The Bremen Town Council members were planning to open bids for the new Wastewater Treatment Facility and interceptor sewer Thursday, April 11, but Ken Jones from engineering firm Jones Petrie and Rafinski suggested to the council Monday afternoon that they cancel the bid opening.
Jones explained that initial phone calls with contractors ahead of the bid opening has resulted in a snag that he has never experienced in his career.
Jones stated, “We ended up with eleven plan holders for Contract B which is the interceptor sewer improvements where we are rebuilding that portion of it, and we had seven contractors/plan holders for the Wastewater Plant. As of today [April 1], we’re hearing that we aren’t going to have any bidders submit by the deadline. They’re basically saying, ‘we don’t have enough time to commit to this submittal so we’re just not going to do it.’ This is the first time in my career this has ever happened. I’ve never seen this. This is new to me. I was shocked when I got a call from Dan and Steve this morning saying, ‘hey, we don’t think we’re getting any bidders on the Wastewater Plant.’”
The timing of the bid opening is in correlation with getting paperwork ready with the necessary information ahead of the spring closing on April 22 of the State Revolving Fund, the council’s choice as a funding source for these projects.
Jones said the good thing is that there is interest in the project as the bidders want more time to research the project and produce good, informed bids for consideration. Also, contractors are saying there is a lot of work in the market which was causing some hesitation.
With that information, Jones suggested that the council cancel Thursday’s bid opening, tentatively re-issue the notice around the first of May and tentatively open bids at the end of June. Jones said he would work to put together a schedule to share with the council.
He noted that this delay would give the town time to make the fall SRF closing.
It was clarified that it would not have any effect on the bond ordinance that the council unanimously passed on second and third reading Monday afternoon.
The council agreed to heed Jones’ recommendation and unanimously approved a motion to cancel the bids for April 11. They will open bids in a few months.
This project involves the construction of a brand new wastewater plant. The new plant will include a new maintenance building, control, chemical feed and blower building, and a sludge storage structure. The project also includes a new effluent outlet to the Yellow River, and the reconstruction of the town’s interceptor sewer through the wetland area and the manufactured home park.
