Bids on stream debris removal could be awarded today

Clark County

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March 20, 2012

Bids on stream debris removal could be awarded today

Clarksville company wins contract bid on regular debris removal

By BRADEN LAMMERS Braden.Lammers@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Tue Mar 20, 2012, 12:08 AM EDT

JEFFERSONVILLE — Before another substantial rain falls in Southern Indiana, the Clark County Commissioners are hoping to have a contract in place to clear the area’s streams.

At a recessed meeting held Monday evening, the commissioners opened bids to remove debris that has clogged nearly six miles of the area waterways. Commissioners attorney Greg Fifer explained that the National Resources Conservation Services has a program that will provide a 75 percent to 25 percent match for cleanup of debris removal from waterways. The waterways affected by the March 2 tornadoes are Miller Fork in Henryville, a section of Silver Creek that runs along Henryville-Otisco Road and a section of Fourteenmile Creek, east of Marysville.

Bids opened to clean the waterways were divided into four sections and contractors could bid per section, or on all of the work. The bids were taken under advisement by the commissioners and are expected to be awarded at 10:15 a.m. today, March 20.

CONTRACT AWARDED FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL

In addition to opening bids, the commissioners reawarded the contracts for debris removal approved at their regular meeting Thursday.

Fifer said there was confusion in the original request-for-proposal that was submitted, as some contractors believed they were asked to include tipping fees in their bids and others were not. He explained in the original proposal a provision said the county would cover tipping fees. However, in order for the county to collect a better reimbursement, a revised proposal asked the contractor providing an all-inclusive price, but not all did.

“At that point, we were not comparing apples to apples,” Fifer said.

The eight companies that were originally considered — out of 13 that submitted contracts — were allowed to resubmit a revised price proposal. With the updated price proposal, the total score ranking the contractors changed the top bidder to Clarksville-based Dan Cristiani Excavating Co. Inc. with two companies, North Carolina-based Byrd Brothers Inc. and Tennessee-based Phillips and Jordan Inc. tied for second.

Byrd Brothers Inc., who was previously awarded a partial contract, was no longer a winning bidder.

Cristianai’s total bid price came in at $15.1 million, according to the price schedule provided to the county.

The commissioners also approved a notice to proceed with Tidal Basin Government Consulting, a Washington, D.C.-based disaster program management firm, while a long-term contract is determined. The company had been working for the county to monitor and assist in grant writing services, but their temporary contract expired.