Western Springs Low Bid 'Pretty Ridiculous': Official

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Western Springs is set to get the maintenance and painting of a water storage tank for a lot cheaper than expected.

Officials expressed appreciation over the windfall. But they also questioned the low bid, with one calling it "absolutely ridiculous."

The village's engineering firm, Baxter & Woodman, estimated the project to cost $1.3 million. But the low bidder came in at $850,000, a third less.

Two other bidders were within $35,000 of the estimate, while the highest bidder was $1.1 million over it.

At this week's Village Board meeting, Trustee James Tyrrell said he appreciated the low bid, but wondered how the company, Era Valdivia Contractors of Chicago, could undercut the estimate by so much.

Matt Supert, the village's municipal services director, said he did not have the answer.

"It could be that they have a lighter workload compared to some of the contractors that put in a bid, and they wanted to be aggressive to make sure they secured a contract," Supert said.

That answer did not satisfy Village Clerk James Horvath.

"Looking at these numbers in the bids, that is absolutely ridiculous in my mind. It's a half million dollars under what we thought the appropriate number would be," Horvath said. "What kind of quality control is there during the process? Who monitors that they're using the appropriate materials?"

Officials said Baxter & Woodman has worked with Era Valdivia before and considered the company a qualified bidder. And they said Baxter & Woodman is expected to supervise the project along with a company that specializes in tank maintenance work.

"(Era Valdivia's) bid had been vetted, and we checked references as we usually do," Village President Alice Gallagher said.

Horvath responded, "I understand that Baxter & Woodman has been around a long time and has an excellent reputation. I scratch my head over these numbers... This is pretty ridiculous."

Gallager said the numbers don't usually work in the village's favor, "so let's take advantage and enjoy this."

The board unanimously approved the low bid.

Representatives of Era Valdivia couldn't be reached for immediate comment.