Oak Ridge council adopts ARPA allocation plan, approves $1.08M mapping software and nearly $1M generator along with several infrastructure contracts

Oak Ridge City Council voted to finalize an American Rescue Plan Act allocation plan and approved a slate of procurement actions and infrastructure contracts during its May meeting.

The ARPA plan adopted by council organizes previously discussed projects and confirms constraints staff cited: funds must be obligated by the end of the calendar year and expended by 2026. Staff said the city's ARPA allocation includes the direct federal allocation, a noncompetitive state portion and contributions from Anderson and Roane counties; many line items are now at the design or procurement stage.

Major approved procurements and contracts included:

- UtilisSuite mapping and staking software from Central Service Association (Tupelo, Mississippi) for use by the electric department, not to exceed $1,077,533.60. Staff said they evaluated multiple proposals and recommended the finalist as the lowest-cost option.

- A replacement generator for the water treatment plant from Nixon Power Services (Greenwood, Tennessee) in an amount not to exceed $991,635; staff said the purchase will be fully funded with ARPA dollars and that the unit matches the plant's expanded power needs.

- Multiple public-works contracts: a Scarborough Road resurfacing and restriping contract (Rogers Group Inc.) not to exceed $430,000; a Converse Lane storm drain replacement contract (Rogers Group) not to exceed $185,705; an Emery Valley Road storm drain replacement (Bradston Trucking) not to exceed $348,125; and a combined West Tennessee Avenue waterline and Michigan Avenue storm drain project (Bradston Trucking) not to exceed $522,245.

- A $156,400 authorization for additional CTI Engineers inspection and QA work on a reservoir rehabilitation project (increasing a prior authorization), and a $125,230 contract for a municipal building ADA ramp and stairs project.

Staff context and risks: city staff told council that several bids arrived with single bidders on select items and that some contracts included contingencies to cover unknown subsurface conditions. On the generator, staff noted the old unit was at the end of its serviceable life and that purchasing the correct-sized generator is important to meet new plant electrical demands; council was told the generator procurement came in near the expected budget.

In presenting the mapping software purchase, the staff presenter said the technology will allow field crews and engineers to carry and update maps and stake locations in the field; "We looked at 3 different proposals, and this is the one that's recommended," he said. On the generator, the public-works representative said, "This will be totally funded through ARPA." (funding source confirmed in the meeting.)

Council votes: most procurement and resolution items passed unanimously or with recorded unanimous support from the seven members present. Council discussion addressed procurement transparency, single-bidder concerns on a few projects and scheduling for notifications and construction windows.

What to watch: staff said the ARPA plan includes many urgent capital needs that will require staggered procurement and project management over the coming 12–24 months; the council expects periodic status reports as ARPA-funded projects move into construction.