9/1/2010
Idaho 21 bridges to be repaired starting in mid-September
BOISE - Ten bridge decks along Idaho 21 are scheduled to be repaired and preserved starting Sept. 13 in a unique highway contract - one that has the potential to save the Idaho taxpayers and the Idaho Transportation Department significant money and time while making the bidding process more efficient.
The bridges include the Boise River Bridge at Diversion Dam and one at Chapman Creek. The rest are along Mores Creek. Under this "Fixed Price/Best Value" contracting method, construction is likely to finish before winter arrives - just in time for the traveling public to benefit from the new riding surface on the usually snowy Idaho 21 route.
In contrast to the department's typical method of selecting the lowest qualified bidder for each project, contractors were asked on this project to bid the maximum amount of bridge deck rehabilitation they could accomplish within a fixed budget. The contract was then awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, defined as the bidder providing the lowest price per square yard of deck rehab. Each bidder also was asked to tell ITD how long it would take to do the work.
If it proves to be successful, ITD could then use the technique on other projects. Although it would primarily be used to save time and/or money on highway projects, it could potentially be used for other applications, such as purchasing contracts and the like.
Truesdell Corp. of Tempe, Arizona, was awarded the contract, based on the ability to do all 10 bridges - 10,435.5 square yards of bridge decks - for the $700,000 price tag.