.

The ordinance, passed after the council voted to designate the measure an emergency, authorizes city officials to accept the subaward and execute necessary grant documents. The council also voted to award the Phase 2 contract to Mainlining America, the low bidder and contractor on Phase 1, and to approve Amendment 3 with engineering firm GMB for construction management and related services.

The grant will be provided through the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) with federal funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to the ordinance text read into the record. The project covers SIP lining of 6-inch water main on Market Street from Eighth Street to Front (Park) Street, including cleaning, inspection, repairs or replacements as conditions require, plus service lateral work.

City staff and GMB representatives told the council they received two bids and Mainlining America’s bid came in roughly 13–18% below the engineer’s estimate. GMB’s representatives noted Mainlining America completed Phase 1 and said the firm is familiar with the work. Officials indicated a tentative start window of May or June, with an expected completion before November to avoid winter freeze conditions; GMB estimated final completion in roughly 150 days and noted substantial completion at 120 days in Phase 1.

GMB requested Amendment 3 to change the fee format for on-site inspection (RPR) to time-and-materials estimated for the 150-day contract and to add an increase for geotechnical work. The original geotechnical estimate was $7,500; the actual geotechnical fee was reported as $11,340, a difference of $3,840 that GMB asked to include in Amendment 3. The council approved the amendment by voice vote.

Council members emphasized the need to avoid delays experienced in earlier phases and to ensure residents have reliable water service. City staff said Maryland agencies must approve the bid package before a final notice-to-proceed date is set.

Votes on the emergency designation, the ordinance accepting the grant, the contract award to Mainlining America and Amendment 3 with GMB were all approved by voice vote with aye recorded and no recorded oppositions in the transcript.

Provenance: The council converted the ordinance to an emergency and discussed grant eligibility and project scope beginning in the public hearing and ordinance reading (transcript lines ~774.36–963.29 and ~874.08–963.29). GMB’s presentation and bid details appear in council discussion at ~1190.42–1325.64 and contractor award motions appear at ~1497.99–1504.71.