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City to rebid trail-connection work after DNR says advertising requirements were not met
Summary
City staff told the Washington City Council that the Department of Natural Resources reviewed the trail-connection project procurement and determined the public notice did not meet the required schedule, forcing a rebid of items 7a and 7k and delaying construction possibly until Feb. 1; staff said the grant could be increased up to 25% ($62,500) on request.
City Administrator reported that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has determined the city did not meet DNR's notice requirements for a trail-connection procurement, so staff must rebid items 7a and 7k to preserve a $250,000 grant award. The council tabled the items and directed staff to rebid and return with results.
The administrator said the DNR review concluded the required advertisement (one notice a week for three consecutive weeks) was not met. “The only way you're gonna be able to do this is if you rebid,” the city administrator said, and added that DNR allows requesting up to 25% additional from the grant award — “that would be an additional $62,500,” the administrator said. Staff also reported Cochran would rebid the work at no charge.
Council members pressed staff about costs and schedule. One member noted the city previously drew reimbursement on phase 1 under similar procedures and called the finding an error; staff responded that DNR issues like this are not uncommon and recommended rebidding to keep the grant available. Staff estimated a 5–7% cost increase is possible but said exact figures will be known only when bids are returned.
Because of the rebid and the advertisement schedule, staff said the earliest likely notice to proceed would be Feb. 1. Council did not direct the city to abandon the project; instead, members voted to table the current award, put the work back out to bid and decide after new bids are received whether to proceed and whether to accept the additional DNR funding if approved.
What happens next: staff will re-advertise the project, accept returned bids, and return to council with the bids and a recommendation. Council members said they preferred to see bid totals before committing local funds or declining the grant.
