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Council accepts lowest design proposal for Highway 50 utility crossing after questions over survey data
Summary
The city reviewed seven DOT-approved proposals to design a utility crossing at Highway 50 and Princeton Street and approved accepting the lowest proposal after councillors questioned a large price gap attributed to one firm’s existing survey data; the transcript does not record the winning firm's name in the motion.
The Vermilion City Council reviewed proposals from DOT-approved consultants on March 2 to design a utility crossing of South Dakota Highway 50 at Princeton Street and voted to accept the lowest design proposal.
Jose told the council staff solicited proposals from eight pre-approved consultants and received seven responses. Councilors asked whether construction cost estimates were included (they were not) and why one proposal was substantially lower. Councilors and staff attributed the discrepancy to one firm’s existing survey data that reduced work needed for design.
Councillor Helic asked whether the survey data was exclusive to that firm and whether the lower price included any additional survey work. Jose confirmed that McLarry (also referenced in the record as McLaren/Mclar) provided its own survey data and said McLarry’s price included only limited supplemental survey tasks and utility locates.
Council discussed qualifications versus cost; Jose emphasized that staff typically weighs qualifications alongside price and that final construction costs will depend on material prices, DOT requirements and contractor bids.
A motion to accept the lowest bid was moved by Councilor Taller and seconded by Councilor Lever and the motion carried. The public record and the council’s motion as read on the floor did not explicitly name which firm was awarded in the motion text recorded in the transcript.
Next steps: administration will finalize contract paperwork with the consultant selected by council and continue coordination on funding; staff reminded council that $575,000 in second-penny funds had been allocated earlier to cover utility-crossing costs.
