Board rejects bids for Reets Avenue culvert replacement, plans rebid after scope clarifications

Engineering staff told the Board that the Reets Avenue culvert replacement project (a priority stormwater project near the Houghtonville boundary) was bid in November/December but received widely divergent bids. The design now includes relocation of a Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority main, which increased scope and was supplied to bidders late in the process.

Of six bids opened Dec. 8, staff judged the lowest as non‑responsive and the two next qualified bids at $698,606 and $710,204—well above the township's placeholder budget of $450,000. Staff recommended rejecting the bids, clarifying specifications (especially for the water‑main relocation) and rebidding; they estimated a reasonable construction cost may be in the mid‑$600,000 range when bidders have clarified scope. The board voted unanimously to reject all bids and rebid the project.

Speakers noted the project's safety and access importance: the culvert serves a dead‑end stretch that provides the only ingress/egress for about six homes, and the current condition shows significant scour and pipe deterioration. Staff said prior grant applications had been unsuccessful and cautioned that grant funders often prioritize projects that benefit more people; the board directed staff to explore cost‑sharing and to re‑advertise the project with clarified documents.

Outcome: motion to reject bids and rebid approved 5–0. Staff will explore outreach to neighboring authorities and potential funding sources before re‑advertising.