Danbury City Board of Awards approves nine purchase orders, many with ARPA funding

The Danbury City Board of Awards met Sept. 4, 2024, and approved nine purchase orders and contract awards for city departments, including ARPA-funded projects for parks, utilities and technology services. Purchasing agent Chip Volpe opened the session at 10:02 a.m. and walked the board through each requisition before the votes.

The most notable awards included a sealed bid for a dump body, plow and combination spreader to Equipment Specialist (base bid $104,194.72) with approved options bringing the award to $110,844.72 pending funding allocation. "We received a single responsive bid and propose awarding with the specified options pending allocation of funds," Chip Volpe said. Tim Nolan moved the award and David Garrick seconded; after the roll call the chair declared the motion carried unanimously.

The board also approved a $151,162 purchase of a Peterbilt cabin chassis from the Peterbilt Store of Southern Connecticut. The highway department submitted a sole-source justification explaining that the Peterbilt chassis aligns with the department's standardized fleet for maintenance efficiencies and that the dealer is the only authorized Peterbilt dealer in the territory. The purchase was funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, and the award was approved pending third‑party vendor review.

Other awards included a $23,500 purchase of 50 catch-basin tops with grates from Connecticut Precast under the State of Connecticut contract (the state award period listed in the requisition runs 08/17/2024–08/16/2027), replacement control-valve parts for the Westcon Pump Station from Metro Valve Actuation ($15,660.65), and a $49,530.48 purchase of 28 Burke picnic tables from Childscapes for various park locations. Sean Hanley, who presented the emergency light battery item, explained why the higher bidder met specifications: "The lower bidder did not meet spec; the unit and layout differences would have required more work," and the board awarded the batteries to F & M.

On technology and finance items, the board approved two ARPA‑related awards: a billing-system integration support contract to Rayburn Utility Solutions (approximately $16,005.75 as presented) and payroll and financial systems integration services to Creative Financial Staffing (CFS). For the CFS award, board members noted alternative proposals with lower hourly rates were reviewed, but a memo from Frank Gentile recommended CFS as the most qualified candidate for the project; the ARPA-funded portion remains subject to ARPA consultant approval. "The resource offered by CFS understands the project and will be able to finish the work," a board member stated during the discussion.

All items on the agenda were moved, seconded and — as announced by the chair — carried unanimously. The board completed the agenda and adjourned the meeting.

The approvals include multiple sole‑source certifications and purchases made under state cooperative contracts, and several items are explicitly ARPA‑funded. Next steps noted in the meeting record include processing purchase orders, completing any required third‑party vendor reviews, and setting up a separate ARPA purchase order where applicable.