Procurement report: Preparing for the Annual Re-Sanding of the Charlottesville Downtown Mall

Top photo: A map of the area on the Downtown Mall where the sand is to be applied (Credit: City of Charlottesville)

One way to keep track of local government is to periodically what services they are seeking others to provide. That generates a lot of little items that may not necessarily add up to a full story but still give a sense of a community.

For instance, bids are due in Charlottesville on May 16 for firms to conduct the annual re-sanding of the Downtown Mall brick paver system. This was installed in 2009 when bricks were replaced on the entire length of the walkway. There’s an entire article on cvillepedia on that $7.5 million project if you want a deep dive.

In the here and now, the procurement notice tells us the purpose of the annual re-sanding.

“The purpose of re-sanding the paver system is to fill in the gaps, cracks, joints, and voids to prevent shifting of the pavers,” reads the purpose statement.

The scope of work is from the Belmont Bridge entrance to an area located between the Code Building and the Omni Hotel.

“This is inclusive of all side streets that bear the mentioned surfaces to be sanded, comprising a total square footage of 181,428,” reads the scope of work section of the bid notice.

This work will be for June and the selected contractor must supply the sand as well the people who will spread it. The company will be responsible for notifying owners of outdoor cafes within 24 hours of the work so outdoor furniture can be removed.

On July 17, 2023, a water leak in a plumbing fixture on the second floor of Charlottesville City Hall broke causing a massive flood that damaged the first floor lobby. Repairs took just over a year displacing several offices.

Earlier this spring the City of Charlottesville put out a request for firms to install a leak detection system.

“The electronic water flow monitor and alarm system should detect leaks in water pipes, plumbing fixtures and water using appliances,” reads the overview. “The system should monitor water flow 24/7 and automatically send electronic notifications about water flow emergencies to a control panel and remote users.”

Bids were due on April 28 and so far there are no results and the project is listed as being in evaluation.

A request is out to get a final estimate for how expensive the damages were for the city and how much insurance paid out.

• The firm United Painting Plus of Keswick has been awarded a contract to paint portions of the interior of Charlottesville High School. They submitted the lowest bid of $33,620. (learn more)
• The City of Charlottesville and Charlottesville Area Transit is seeking a firm to supply “comprehensive janitorial services for the City’s transit and pupil transportation facilities.” Bids are due today on May 13. (learn more)
• Quotations are due on May 16 for firms to renovate the kitchen at the Fontaine Fire Station and primary goal is to enhance durability, functionality, and hygiene within the fire station’s kitchen environment, ensuring it meets the rigorous demands of a 24/7 operational facility.” The Fontaine Fire Station opened in early 2014. (learn more)
• The City of Charlottesville is seeking firms to establish a term contract for auto-body repair services for vehicles damaged during the course of their use. The city seeks one firm for light vehicles and the other for heavy and oversized vehicles. Bids are due May 19. (learn more)
• Charlottesville is also seeking a firm to remove existing floor finishes at the offices at Charlottesville High School and the main office lobby. The work will also include installing a new logo in the floor of the main office lobby. Bids are due May 22. (learn more)
• Charlottesville Area Transit is seeking a firm to provide landscaping services for its 5.93 acre facility on Avon Street Extended. Bids will be accepted through May 27, 2025 and bids will be opened in a Zoom call. (learn more)

Before you go: This particularly nerdy story was published in the May 13, 2025 edition of the Charlottesville Community Engagement newsletter. It was one of four stories and the first to be posted here to the archive site. This is an example of a story that is a by-product of research into procurement.