Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/105484
Sarasota News Leader January 25, 2013 Page 14 AN EXTENSION OF THE BID PERIOD FOR THE SIESTA KEY STORMWATER PROJECT NETS THREE RESPONSES, BUT EFFORTS CONTINUE TO KEEP A WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT GRANT FOR THE WORK By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor Because only one company initially bid on the Siesta Key stormwater project by the due date of Jan. 9, the Sarasota County Procurement Department extended the deadline until Jan. 23 — action that netted three bids, The Sarasota News Leader learned this week. staff to review the estimate work and determine why there was such a large discrepancy" between the bids and the estimate. "I am sure you will have questions. We don't have answers at this point, but I wanted you to be aware of current status." However, the lowest of those bids was about He added, "We will be providing a more [de$4.3 million — almost three times the $1.5 mil- tailed] report in the coming days." lion expense county staff had estimated for The bids will have to be verified in the first the construction. place before any recommendation about an The county's chief engineer, James K. Harri- award is made to the County Commission, Ted ott Jr., wrote the commissioners in an email Coyman, the county's procurement official, late in the afternoon of Jan. 23, "I have asked told the News Leader this week. The stormwater project will be constructed in the area next to a field in the Siesta Public Beach Park that has been used by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce for VIP parking during its July Fourth picnics. A Gulf & Bay Club condominium tower is at the far right. Photo by Norman Schimmel