Procurement round-up: Charlottesville seeking firms to update stormwater management code

The work of any organization involves a lot of steps and a major one is procurement. In Virginia, local governments must be transparent as they seek companies to provide goods and services. Taking a glimpse can provide insights into progress being made toward various goals.

Charlottesville’s relatively new Development Code is intended to create more housing in the city’s 10.27 square miles. That is to be achieved through increased development rights for property owners as well as a new look at environmental policies.

With the exception of parcels in the Neighborhood Core Residential district, all residentially-zoned properties can have at least three units but currently stormwater regulations present challenges.

“One of the more significant barriers appears to be meeting stormwater management requirements when developing smaller infill sites utilizing the City’s criteria that are more stringent than the State requirements,” reads the overview in an invitation for bids for firms to rewrite the city’s environmental rules.

“The City’s threshold for water quantity is 6,000 square feet of land disturbance, while the State threshold is 10,000 square feet,” the invitation continues. “Similarly, the City’s threshold for water quality is 6,000 square feet of land disturbance, while the State threshold is one acre.”

The Charlottesville Planning Commission discussed the parameters at their meeting on May 12 and a story is forthcoming.

The city has also awarded a contract for a major infrastructure replacement project.

Miller Pipeline of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been awarded a contract to proceed with the first phase of a gas main replacement. The first project is for work between Chancellor Street and University Avenue. Miller Pipeline submitted the only bid of $3,069,470.14.

I wrote a story about this back in early April if you want more information about the overall project which will eventually get to West Main Street. (learn more)

The firm GFL of Virginia of Chesapeake has been awarded a contract for citywide curbside refuse services. They appear to have been the only bidder and no dollar amount is given under the “results” tab.

Responses were due on March 6 but the notice of the award was not given until May 18. (learn more)

The city has considered changes to the curbside and hired a consultant to provide recommendations. Early last year, Council pushed back on a plan to replace the trash stickers with a monthly trash fee as I reported at the time.

The city is also reevaluating bids for firms to provide pool chemicals.

On April 16, Berry and Company of Virginia of Newport News was awarded a contract for this purpose having submitted the lowest of two bids. However, the award was rescinded.

“Pricing schedule didn’t sufficiently define the packaging unit, creating ambiguity that affected bid,” reads the procurement site.

The project was put out to bid and three firms submitted proposals. An award has not yet been made but National Pools of Roanoke sent in the lowest one.

• Bids were due Tuesday to supply the city with materials for a waterline replacement project including hydrants and a water valve box. The project has the title “Mountain View” but the scope of work does not specify what that is. That’s the name of an elementary school in Albemarle. Three firms bid and the lowest of $69584 came from from Fortiline of Charlottesville. (learn more)
• The Charlottesville Police Department is seeking bids from firms to provide new firearms and accessories as well as handle the sale or trade-in of existing weapons. Bids are due on June 1. (learn more)
• Bids are due on June 8 for firms who seek to renovate the restrooms at the Virginia Department of Health building located at 1138 Rose Hill Drive. (learn more)
• Firms that want to provide surveying services for the City of Charlottesville have until June 9 to submit a bid. (learn more)
• The City of Charlottesville seeks a firm to demolish a 15-foot long retaining wall on 1st Street North and replace it with a new one as well as landscaping and an urban street zone. Bids are due on June 26. (learn more)
• DMA Floors of Richmond have won an award to replace flooring at Sunrise Elementary and Summit Elementary. They submitted the low bid of $70,729.41. The other company bid $70,983.
• The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority is seeking firms to provide “lake management services” which means to manage algae growth in the five reservoirs used for drinking water. Bids are due on June 9. (learn more)
• The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority is also seeking bids for contractors to work on the rehabilitation of the sediment basin for the Ivy Solid Waste & Recycling Center. Bids are due on June 25. Learn more on their website.

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