<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0htdns_1H3YkGQh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0htdns_1H3YkGQh00" width="640" height="480" ><figcaption>Mike Peterson/KMA News</figcaption></figure>(Shenandoah) -- Shenandoah officials are dealing with bidletting snags in the Fremont Channel Aquifer Project.Earlier this week, the Shenandoah City Council unanimously adopted the plans, specifications, form of contract and cost estimates for two wells and the well houses and site improvement work associated with the project. However, the council took no action on bids for the project on advice of Bob Veenstra, engineer with Greenwood Consulting. Veenstra says Sargent Drilling of Geneva, Nebraska's bid of $779,906 is the lowest of three for the wells, while Big Lake Construction's bid of more than $1,243,000 was the lowest of only two for the well houses."There was not a lot of interest in the well houses," said Veenstra. "People got into it pretty late, so that may have affected both the interest and a number of bidders. We know that there was at least one other bidder that picked up the project late, asked if we could delay the bidletting. It was almost too close to the bidletting to delay it, and delaying it creates all types of issues."Veenstra, however, says irregularities were detected in low bids for both projects. Though the USDA must concur with both low bids before the council's action, Veenstra says the agency is not suggesting they should be rejected immediately."So, the way it works under the USDA's procedure, like it does for another project, is the city can waive certain irregularities and technicalities," he said. "The code recognizes that bidders don't always get everything perfect sometimes--you miss a form, you don't get something filled out right. So, the city has discretion as to whether or not you waive an irregularity or technicality. If the city chooses to do so, we go back to the USDA for concurrence."With the USDA's approval, Veenstra says it's possible the city could waive the bidletting irregularities for the wells, and award Sargent Drilling the contract at its November 24. But, he adds Big Lake Construction's issues with the form of the bid bond and others may not be waived."With respect to that one, we're not really prepared to go back to say whether or not we're going to waive the irregularities or technicalities," said Veenstra. "We need to do some more dilligence to determine whether that bid, whether it's considered responsive--meaning they filled out the paperwork subject to any irregularities that they waive--and if they're responsive, that we don't have concerns for them to do the work."Veenstra expects a recommendation on the well houses bids at the council's next meeting. He says it's possible both bids would be rejected, then rebid the well houses with the raw watermain project at the council's December 8 meeting. Bids for the well houses would be returned to the council for action at its January 19 meeting. USDA grant funding is covering $1 million of the estimated $10 million project, which entails tapping into an aquifer located about 7 miles west of the community, and drilling at least two wells into the aquifer near 190th Street and 355th Avenue.</div></body>

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(Shenandoah) -- Shenandoah officials are dealing with bidletting snags in the Fremont Channel Aquifer Project. Earlier this week, the Shenandoah City Council unanimously adopted the plans, specifications, form of contract and cost estimates for two wells and the well houses and site improvement work associated with the project. However, the council took no action on bids for the project on advice of Bob Veenstra, engineer with Greenwood Consulting. Veenstra says Sargent Drilling of Geneva, Nebraska's bid of $779,906 is the lowest of three for the wells, while Big Lake Construction's bid of more than $1,243,000 was the lowest of only two for the well houses.

Fremont Channel Aquifer Project encounters bidletting issues

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(Shenandoah) -- Shenandoah officials are dealing with bidletting snags in the Fremont Channel Aquifer Project. Earlier this week, the Shenandoah City Counc

Fremont Channel Aquifer Project encounters bidletting issues

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