Firms far and wide bid on city's storm cleanup

A two-hour bid opening in the basement of the Busch Municipal Building drew a standing room-only crowd while city purchasing officials recited the bids, which ranged from $15 million to more than $50 million.

Experienced disaster cleanup companies from as far away as Pompano Beach, Fla.; Brooklyn Park, Minn.; and Leander, Texas, traveled to Springfield to bid. The only Missouri firm to bid was from Poplar Bluff.

The city plans to award two separate contracts for removal of vegetative debris left behind by Springfield’s worst ice storm on record Jan. 12–14. Public Works was expected to award a contract for right-of-way cleanup Feb. 2, and Springfield-Greene County Parks will likely award its contract for debris removal within the parks system this week, city purchasing agent Jim Tillman said.

Tillman said his staff focused on a group of apparent low bids between $15 million to $20 million.

The bid price, however, is only one of several factors considered, said Tillman, who noted that references, equipment and work history are subject to review.

“You could be a low bidder and not be capable of doing the project,” he said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has indicated it will reimburse the city for 75 percent of the debris removal costs, said city spokeswoman Louise Whall.

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