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Greer awards culvert remediation contract for Hurricane Helene damage; FEMA review expected
Summary
Council accepted a low-qualified bid recommendation and awarded a culvert remediation contract to Pipeline Damage Consultants; staff said the project will be submitted to FEMA for reimbursement review.
Greer City Council authorized staff to proceed with a culvert damage remediation contract to repair storm damage attributed to Hurricane Helene, agreeing with staff's recommendation to award to Pipeline Damage Consultants (PDC).
Public Works and engineering staff said the city received three bids after a mandatory pre-bid meeting; the engineering department recommended Pipeline Damage Consultants based on the firm's experience and the manufacturer recommendation for the specialized liner product. "PDC is very experienced in this process. They actually came highly recommended from Spartanburg County," said Nathan Jackson, assistant city engineer, describing conversations with the system manufacturer (ISCO) and PDC's experience with similar installations.
The remediation method described to council is a slip-liner installation with cellular grout to fill the void between the deteriorating metal culvert and the new liner. Staff said the project is under FEMA review and the city expects to seek reimbursement for eligible costs. When asked about FEMA reimbursement likelihood, staff said they have been coordinating with the state and FEMA liaison and that reimbursement is "highly likely." The project scope includes a 54- to 60-inch-diameter pipe beneath a private driveway adjacent to a veterinary facility; staff clarified the culvert is on city property.
The engineering memorandum and staff recommendation were presented and the council voted to receive the bid summary and award the project. Staff noted the large variance among bids and explained the recommended contractor's specialized experience and sole-source manufacturer relationship as the reason for the higher bid.
Why it matters: The remediation repairs a primary stormwater conduit beneath a driveway and addresses public safety and property impacts from Hurricane Helene. The city intends to submit the project for FEMA reimbursement under disaster recovery rules, which would offset local costs if approved.
