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Single bid for voting machine warehouse elevator exceeded budget; county to rebid
Summary
Staff reported only one bid for a voting machine warehouse elevator addition exceeded the budget; they recommended rejecting that bid, expanding outreach and reissuing the invitation to bid to increase competition.
County purchasing and facilities staff told council that bids opened May 27 for the voting machine warehouse elevator addition produced only one bid, which exceeded the project's budget. Ms. Floyd recommended rejecting the bid and re-advertising the project with expanded outreach to contractors who attended the pre-bid conference.
"Despite having 8 contractors who attended the pre bid proposal conference, at the time of the submission deadline, the county only received 1 bid," Ms. Floyd said. She reported her office has contacted prospective bidders to learn why they did not submit formal bids and said the prevailing answer was contractors were too busy with other projects. Staff concluded the budget appears reasonable but that it is not acceptable to award a contract with a single bid.
Council members asked for clarity on the cost gap and encouraged staff outreach; one member called the outreach approach "a best practice." The council approved a motion to reject the single bid and reissue the project for advertisement, with staff and central purchasing coordinating additional outreach.
