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Council approves procurement changes: pipeline award cut, telephony, network and analytical-testing contract amendments
Summary
The Warwick City Council approved a package of procurement and contract changes including an amendment reducing the Lincoln Avenue pipeline award to $694,380, a two-year $60,000 award for analytical water testing, a one-year telephony services award to Cox for $121,000, and a network services piggyback for $117,600.
Warwick City Council members voted on a slew of procurement items during the finance committee and full council session, approving several amendments to previously posted awards and exceptions to bid.
The committee amended the Lincoln Avenue pipeline award (PCR 71-25) down from $1,000,000 to $694,380, which the department described as the vendor bid of $587,650 plus a 20% contingency ($115,730). Eric Earls of Public Works explained the amendment and said the project replaces approximately 600 linear feet of cast-iron pipe with PVC. The amendment passed at committee and was approved by the council.
Public Works and Purchasing also presented a revised award for analytical testing of water samples: the department asked to change an originally-noted $120,000 award to a $60,000 two-year award and to name Rhode Island Analytical as the vendor for the period 06/09/2025–06/08/2027. Christie Moretti said the bidding was late and that the water division did not facilitate the bid; council members criticized the timing but approved the amendment.
IT purchases were also approved: a one-year exception-to-bid for telephony services was approved to Cox Communications for approximately $121,000 to cover the city’s desk-phone VoIP services for 07/01/2025–06/30/2026, and a piggyback to a state MPA awarded Ocean networking services at $117,600 for the same 12-month period; the IT director said the modest price increase was driven by new equipment needs rather than rate hikes.
Personnel presented an increase to the work-boot contract cap and a two-year extension after a collective-bargaining agreement raised the city’s reimbursement from $70 to $150 and increased eligible employees from 102 to 149. Personnel Director Steven Rotondo said two years’ carryover could offset near-term impact; the council asked for clear accounting and moved the item to the council with a request for further detail when needed.
Other items on the consent calendar — including vehicle tires, HVAC, street striping, Zamboni refurbishment, and multiple routine contract renewals — were approved in a single consent vote after members pulled a handful of items for question. Council members repeatedly admonished departments for late bid notifications and asked purchasing staff to improve lead times and transparency.
The council’s votes on procurement items were procedural and in line with staff recommendations; any awarded contracts and amendments will be posted to the city’s procurement portal and implemented according to the award dates stated in each item.
