THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2008
No-Bid Water Tower Contract Nixed
A move to award a $653,256 no bid contract to Utility Services Co. (USC) of Perry, Ga., to repaint and service Des Plaines' water tower at Howard and Chestnut streets was sent back to city planners at last Monday's City Council meeting.
Ald. Marty Moylan (2nd) objected to the contract, saying the measure needs to be put through a bid process.
City Manager Jason Bajor said he pulled the item from the Monday, May 5 agenda before it started, saying city staff needed to conduct more investigation and a formal bid process for the work.
Director of Public Works Matt Dusckett told the Journal prior to Monday's meeting that he recommended the measure to be a no bid contract award for several reasons.
Dusckett said USC is the only company that provides this kind of service, they have a purchasing agreement with the federal govern government that Des Plaines, as a municipality would be able to take advantage of and they are licensed by the by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The three year service agreement would see the water tower sandblasted down to its bare metal and completely repainted. USC would install a solar powered water mixing unit and the company would provide regular cleaning and maintenance.
The initial service contract over three years would spread payments out into three payments of $217,752. Currently the city has budgeted $600,000 for the work.
After the initial three year term the city would have the option for a longer-term service contract starting at $30,903 with incremental increases that would end in 2025 and 2026 at $49,770 to provide maintenance, an over painting project after 10 years and a complete sandblasting and repainting after 20 years.