CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou City Council unanimously awarded a North Main Street mill and fill treatment project to Soderberg Construction for $338,675 during an April 6 meeting held via the Zoom app.
The city received three bids, with the lowest being from Lane’s Construction of Presque Isle for $448,517.50, just $157.60 lower than Soderberg’s bid.
In late February, the council approved a $400,000 agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation as part of the project. Maine DOT will pay up to $200,000, or half the city’s costs for the project, which covers a stretch of road more than a mile long — beginning near the Caribou Public Library and going to the roundabout adjacent to Cary Medical Center.
The entire project will include mill and fill work in addition to the installation of underground pipes and basins beneath the road, which will help ensure future stability. The work will be similar to what was done on High Street last year.
City Manager Dennis Marker said the two lower bids are only 0.05 percent apart in price, and that the bid advertisement stated that the city council reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids in the best interest of the city.
He said Public Works director Dave Ouellette has worked with both companies in the past and they have done good work for the city. With this in mind, Marker said the city recommended awarding the bid to Soderberg Construction, because it is a local, tax-paying company and because there was “no effective difference in the bids or the anticipated services.”
After a motion to award the bid to Soderberg, Councilor Doug Morrell said he agreed with the city’s recommendation, adding that the city should have a written policy on prioritizing local businesses for future projects.
“I put bids out across the country and while the exact percentage varies, they always favor in-house by a certain percentage,” he said. “I think it’s important to take the time to set that in writing. Lane’s does a good job and they’re great folks, but that’s a tight bid.”
Council then voted in favor of awarding the bid to Soderberg Construction and also to allow the city manager to execute the necessary contract documents.
