WASHINGTON CO. – The Washington County Commissioners are facing potential loss of a $1.8 million Community Crossing Grant and future grant eligibility after awarding a paving contract to a higher bidder over a lower, responsive bid.
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) was notified that during the Commissioner’s May 6 meeting, the board voted 2-1 to award a $1.8 million paving contract to Temple & Temple, despite C&R Construction submitting a bid that was $78,096 lower.
INDOT sent a letter on May 27, informing the board that it was in “Material Breach” of its contract regarding the bidding process. The letter, from Kathy Eaton-McKalip, INDOT Director of Local Programs, cited Indiana Code 36-1-12-4, which mandates awarding contracts to the “lowest responsible and responsive bidder” or rejecting all bids. Eaton-McKalip emphasized that ignoring statutory requirements makes the process suspect and undermines the purpose of competitive bidding, which is to protect against fraud and ensure the best work at the lowest cost.
Failure to comply with state laws could result in the suspension of grant payments and potentially lead to a ban on the county’s participation in future grants until the breaches are rectified. INDOT has requested that the board award the bid to the lowest bidder to avoid these consequences.
Commissioners Todd Ewen and Phillip Marshall voted in favor of Temple & Temple’s bid, while Commissioner Tony Cardwell voted against it. A special meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, at 9:00 AM to discuss the Community Crossings Paving Bid selection. It is currently unknown if the commissioners responded to INDOT by their initial 7-day deadline.
