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Council questions low bids and good-faith efforts as city renews contracts and extensions
Summary
Council members pressed staff about low-bid awards, contract amendments and minority participation goals on multiple consent items; staff explained tracking of change orders and use of good-faith-effort (GFE) waivers where prime contractors did not meet participation targets.
Charlotte City Council debated multiple consent-agenda items Jan. 13 that drew sustained questioning from Councilwoman La Juana Mayfield about bid accuracy, contract amendments and minority-business participation.
Mayfield asked staff to explain circumstances in which a low responsive bid later required contract amendments and whether the city tracks how amendment costs compare with the next-lowest bid. Marie (staff), General Services and procurement staff told council that between 2018 and 2024 the city completed 78 projects with a 3.3% change-order rate reported for that sample and that change orders typically reflect unforeseen site conditions such as rock or other necessary extra work rather than price gaming.
Mayfield highlighted several…
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