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Bid Award - Downtown Waxhaw Cast-Iron Watermain Replacement
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Shutak, Union County Water, Engineering Director, 704-83-3651
ACTION REQUESTED:
1) Reject the non-responsible bid of GE Construction Co.; 2) award contract to Dawn Development Company, Inc. in the amount of $2,882,295.00; 3) authorize the County Manager to a) negotiate and execute an agreement with Dawn Development Company, Inc. substantially consistent with this agenda item, b) exercise any renewal or extension term options set forth in the agreement, and c) terminate the agreement if deemed in the best interest of the County, each in the County Manager’s discretion; and 4) adopt Resolution Providing Notice of Construction of the Waxhaw Cast-Iron Watermain Replacement Construction.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
January 19, 2022, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item #22-827 - Approved Transystems Corporation d/b/a SEPI, A Division of Transystems, Task Order 2021-02 for surveying services.
BACKGROUND:
The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), adopted by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), includes the Water Rehabilitation and Renewal Program’s annual allocation to assess, prioritize, and rehabilitate/replace water distribution system infrastructure. Water lines within the Town of Waxhaw are aged, cast-iron water lines in need of replacement to improve fire flow and reduce emergency repairs. This project consists of approximately 8,000 linear feet of 2-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch, and 12-inch water lines that will address the deficiencies of this aged infrastructure.
On March 31, 2025, the Procurement Department partnered with Union County Water (UCW) to issue an Invitation for Bid 2025-045 Downtown Waxhaw Cast-Iron Watermain Replacement. On April 29, 2025, two (2) bids for the title project were received. Since fewer than three (3) bids were received, the submitted bids were returned to the bidders unopened.
On May 8, 2025, the Procurement Department partnered with Union County Water to re-issue an Invitation for Bid 2025-045 (Rebid) Downtown Waxhaw Cast-Iron Watermain Replacement. On May 20, 2025, three (3) bids for the title project were received and processed. All bids were tabulated, reviewed and certified by UCW engineering staff. The bids were reviewed to confirm the lowest responsive, responsible (qualified) bidder in accordance with N.C.G.S 143-129(b) and Article 19.04 of the Instruction to Bidders. N.C.G.S 143-129(b) gives the governing body the authority to reject any proposals when in the best interest of the governing body and requires that the contract be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, taking into consideration quality, performance, and the time specified for the work. Article 19.04 of the Instruction to Bidders, which was part of the bid documents, states “In evaluating whether a Bidder is responsible, Owner will consider the qualifications of the Bidder and may consider the qualifications and experience of Subcontractors and Suppliers proposed for those portions of the Work for which the identity of Subcontractors and Suppliers must be submitted as provided in the Bidding Documents.”. UCW engineering staff’s review determined that the apparent low bidder at the time of the bid opening, GE Construction Co., with a bid amount of $2,218,341.00, did not have the requisite experience and qualifications to perform the project as they provided no experience constructing public utility system water lines; therefore, GE Construction was determined to not meet the responsibility standard for this particular project as required by N.C.G.S. § 143-129 and Article 19 of the Instructions to Bidders. Therefore, it is recommended that the Board officially reject the bid.
The remaining two (2) bids ranged from $2,882,295.00 to $4,027,471.00; staff recommends that the project be awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, Dawn Development Company, Inc., in the amount of $2,882,295.00.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding is available within the adopted account 60184130 Waxhaw Water Rehabilitation and Replacement to support the construction contract amount of $2,882,295.00.