Danbury awards automotive battery bid to Interstate Batteries after operational review

Charles J. Volpe, the City of Danbury purchasing agent, told the Board of Awards on Feb. 11, 2026, that four bids were received for an annual unit-price solicitation for automotive batteries and that two were nonresponsive for omitting required items. He said the two responsive bids were from Parts Authority ($32,609.81) and Interstate Batteries ($32,829.12). Volpe noted the difference between the two totals was $219.31, about 0.67 percent.

Volpe said operational input from the Fire Department Apparatus Division and the Public Works Equipment Maintenance Department indicated that Interstate Batteries had demonstrated “superior reliability, fewer no-start incidents, better cold-weather performance, and strong warranty support,” factors the City considers under City Code Sec. 2-202(b) when identifying the lowest responsible bidder. Volpe also reported that Parts Authority proposed supplying the Deka battery line, which has no prior operational history in Danbury’s fleet, and that the Board had no local data on Deka’s emergency or heavy-duty performance or warranty responsiveness.

T. Nolan, superintendent of public services, moved to award the bid to Interstate Batteries as the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with Sec. 2-202(b), citing documented operational evaluations. D. Garrick, the finance director, seconded the motion and the Board carried it unanimously.

The Board’s record indicates the award was based on both price and documented operational suitability. No numerical vote tally was recorded in the minutes; the motion is noted as carried unanimously. The award covers batteries purchased on an as-required basis under the unit-price contract for various City departments.