Committee rejects bids for Black Warrior barge mooring after offers run about $750,000 over budget

The Public Projects Committee voted to reject all bids received June 2 for the Black Warrior barge mooring project after the bids came in far above the project budget, a committee presenter said.

Bill, a committee presenter, told members that the base bid — which sought prices for three mooring piles under the Build grant — returned results “approximately $750,000 over our budget.” The committee approved a motion to reject those bids and directed staff to re-advertise the project with a reduced scope (two piles) in hopes of receiving bids that fit the available funding.

The project is the last remaining obligation tied to the Build grant, Bill said. He told the committee that, because the base bid exceeded available funds, the city will try again with a smaller scope rather than accept the high bids.

The committee did not record a roll-call vote or a detailed tally in the transcript; the chair called for a motion and said the motion passed.

Next steps: staff will re-scope and re-advertise the mooring contract; funding and final award will depend on the results of the next round of bids and the grant requirements.