CR 97-169 Bid Award Hopkins Plaza Storm SewerSeptember 30, 1997
Proposed Action.
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move that
Council reject bids received and table Project 97 -08 until spring
1998 as recommended by the consulting engineer.
Overview.
P K
BID AWARD
HOPKINS PLAZA /HOPKINS HOME CENTER
STORM SEWER
Council Report No. 97 -169
A bid opening concerning the Hopkins Plaza /Hopkins Home Center
storm sewer project was conducted September 18. Of the three
bids received, the low bid of $68,450.00 was approximately 400
above the engineer's estimate of $48,900.00. The City's
consultant engineer, RCM Associates, believes the major factor in
such high bids is a shortage of qualified pipe jacking
contractors and a backlog of work for those who are in business.
RCM recommends rejecting the bids and readvertising a stand -alone
project or one combined with the 6th Avenue /3rd Street North
project next spring.
Primary Issues to Consider.
• What is the impact of waiting until spring 1998?
The only risk is that a current storm sewer pipe adjacent
to Hopkins Home Center could fail over the course of the
winter and the City would need to make a difficult
emergency repair. Pipe flow capacity is not an issue.
There is the additional cost to readvertise the project.
There also is the inconvenience to the adjacent property
owners to delay any landscaping improvements they may want
to make.
• Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends Council reJect bids. Staff will return
at a future Council meeting for permission to proceed with
a recommended course of action.
Supporting Information.
• RCM Associates letter
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James Gessele
Engineering Superintendent
rieke
carroll
muller
"ociates, inc.
leers
,rtects
,d surveyors
equal opportunity
employer
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build
Carrm
10901 red circle dr.
st office box 130
f nnetonka, mn
343 -0130
(612) 935 -6901
fax (612) 935 -8814
www.rcm - assoc.com
September 23, 1997
Mr. Steven Stadler
Public Works Director
City of Hopkins
1010 First Street South
Hopkins, MN 55343
Re: Storm Sewer Improvements
Hopkins Plaza/Hopkins Home Center
Recommendation to Reject Bids
RCM File No. 10400.02
Dear Mr. Stadler:
RCM has reviewed the bids received on September 18, 1997 for the subject project. A total of
3 bids were received. The low bid is approximately 40 percent higher than the engineer's
estimate. In reviewing the bids received, we have determined that costs for pipe jacking are
considerably higher than we had anticipated, due in part to a work backlog for jacking
contractors. On this basis, RCM recommends that this project be readvertised next spring or be
combined with the 6th Avenue Storm Sewer project.
RCM also reviewed references provided by the apparent low bidder, Dave Perkins Contracting,
Inc. The communities of Edina, Maple Grove, Minnetonka and New Hope responded with
favorable recommendations. In addition, the jacking subcontractor proposed by the apparent low .
bidder is EJM Pipe Services, Inc., whose reputation in this line of work is excellent.
If you have questions or desire further information, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Moberg, P.E.
Project Manager
RIEKE CARROLL MULLER ASSOCIATES, IN
RLM/ka