Laramie council approves up to $599,302 chip-seal contract after public concerns about low bid

Vice Mayor Richardson moved that the Laramie City Council approve the award of bid and contract with a bidder listed in the record as "a 1 Chip Seal Company" for the Chip Seal Fiscal '27 project for a base amount of $590,302.20, plus a $9,000 contingency, for a total not to exceed $599,302.20; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call 7 yes, 0 no, 2 absent.

Director Smith, who presented the item, said the city received six responsible bids and that the selected bidder's pricing and mobilization approach allowed staff to increase project scope within the city's $600,000 budget. "What this project really does is it extends the life of our roads and protects our investment," Director Smith said, adding the work will cover roughly 1,400,000 square feet of chip seal and is planned for completion by Aug. 22. Smith described vetting steps staff takes after bid opening, including reference checks and contract provisions to hold contractors to performance requirements.

During public comment, Brett Glass urged caution, saying the winning bid was roughly 30% lower than competitors and asking the council to inspect prior work before awarding similar projects. "Last year, we took a lowball bid for a chip sealing...and as can be evidenced by some streets like the result on Sheridan Street, the work was not performed adequately," Glass said. He also alleged staff expanded the project scope by nearly 25% after a low bid and questioned whether that required rebidding under state rules. The council discussed procurement safeguards and the statutory process staff follows before holding the vote.