Resident asks how to bid on 20 Portland St.; staff confirms sealed bids due Feb. 4

Robert Penard, a Fortland/Portland Street property owner, appeared at the Jan. 14 Middletown Economic Development Committee meeting to say he planned to submit an offer for 20 Portland Street and to ask how the bidding process works.

“This is now out for advertisement for bids. Bids will be due February 4 at 11:00,” Director Christine Marks told the committee, adding that the full advertisement and submission instructions are posted on the city’s procurement website. Chair Vinnie Lefredo also advised Penard that committee members cannot accept bids at the meeting and that anything he wishes the committee to consider should be filed through the formal sealed-bid process.

Why it matters: The committee labeled three parcels as surplus property and placed them on the public bid list; the Feb. 4 deadline starts the formal, sealed-bid process that will be opened publicly and reviewed by the committee at its Feb. 11 meeting. Staff said bids will be opened and read aloud at a public bid-opening and the committee will later consider whether any of the offers are acceptable under the city ordinance that governs surplus property disposition.

What to expect next: Staff encouraged any prospective bidders to obtain the bid packet (posted online and available in hard copy) and to follow the submission instructions carefully; committee staff said they will provide copies of the advertisement and answer procedural questions. The committee reiterated that evaluation is not only financial — the ordinance allows nonfinancial factors to be considered when accepting or rejecting bids.