Providence Board of Contract and Supply opens bids, approves 22 items; two require City Council review

The Providence Board of Contract and Supply opened bids and approved 22 agenda items during its meeting on Jan. 27, 2025, at Providence City Hall. The board referred bid documents to the City Clerk’s Office and approved the packaged items on a roll-call vote that the clerk recorded as 9 ayes, 1 nay and 2 absences; items 13 and 17 require subsequent City Council approval.

The agenda’s Section B opened competitive bids on a range of projects, including municipal building work, playground upgrades and consulting services. Notable bid results announced by the clerk included two bids for a Department of Public Property mounted command septic replacement: Ricci Drain Lane Co. Inc. at $86,500 and Proseptic at $207,050.10. Pleasant View Elementary School playground improvements drew three bids: Lucerna Brothers, Inc., $936,900; Yardworks Inc., $985,000; and Narragansett Improvement Co., $1,184,719. The Providence Redevelopment Agency’s request for urban design consulting services for “Crook Point Bridal Reservation” received five bids, led by Paris Corporation at $52,300 and WSP USA Inc. at $62,930.03.

The water supply board’s lead service line replacement program attracted six bids, with Bizco Contracting Corp. listed at $4,359,900; several other bidders submitted unit-price or weighted-price proposals. For the water supply board’s inspection and rehabilitation of supplemental tunnels and aqueducts (78-inch and 102-inch sections), no bids were received; the board noted the item will be extended to Feb. 10, 2025. An open-enrollment solicitation for snow- and ice-control suppliers for the 2024–25 winter season also drew no bids and will remain on the agenda until a final decision.

Board members queried procurement staff on several items during the review. Members asked why a third-lowest bidder was recommended for award on an equipment item; the meeting record indicates the selection was based on the specific unit’s lower weight and higher performance, a factor noted as important for work at the North Burial Ground. On another item, the board was told there would be no additional storage or delivery costs and that materials would be kept in a secured facility managed for the Public Safety Department. The board also flagged what appeared to be duplicated contract letters for architectural change orders on two Public Property items (14 and 15); staff said amended letters could be submitted for correction.

The board voted to refer all opened bids to the City Clerk’s Office for administrative processing. Later in the meeting the board approved items 1 through 22 on a roll-call motion (9 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent). The clerk recorded that items 13 and 17 require City Council approval before proceeding. The meeting concluded with approval of minutes from the Jan. 13, 2025 meeting and an adjournment vote.

Votes at a glance — omnibus approval Item(s) 1–22: Approved by roll-call vote; tally recorded as 9 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent. Items 13 and 17 require City Council approval.

Clarifying details from the meeting record - Item 1 (mounted command septic replacement): 2 bids; Ricci Drain Lane Co. Inc. $86,500; Proseptic $207,050.10. - Item 2 (Pleasant View Elementary playground improvements): 3 bids; Lucerna Brothers $936,900; Yardworks Inc. $985,000; Narragansett Improvement Co. $1,184,719. - Item 3 (Crook Point Bridal Reservation urban design consulting): 5 bids; Paris Corporation $52,300; Utile Inc. $68,851; GMC Associates $74,340; HDR Engineering $196,000; WSP USA Inc. $62,930.03. - Item 4 (lead service line replacement): 6 bids; Bizco Contracting Corp. $4,359,900; other bidders submitted unit-price or weighted bids. - Item 6 (inspection/rehab of supplemental tunnel and aqueduct): no bids; extended to 02/10/2025. - Item 7 (snow/ice-control suppliers 2024–25): no bids; remains on agenda.

What the board did not decide The board did not award all contracts at the meeting; many bids were referred to the City Clerk for further review and administrative steps. Items 13 and 17 will require City Council action before any contract awards or funding authorizations proceed.

Ending Board actions and the bid documents will be processed by the City Clerk’s Office. The board’s next routine procedural matters included approval of prior minutes and adjournment of the Jan. 27 meeting.