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Bisbee council rescinds DMO contract and rejects all DMO bids after timely protests; vote 6–1
Summary
Following two timely bid protests, the council voted 6–1 to rescind a previously offered DMO contract, reject all bids, and direct staff to reissue the RFP with clarifying language referencing AOT rules; Councilmember Karen Schumacher opposed the motion.
The Bisbee Mayor and Council voted 6–1 on May 19 to rescind the prior offer of a contract for Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) services, reject all submitted bids, and direct staff to immediately reissue the RFP with clarified language that it seeks DMO services under AOT rules. Mayor Ken Budge moved the action after the city received two bid protests related to the prior solicitation.
City Attorney Joseph Estes told the council the bid protest was timely and that upon review he determined the council had not actually made the award motion during the prior meeting as previously understood. "The protest was determined to be timely," Estes said, and the recommended remedy was to rescind the offer and reissue the solicitation with clearer language.
Councilmember Karen Schumacher said she had not had adequate time to review the new RFP that evening and expressed concern; she cast the lone no vote. The roll call vote recorded AYES from Councilmembers Pete Skinner, Trish Damon, Lori Reynolds, Mel Sowid, Anna Cline and Mayor Ken Budge; NAYS: Karen Schumacher.
Mayor Budge said the reissued RFP will include a couple of sentences to address the objections and directed staff to move quickly; staff also said consideration of a tourism advisory board would be postponed until procurement concluded. The motion instructs staff to clarify that the RFP seeks qualified agencies under AOT rules, including agencies that could provide services with the city as a designated DMO.
