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Audit Committee moves two fire-station replacement contracts to council; campaign-reporting issues disqualified some bidders
Summary
The Audit Committee voted Feb. 28 to forward contract recommendations for replacement construction of Fire Stations 52 and 53 to City Council; each project adds an EMS bay, apparatus bays and support spaces and carries multimillion-dollar cost estimates.
The San Antonio Audit Committee voted Feb. 28 to forward construction contract recommendations for Fire Station 52 (Council District 4) and Fire Station 53 (Council District 3) to City Council. Staff said both projects will replace temporary modular buildings with permanent stations that add an EMS bay plus additional apparatus and crew support spaces.
Luis Malthus, assistant director with Public Works, said Fire Station 52 is estimated at $9,350,000 with a 610-calendar-day construction schedule and Fire Station 53 is estimated at $9,433,000 with similar terms; site differences account for a modest price variance. Both solicitations used a competitive sealed proposal process; four vendors were evaluated for Station 52, six for Station 53, and each shortlist proceeded to interviews.
Malthus said each project carried subcontracting goals set by the city's small-business group: a 16% MWBE goal and a 4% African-American subcontracting goal. After interviews and final scoring in both procurements, the city identified prohibited campaign contributions made by bidders during a blackout period; one finalist for Station 52 was disqualified after an updated campaign finance report, and two firms were disqualified in the Station 53 process for the same reason. Staff said one finalist in each procurement remained and was recommended to move forward.
Committee members asked how subcontracting goals are set and how procurement checks campaign contributions. Malthus and procurement staff said goals are set based on vendor availability by NIGP code and noted that the city's audit and procurement offices review campaign-finance reports; in these cases the disqualifications were discovered after evaluation but before award. Committee members voiced support for the projects and recognized the need for the city's compliance checks.
The committee approved moving both contract recommendations to City Council on voice votes.
