Belvidere awards $7.16 million bid for Well No. 11 after IEPA emergency funding clears path

Belvidere City Council members approved awarding the base bid plus alternate #1 for the Well No. 11 facility to LNL Builders Inc. for $7,155,000 and moved a construction‑engineering agreement with Strand Associates (not to exceed $400,000) to the council consent agenda after staff said Illinois EPA emergency contaminant funding should cover most costs.

Director Anderson presented the bid tabulation and said the apparent low bidder was deemed non‑responsive for failing to submit a price for each bid alternative and missing required documents; the council voted to reject that bid and approve LNL Builders as the responsive low bidder. Anderson told the council the city originally received $5 million in principal forgiveness and later learned from the IEPA that emergency contaminant funding was available to cover the remainder, bringing the project close to a $10 million total when engineering and additional work are included.

“This the agreement the loan offer has to be made to us and we have to sign it,” Anderson said, stressing a tight state deadline that requires council action at the special meeting to meet IEPA timelines.

Council members moved, and by roll call at the special meeting the motions to reject the non‑responsive bidder, approve the LNL Builders low bid, and forward the engineering agreement all passed with nine votes in favor.

Why it matters: The Well No. 11 project is presented as a water‑supply priority for Belvidere, and the availability of emergency contaminant funding from the IEPA reduces or eliminates the need for local borrowing, officials said. Anderson warned that some components (booster pumps and storage reservoir) may rely on future funding rounds.

What the council approved: The council rejected Premier Design and Build Group as non‑responsive for bid irregularities; approved LNL Builders for $7,155,000 (base + alternate #1); and forwarded an agreement with Strand Associates for construction engineering services not to exceed $400,000. Funding sources identified by staff were IEPA emergency contaminant grants and IEPA bypass funding; staff said the city would sign required agreements before the end of the month to secure the awards.

Next steps: The recommendations were forwarded to the special council meeting the same evening for final action and were approved by roll call. Staff will proceed with executing contracts and coordinating IEPA paperwork; Anderson said construction could proceed on a compressed schedule once agreements are finalized.

Provenance: Article based on Committee of the Whole presentation and special meeting votes (topic introduction: SEG 714; topic finish: SEG 1446).