Four lowest bidders on water plant demolition not licensed.
Over the past year, we have taken considerable enjoyment from the US demolition industry’s bidding system and its “race to the bottom” policy of undercutting. But even by recent standards, this story from Indiana beggars belief.
The low bidder awarded a contract on Wednesday to demolish Crown Point’s old water plant – a key component in the development of the Bo Jackson’s Legacy Athletic Center – is not licensed in Lake County. Nor is the second lowest bidder. Nor the third or the fourth.
The city’s Board of Works on Wednesday morning awarded the demolition contract to Omega Demolition Corp. of Elgin, Ill., contingent upon the company meeting all city requirements. The board stipulated that should it not meet those requirements, the second lowest bidder would be awarded the contract. City Attorney David Nicholls recommended a third be named, in case the first two did not meet qualifications.
Omega submitted a low bid of $97,400 among the 12 bidders. The second lowest was American Demolition Corp., also of Elgin, with a bid of $98,400.
The third lowest bid, from Brandenburg Industrial Service Co. of Chicago was $99,740. The fourth lowest, from Dore & Associates Contracting of Bay City, Mich., was $124,600. None of those bidders is licensed in Lake County, the Post-Tribune learned from the Lake County Plan Commission office, which issues the licenses.
The fifth lowest bidder, Austgen Equipment Inc. of Griffith, is a licensed general contractor in Lake County. Austgen bid $132,350.
Read the full story here.
