Danbury Board of Award approves series of vendor contracts, ratifies propane price for school buses

The Danbury City Board of Award met June 4 and unanimously approved a series of vendor contracts, renewals and a high-priority change order affecting the city’s utilities and school systems.

Purchasing agent Chip Bolter opened the meeting and said, “We have 13 items on the agenda,” then walked the board through each requisition and the staff recommendations. Most motions were moved and seconded by board members and carried without dissent.

The board approved a change order request from the public utilities department to increase an original contract for the Marjorie water treatment plant emergency control system by $71,353 to cover a control panel build, conduit, control wiring, fiber-optic communications and installation. A committee member noted that “Elm’s already involved in the Marjorie water treatment plant” and that having the existing contractor complete the panel work would simplify communication between adjacent facilities; the amendment was approved unanimously.

The board also authorized the purchase of medical equipment and supplies for the Danbury Career Academy from McKesson Medical & Surgical Government Solutions under state contract 24PSX0106 for $184,428.27. Bolter said the city expects roughly 8 percent reimbursement on eligible items; the purchase is intended to support the academy’s sports health and medical pathway.

Other actions included one-year renewals and sole-source and on-call contract awards: a one-year renewal of the Lake Kenosha Commission advisor contract at $45 per hour; a not-to-exceed $25,000 award to BMP Construction for ceiling grid and tile replacement at the Fire Department headquarters; a one-year renewal with United Alarm for alarm monitoring and monitoring services; multiple HVAC repairs and boiler replacements awarded to McKinney Mechanical; an on-call award to Tatum Howard for an estimated $24,500 NPDES infiltration and inflow removal plan; a safety and training services contract to TRC Engineers not to exceed $29,750; and on-call vehicle upfitting estimated at $19,655.10 for a Public Utilities Ford F-150.

The board approved a sole-source purchase of an EconaLite traffic signal controller cabinet and related equipment for $19,584.23, with staff’s justification that the device is the city standard and the manufacturer sells directly to governments in Connecticut. The board also accepted a technical services recommendation to award a website development contract to Catalyst Inc., with a first-year cost of $17,500 and annual maintenance of $7,500, contingent upon execution of a services contract.

Finally, the board ratified action to lock in propane auto-gas pricing for the Danbury Board of Education bus fleet at $1.38 per gallon for the contract year beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; Bolter said the vendor had been informed of the city’s target and had been able to lock that price.

Votes at a glance

- Lake Kenosha advisor (Edward Sergi) — renewal at $45/hr through 06/30/2026; motion carried unanimously. - BMP Construction — ceiling grid/tiles, Fire Department — not to exceed $25,000; approved unanimously. - United Alarm — alarm monitoring services — 1-year renewal; approved unanimously. - McKinney Mechanical — Rogers Park School boiler sections — $15,338; approved unanimously. - McKinney Mechanical — City Hall steam boiler sections — $54,252; approved unanimously. - Precision Brake Works — vehicle upfit (Ford F-150) — $19,655.10; approved unanimously. - Tatum Howard — NPDES infiltration/I&I removal plan — $24,500; approved unanimously. - TRC Engineers — safety program & training — not to exceed $29,750; approved unanimously. - Elm/ADLM — contract amendment for Marjorie water treatment plant control system — additional $71,353; approved unanimously. - EconaLite — sole-source traffic controller cabinet — $19,584.23; approved unanimously. - McKesson Medical & Surgical — medical equipment for Danbury Career Academy — $184,428.27; approved unanimously. - Catalyst Inc. — website development (economic development) — first year $17,500, maintenance $7,500/year; approved contingent on contract execution. - Propane auto-gas — Danbury Board of Education bus fleet — ratified at $1.38/gal for 7/1/2025–6/30/2026; approved unanimously.

What’s next

Staff will finalize contracts and execute purchase orders or contract amendments as appropriate. Several awards were contingent on completing or executing standard city contracts; the change order for the Marjorie water treatment plant will proceed once contract paperwork is executed.