Council to issue $19.7M debris cleanup contract

City staff has recommended a package bid from DRC Emergency Services Inc. of Mobile, Ala., and Beck Disaster Recovery Inc. of Orlando, Fla., for debris removal, disposal and monitoring services, according to a news release.

Council will meet at 1 p.m. today to consider the bid and amend the Public Works Department 2006-07 budget for the amount of the contract. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to reimburse the city for 75 percent of the contract, and the State Emergency Management Agency will pay another 10 percent.

A two-hour bid opening in the basement of the Busch Municipal Building on Monday drew a standing-room-only crowd. Companies from as far away as Pompano Beach, Fla.; Brooklyn Park, Minn.; and Leander, Texas, traveled to Springfield to bid on the contracts.

City purchasing agent Jim Tillman said his staff is still reviewing bids for a separate contract that would cover debris removal in the Springfield-Greene County Park system. A recommendation on the lowest responsible bidder is expected next week.

Bid tabulations submitted by the debris removal contractors are available online at www.springfieldmogov.org/egov/finance/bid_center.html.

Also this afternoon, the Greene County Commission will consider awarding bids for ice storm debris removal, disposal and monitoring to DRC Emergency Services and Beck Disaster Recovery.