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Board awards combined contract for Fire Stations 5 and 10 after extended debate over missing generators
Summary
After extensive questioning about an apparent omission of emergency generators from the low bid, the Coweta County Board awarded the combined contract for Fire Stations 5 (Senoia) and 10 to Place Services Inc., citing overall cost savings and contract remedies if the contractor fails to perform.
The Coweta County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 17 to award a combined contract for construction of Fire Stations 5 (Senoia) and 10 to Place Services Inc., the low bidder, after protracted discussion about bid completeness and timing constraints related to grant obligations.
Joe Gardner, the architect of record, told the board that the firm submitted the low combined bid but staff later identified a likely omission: the two emergency generators shown in the project drawings did not appear clearly in the bid breakdown. Gardner estimated the value of the two generators at about $125,000 each and said staff did not find a written note excluding them from the bid package. Place Services verbally acknowledged the issue and indicated they would accept responsibility, but staff had not obtained written confirmation before the meeting.
Commissioners debated options including rejecting a possibly nonresponsive bid, moving to the next bidder (with a large premium), or awarding the contract and holding the contractor to the RFP requirements. County staff noted bid‑bond and contractual remedies exist if a contractor fails to perform, but also warned bond claims can be protracted and unreliable as full remedies. Board members stressed the time pressure to obligate ARPA/grant funds, noting limited meeting opportunities before funding deadlines.
After questions about references, generator fuel types and exposure risks, a motion to accept the low bid and proceed with contract execution passed by voice vote. Staff said the contract would obligate the successful bidder to provide generators and other scoped items; if the contractor refuses to sign or perform, the county can pursue other bidders or bonding remedies.
The board also noted economies of scale from awarding a combined contract (staff estimated roughly $183,000 in savings in one analysis and later referenced larger combined‑bid savings versus separate awards). The county will move forward with executing the contract and completing required preconstruction steps, subject to standard negotiation and contract review.
