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Fire department recommends Natchez Consulting Group for community risk assessment; low bidder not recommended
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Summary
The Finance Committee heard a recommendation to award a $44,300 community risk assessment contract to Natchez Consulting Group after rejecting the apparent low bidder over concerns about local experience; members asked that RFP selection criteria be included in packet materials going forward.
City staff told the Finance Committee on Nov. 17 that the fire department sought consultants to conduct a community risk assessment and to develop a standard-of-cover document, funded in the FY26 capital budget. "Six bids came in ranging from 21,000 to 75," the finance director said; staff recommended the award to Natchez Consulting Group from California for $44,300 and said the apparent low bidder from Charlotte was not recommended because of concerns about experience.
"The low bidder is not being recommended due to concerns about their lack of experience working with communities in the Northeast," Stephanie Kimball said. Committee members pressed staff on how proposals were evaluated; a councilor asked whether ranking was primarily by price and whether local bidders receive priority. Kimball replied that RFPs include selection criteria and that departments use multiple factors—cost, qualifications and project-specific criteria—when ranking proposals.
Members asked that selection criteria be visible in committee packets and discussed hyperlinking full RFPs for lengthy solicitations so members can review evaluation rubrics. Kimball agreed to ensure selection criteria are included in RFP back-up going forward.
No final committee vote or award was recorded in the Finance Committee meeting; the item was presented for committee review and is being forwarded per the city's procurement and capital budget processes.
