Council committees review low bids for pavement marking and reservicing projects and debate alternate‑bid handling

Councilors in the Transportation, Connectivity & Stormwater Committee reviewed multiple pavement projects on April 28 and discussed procurement processes for base and alternate bids.

For the 2026 paving marking project (2026‑R11), staff reported Aeromark Company LLC submitted the lowest base bid: $210,606.73, with an alternate totaling $13,592.30; using a 10% contingency yields a requested administrative total of $246,618.93. Committee members commended the strong bids and asked whether the city’s digital bidding platform could or should factor alternates into the award criteria if alternates fall within a close percentage of the base bid. City staff said current practice awards on the base bid and then adds alternates as selected; council asked administration to explore whether the platform can be configured to consider alternates or set a rule for combined evaluation.

The committee also reviewed 2026‑R12 (2026 reservicing project), where Barber KISS Construction Co., Inc. submitted the lowest bid well under the engineer’s estimate; the total, including alternates and a requested 5% contingency reduction, was discussed. Councilor comments urged staff to examine the spread between base and alternate bids and the defensibility of any rule change.

Members praised staff for strong bidding outcomes and asked Public Works/Engineering to provide a written recommendation on whether and how alternates should be incorporated into award criteria for future procurements.