Procurement round-up: Charlottesville to try again with Rugby Avenue shared-use path 

Sometimes a good way for me to jumpstart the week is to go through a review of the various sources I check. One of them are municipal procurement sites to learn one aspect of how policies are being implemented. 

For instance, transportation. On October 2, the City of Charlottesville put out an invitation for firms to build a shared use path on Rugby Avenue. A similar invitation was canceled earlier this year when the sole response exceeded the available budget. 

“This project consists of the installation of a paved cycling trail connecting Westwood Road with McIntire Park along Rugby Avenue, passing under the Highway 250 bypass bridge,” reads the project description. “Ancillary work items include minor storm sewer improvements.”

Bids are due on October 24. What will the result be this time around? 

The city is also seeking multiple firms to assist in the purchase of right of way for transportation and utility projects. 

“Typical projects administered by the City include right of way acquisition for the construction of sidewalks, trails, turn lanes, shoulders, additional travel lanes, adjustments to traffic signals, realignment of curves, drainage improvements, new roadway alignments and utility improvements,” reads a project description. (learn more)

• There was an in-person pre-bid conference on Tuesday for firms who want to build the hew High School Center II for Albemarle County. The request for proposals was issued on October 8 and closes on November 7. (learn more)
• Two companies submitted bids to inspect fire alarms and sprinklers in city buildings but not bid has yet been awarded. The bid from Johnson Controls totaled $40,600 and the one from Siemens Industry added up to $77,600. 
• Tuesday was also the final day for firms to submit a bid to study the cost of providing trash services in Charlottesville. I wrote a small story about that in late September. (learn more)
• Bids are due Thursday for firms to plant trees on city property and water them. This is specifically for 133 trees to be planted and the project documents call for a 100 percent survival rate. The documents also call for another 348 to be watered. (learn more)
• The city is seeking a company to provide risk management advice to the city’s risk management division. This is related to workers compensation claims above a certain threshold. Bids are due on October 29, 2024. (learn more)

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