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Salem Township holds tied bids for roadway millings; solicitor recommends verification steps
Summary
Two contractors submitted tied bids (after discounts) for milling, transportation and installation of paving materials; the board voted to hold both bids while verifying PennDOT prequalification and contractor experience.
At the July 16 meeting the Salem Township Board of Supervisors voted to hold both bids submitted by REDSTONE Excavating and HILES Excavating for milling, pick-up, transportation and in-place installation of paving materials on multiple township roadways. After application of the listed volume/staging discounts both bidders showed total bids of $102,000, creating a tie on the aggregate award for all roads.
Solicitor Falatovich advised the board that public procurement should award to the "lowest responsible bidder" and outlined three remedies: verify PennDOT prequalification; review each contractor's background and similar-job references; or divide the award by roadway (or remove the discount) which could prompt a withdrawal. "The award should go to the lowest responsible bidder. There are three things we can do," Falatovich said. The Township Engineer recommended asking both firms for lists of similar jobs; supervisors voted unanimously to hold the bids while that information is checked.
