Assembly awards South Davis Park softball equipment contract despite single bid and higher-than-estimate price

The committee approved IFB number 2579, awarding the South Davis Park softball consolidation Phase 1B base bid to Alcan Builders Inc. in the amount of $513,284. Director Corey Beal described the work: purchase and installation of scoreboards, bleachers, and batting cages at the South Davis girls softball complex.

Assemblymember Guttenberg questioned the procurement outcome: "it's about 2 thirds higher than our engineering estimates and only 1 contractor bid on it," he said, asking whether staff had any feedback from contractors about lack of competition or the higher price. Beal replied staff did not receive feedback from contractors who declined to bid and attributed the price to current market conditions: "I think it's just the market price that we're looking at with everything going up in price."

Committee members asked about timing and field use. Beal said work is scheduled to start and finish this year and suggested the fields, built the previous year, had been left to allow turf or grass to establish; he did not commit to a specific public-use date. "I thought they were going to give some time to let the grass get established before they open them up," Beal said.

The motion to award was made and seconded; the roll-call vote approved the award 6-0.

Ending: The contract award moves forward for execution; staff will proceed with contract administration and monitor schedule and any procurement debriefs if they are provided by bidders after the award.