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Fomit City Council directs release of notice of intent to award water plant contract after $13.8M low bid
Summary
At a special April 29 meeting, the Fomit City Council voted unanimously to direct staff to release a notice of intent to award the city’s water treatment plant contract to low bidder ORE, Inc., begin a seven-day protest period, and—if uncontested—enter contract negotiations. Councilors also pressed staff on schedule risk tied to ARPA spending deadlines.
The Fomit City Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to direct city staff to release a notice of intent to award the contract for a new water treatment plant to the low bidder and, following the statutorily required seven-day protest period, to enter contract negotiations.
City Manager Chris told the council staff received two bids and, after consulting the city attorney, public works director and city engineer, found both bidders to be "responsible" under state procurement rules. "The low bid came in at 13.8 million," Chris said, adding that both bids exceeded the city engineer’s estimate and that some optional items are likely to be removed to lower total cost.
The motion—moved by Councilor Brit Salsa and seconded by Councilor Nan Crocker—instructed staff to release the notice of intent to award to ORE, Inc., begin the seven-day protest period, and, if no successful protest is filed, proceed with contract negotiations. The council voted in favor, with Councilors Spencer Irwin, Nan Crocker, Teresa Nelson, Brit Salsa and Mayor Christopher McMorren recorded as voting yes.
Chris outlined the next steps: after the protest period, staff will negotiate contract terms, hold a pre-construction meeting and set a schedule that addresses local impacts such as driveway access for Flow Community Services. He cautioned that schedule and staffing details are addressed during contract negotiations. "We will be looking at their schedule and looking at that during the contract phase and trying to ensure that we can frontload that project as much as possible," he said.
Councilors asked about the contractor’s capacity to meet the city’s timeline. Councilor Nan Crocker asked whether the low bidder had sufficient personnel to work extended hours; Chris said the city cannot pre-qualify bidders on schedule capacity during the bid evaluation phase but will press those issues in the contract phase.
Staff also emphasized the timing pressure created by American Rescue Plan Act funding that must be spent and reimbursed by the end of the calendar year. Chris said staff are working with Business Oregon and state and federal elected officials to seek flexibility and explore multiple strategies to maximize use of the ARPA award. He said the city’s internal target is to finish spending by November to allow time for reimbursement.
The city’s two bidders were identified in council remarks as ORE, Inc. (low bid) and Sladeen Contractors (other bidder). Chris said the low bid included all optional items; removing some optional work would not change which bidder was lowest.
Councilors asked staff to return to the May meeting with a letter explaining bid breakdowns and the options the city plans to omit, along with the key contract points and tentative timelines. Mayor Christopher McMorren adjourned the meeting at 7:24 p.m.
