Skagit County pauses award of Marches Point landfill remediation contract after bidders raise responsiveness concerns

Skagit County commissioners pulled the agenda item awarding the Marches Point/Whitmarsh Landfill remediation contract after contractors questioned the county's determination that several bids were nonresponsive.

Commissioner Lisa Janicki opened the discussion by noting the county had received written comments from bidders; Cameron Bell, who identified himself as representing one of the bidders, told the board his company believed it had been the “low responsive and responsible bidder” and that supplemental qualification materials were submitted within the contract timeline. Bell said his firm and colleagues — Jason Strule (estimator), Brett Barillo (company owner) and Chris Tully (general superintendent) — were present to explain why they believed the county's nonresponsive finding was incorrect.

Steve Falkquist, Deputy Prosecutor for Skagit County, told the board the county was awarding the bid but had not yet executed a construction…