City staff notified the Lynnwood City Council that all bids for construction of Scriber Creek Trail Phase 3 were rejected following deficiencies in submitted bid packages. Staff explained the primary issue was a new WSDOT form, required as of Nov. 15, that many bidders omitted. The city said the form requirement was new to both staff and contractors and that the omission led to the declarations of nonresponsive bids.

Public Works staff said the rejection was made in consultation with WSDOT, which provides the construction funding authorization. The city will issue a concurrent re-advertisement, with a chosen open date of Jan. 22, 2025. Staff told the council the rebid sets the schedule back only a few weeks and does not endanger the grants that fund the construction; they said there remains time to begin work before the fisheries in-water construction window that opens July 1.

Council members asked for detail on what Phase 3 includes. Staff described Phase 3 as the final planned segment that continues the trail from previously completed phases: beginning north of 200th near Spraggs Pond Mini Park, passing through undeveloped right-of-way, meandering through Scriber Lake Park and crossing near 196th and 52nd (northbound alignment). Staff confirmed the consultant contract for construction administration (KPG) was procured through a separate RFQ process and that KPG remains under contract for related administration/management services.

Staff acknowledged lessons learned and said procurement language and the city’s open procurement portal will be clarified to reduce the chance of similar omissions. Council members asked whether the city has experienced bid rejections before; staff said bid rejections have occurred previously in public works projects but rejection of all bids is less common.

Staff did not present a formal motion tonight; the council did not vote on contract award. The next procurement action will be the rebid advertisement and later award once responsive bids are received and evaluated.