Cheyenne council approves $867,050 contract modification for municipal building work amid bidding concerns
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Summary
Council authorized a contract modification with Plan 1 Architects to add the former senior center and municipal court second-floor work into the municipal building renovation project, prompting questions about competitive bidding, optics for local firms, and urgency tied to inflation.
The Cheyenne City Council on March 23 approved Contract Modification No. 1 with Plan 1 Architects — not to exceed $867,050 — to add the council building (the former senior center) and the municipal court second-floor renovation to the municipal building renovation project.
Public Works Director Vicky Nemechek said the three pieces are interdependent and recommended a single project manager to coordinate schedules. "This project is really one project," Nemechek said, noting that the original contract was funded with $2.5 million approved in the 2021 six-penny ballot measure but that the ballot language limits those funds to the municipal building.
Several council members, local architects and residents raised concerns about fairness and competitive bidding. Councilmember Mister Wolf and others referenced an emailed letter from a local architect arguing the additional work should be publicly bid. Purchasing Manager TJ Bartlebore said Wyoming statute 15-1-113 exempts professional services from RFP requirements, but the city's purchasing policy requires an RFP for contracts over $200,000. He said the original municipal-building design contract had come through a competitive selection process.
Council supporters of the modification argued that Plan 1's prior involvement and the project's schedule make the contract mod the most practical path forward. Proponents also warned that delaying to run a new RFP process could push work back three months or more and increase construction costs because of inflation.
Opponents emphasized optics and fairness to local firms, suggesting the city could expedite an RFP instead of approving the mod. Several members said they were uncomfortable but would vote for the modification to avoid further schedule delay.
The finance committee recommended approval; the council voted to approve the contract modification with recorded no votes from several members. The council directed staff to continue coordinating purchase and RFP timing where required and to finalize pricing and language as needed.
