District accepts Core & Main meter-supply bid pending USDA review; rejects and will rebid installation work
January 17, 2026 | Letcher County, Kentucky
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A representative of GRW told the Electric County Water and Sewer District on Jan. 15 that the district should accept a responsive meter-supply bid and reject the separate meter-installation bids because of pricing discrepancies. The board voted to accept the meter-supply award pending approval from USDA Rural Development and to reject and re-advertise the installation contract.
GRW reported two separate bid packages for the flood-recovery meter replacement: a meter-supply package and a meter-installation package. The meter-supply bid was found responsive and within the engineer’s estimates; GRW recommended awarding that contract to Core & Main pending RD approval. On the installation package, the apparent low bidder, Vanguard Building Services, submitted unit prices significantly lower than anticipated and omitted material costs on several line items; GRW reported those discrepancies and said USDA Rural Development advised rebidding that portion of the work.
"Because there were two bidders, we cannot negotiate the bid prices," GRW said, summarizing RD guidance and recommending a rebid of the installation work.
GRW said the installation rebid will be advertised in the legal notices (the Mountain Eagle) and that bids are scheduled to be opened on Feb. 2. GRW also said it expects a four- to six-week lag for meter orders and that rebidding the installation should align procurement and board scheduling.
The board moved and carried both recommendations by voice vote. GRW left bid tabs and recommendation letters with district staff; the acceptance of the Core & Main supply contract is contingent on USDA Rural Development’s formal approval. The district will proceed with the rebid for installation according to the schedule provided by GRW.
What happens next: the board approved the two motions at the meeting and will finalize the Core & Main agreement only after RD approval; the district will re-advertise the installation contract with bids opening Feb. 2.
GRW reported two separate bid packages for the flood-recovery meter replacement: a meter-supply package and a meter-installation package. The meter-supply bid was found responsive and within the engineer’s estimates; GRW recommended awarding that contract to Core & Main pending RD approval. On the installation package, the apparent low bidder, Vanguard Building Services, submitted unit prices significantly lower than anticipated and omitted material costs on several line items; GRW reported those discrepancies and said USDA Rural Development advised rebidding that portion of the work.
"Because there were two bidders, we cannot negotiate the bid prices," GRW said, summarizing RD guidance and recommending a rebid of the installation work.
GRW said the installation rebid will be advertised in the legal notices (the Mountain Eagle) and that bids are scheduled to be opened on Feb. 2. GRW also said it expects a four- to six-week lag for meter orders and that rebidding the installation should align procurement and board scheduling.
The board moved and carried both recommendations by voice vote. GRW left bid tabs and recommendation letters with district staff; the acceptance of the Core & Main supply contract is contingent on USDA Rural Development’s formal approval. The district will proceed with the rebid for installation according to the schedule provided by GRW.
What happens next: the board approved the two motions at the meeting and will finalize the Core & Main agreement only after RD approval; the district will re-advertise the installation contract with bids opening Feb. 2.
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