Polk County to accept some GLO-funded bridge bids and rebid road packages; recommended award totals $2.25 million

Polk County staff recommended the county accept selected General Land Office (GLO) Community Development Block Grant awards for bridge and infrastructure work while rejecting and rebidding other road packages.

Staff presented the recommendation for GLO contract 24-065-044-E536, saying award package 1 (base and specified additive bids) and award package 2 to C and J Contractors LLC would total $2,250,980.05. The packet lists $3,768,960.50 in available GLO construction funds; staff said the recommended awards would leave roughly $1,000,517.45 in remaining grant funds.

The project manager explained why some road packages must be rebid: "...the way I structured the bid, we're gonna have to reject the road projects and rebid those because the contractor who bid the bridges did not bid the road work as well," (Staff member). He said rebidding gives the county the best chance to fund and contract all planned work and mentioned contractors who worked on prior grants are likely to rebid. The staff timeline indicated the recommendation would be advertised Thursday and bids opened Nov. 18, so commissioners could act on the results before Thanksgiving.

Commissioners praised the effort to save grant funds. One commissioner noted the approach could save approximately $350,000 of grant funds that could be redirected to other county needs.

Next steps: the court authorized GLS to reject certain road bid packages and proceed with rebidding; staff will advertise the rebid and return to commissioners with bid results and a recommendation for final award.