WILLMAR -- Attorneys and engineers are reviewing bids after a contractor alleged there are irregularities in the low bid for constructing the city's new wastewater treatment plant.
Gridor Construction of Buffalo, the second-lowest of six bidders, is alleging irregularities in the low bid submitted by Graham Construction Services of Eagan. The allegations are stated in a summons and complaint served on the city of Willmar and filed this week in Kandiyohi County District Court.
Graham Construction Services of Eagan was the low bidder at $49,100,000. Gridor's $49,174,000 bid was right behind. Engineer's estimate was $50,500,000.
City Administrator Michael Schmit said he asked engineers and attorneys to determine if there's merit to Gridor's allegation that would warrant ignoring the Graham bid and awarding the contract to Gridor.
The engineers are with Donohue and Associates, the city's design and engineering consultants on the wastewater treatment plant and conveyance project.
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City Attorney Rich Ronning is working with an attorney appointed by League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust.
"I've told the attorneys and engineers they need to get on this and be in a position to make some recommendations to the City Council on Sept. 2,'' said Schmit. "We can't really afford to not to deal with this as fast as we can because every day that goes by, every week that goes by, every month that goes by, those costs are going to go up. So we want to get a contract awarded so these people can start ordering their materials.''
The plant and conveyance system are to begin operation in November 2010.
Gridor's complaint asks the court to temporarily restrain the city from awarding the contract to Graham. A hearing on the request is tentatively set for Wednesday.
The City Council this week delayed awarding the contract to Graham, but awarded three other contracts:
- $6,300,842 to S.R. Weidema of Maple Grove for the first portion of the 48-inch diameter southern interceptor sewer carrying municipal waste from a point near Country Inn and Suites on 28th Avenue Southeast, heading westerly to the intersection with County Road 15 and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks. The Weidema bid was the lowest of eight bids opened. Engineer's estimate was $8.7 million.
- $6,269,539 to S.R. Weidema for the second portion of the southern interceptor, along with construction of a separate forcemain carrying Jennie-O Turkey Store industrial waste, and construction of the outfall into Hawk Creek. The corridor for the second interceptor portion, along with the forcemain, picks up where the first interceptor section leaves off and goes straight west about 2¾ miles to the new plant site. Weidema was the lowest of eight bids. The bid includes an $884,092 alternate to install a PVC liner to extend the interceptor's longevity. The alternate fit within the overall budget, said Craig Holmes of Donohue. Engineer's estimate was $8.8 million.
- $1,332,481 to Voss Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Heating of Paynesville for forcemain pressure pipe between the Jennie-O Turkey Store plant on Benson Avenue, heading southwesterly through Willmar to the connection with the interceptor-forcemain corridor west of County Road 15. The Voss bid was lowest of 11 bids. Engineer's estimate was $1.7 million.
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Holmes said contractors "intend to get pipe in the ground'' this year. Work is expected to begin in the third or fourth week of September. He said contractors are responsible for restoring a Swansson Field ball diamond that will be disrupted by construction.
