Danbury Board of Awards unanimously extends contracts, amends POs and approves NextGen maintenance

The Danbury City Board of Awards on Jan. 15 approved a series of contract renewals, purchase‑order amendments and a sole‑source maintenance agreement for the city’s 911 dispatch software, with all measures passing unanimously.

Chip Volk, the city purchasing agent who chaired the meeting, said the board had the option to renew previously awarded lobbying contracts with the Capitol Hill Group and Sullivan and Le Chaney for another year and requested a motion to extend both firms under the existing terms. A board member moved to renew the contracts; the motion was seconded and the board moved on after no discussion was raised.

The board also approved an extension for the paving contract for ADA sidewalk ramps previously awarded to Reliable Excavating Company. Volk said Reliable’s president, Angelo Grama Sr., agreed to hold current bid pricing for an additional year because the original contract expires in March 2025; a motion to extend the contract passed unanimously.

On a separate procurement, the board approved an amendment to a purchase order for tires and related services for the public works department. Volk said the city had an existing PO to Bernardinelli Tire Company under the Connecticut state contract with a not‑to‑exceed amount of $15,000; equipment maintenance requested an additional $15,000. The amendment was moved, seconded and approved without objection.

David Day, superintendent of public utilities, moved to amend an existing on‑call award to Tate and Howard for emergency design work at the Marjorie Pumping Station by $32,000 to cover additional tasks. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

The board approved additional engineering services for the Downtown Danbury transit‑oriented development (TOD) streetscape Renaissance project from Martinez Couch and Associates (MCA). Volk summarized that MCA’s original on‑call award (February 2019) was $296,000 with a remaining balance of $74,150 and that MCA submitted a Jan. 9, 2025 proposal for phase‑2 services (bid assistance, construction administration and project closeout) for $116,016 under the city’s on‑call contract. A motion to accept the proposal and fund it from the referenced project account was seconded and approved unanimously.

Finally, the board approved a sole‑source purchase order to NextGen Public Safety for annual maintenance and support of the city’s 911 dispatch software, in the amount of $23,995.30. Volk said the technology director included a sole‑source certification stating NextGen is the proprietary developer; board members noted a 3% prepayment discount if the city pays by March. The sole‑source award covers the term beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Votes at a glance

- Lobbying services (Capitol Hill Group; Sullivan and Le Chaney): motion to extend under existing terms; outcome — motion moved and no objection recorded. - ADA sidewalk ramps (Reliable Excavating Company): motion to extend contract through March 2026; outcome — approved unanimously. - Tires and related services (Bernardinelli Tire Company): PO amendment +$15,000; outcome — approved unanimously. - Marjorie Pumping Station (Tate and Howard): PO amendment +$32,000; outcome — approved unanimously. - Downtown TOD streetscape (Martinez Couch & Associates): additional phase‑2 engineering services $116,016 under on‑call contract; outcome — approved unanimously (account SNA3D2720-3041-7000-058601 referenced). - NextGen Public Safety: sole‑source maintenance $23,995.30 for 7/1/2025–6/30/2026 (3% prepayment discount noted); outcome — approved unanimously.

The board adjourned following the votes. No public testimony or contested debate on any item was recorded during the meeting.