Board authorizes award of aluminum sulfate contract to lowest qualified bidder

The Board of Sanitary Commissioners opened bids July 23 for annual aluminum sulfate supply and authorized the district administrator, with legal counsel, to award the contract to the lowest qualified bidder, which appeared to be Chemtrade.

Jason Ingram, water pollution control superintendent, told the board that the district uses aluminum sulfate to remove phosphorus under its state and federal permit obligations: "we are to remove phosphorus from our wastewater before going to the receiving stream. So aluminum sulfate is what we use to do that." Ingram conducted the bid opening and reported no bid from PENCO and no bid from Brenntag; Chemtrade submitted the apparent low bid and USALCO submitted a higher estimate.

After the opening Ingram recommended authorizing the administrator to award to the lowest qualified bidder, with counsel review; Commissioner David seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

District staff will confirm bidder qualifications and award the contract to the lowest qualified bidder. The contract authorization in this meeting delegates award authority to staff and legal counsel rather than approving a specific vendor contract at the board level.