Public Works officials told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners they will reject all bids for a large on-site septic contract for the Camelot project and rebid after adjusting bidder qualifications, and they recommended awarding a separate fuel delivery contract and moving forward on emergency repairs to Barnes Drive.

"The high and low bidder did not meet the bidder qualifications, and the middle bidder failed to include part of the proposal," Susan Eugenis, county engineer, said when describing the Camelot solicitation. She said the low bid was more than $100,000 above the engineer's estimate and the middle bidder omitted required forms, so staff will rework and rebid the project.

On fuel procurement, staff said an RFP produced two submittals and that Wilcox & Plego scored highest on a combination of price, customer support, delivery capability and qualifications; the contract would cover gasoline and diesel deliveries to road shop tanks, the landfill and ancillary sites for a three-year term with an estimated not-to-exceed current total of $775,000, subject to fuel-price changes.

Eugenis also updated the board on emergency repairs at Barnes Drive, estimating construction costs at about $610,600 plus $10,000 for surveying and inspection. She said the county expects to pursue FEMA and Washington State Department of Emergency Management reimbursement, estimating about an 87.5% reimbursement rate (FEMA 75% with state and county splitting the balance). Staff aim to start mid-month and open the road on gravel for local traffic; final asphalt work will wait until seasonal paving resumes.

Next steps: staff will present formal procurement documents and contract language at a subsequent meeting and will proceed with the Barnes Drive contract once FEMA contract requirements are integrated; no formal roll-call vote was recorded in the workshop.