Area 51 Awarded Contract For Gloucester Twp. Hockey Rink Upgrades

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A little more than a month after its initial bid was rejected, Area 51 Lawncare and Landscaping has been awarded the bid for the rehabilitation of the Lakeland Park Street Hockey Rinks.

Gloucester Township Council approved the resolution awarding the $93,039.05 contract during Monday night’s meeting at the municipal building.

In December, Area 51 submitted the low bid for the project, but it was rejected because it didn’t provide several necessary documents. Those documents have now been provided, according to a letter from The Pettit Group to the township administrator included in Monday night's agenda packet.

The bids submitted in December represented the second round of bids submitted for the project. Under state law, the township was permitted to enter into negotiations with the bidders. The specifications had to remain the same as previously submitted.

There was a difference in price was about $20,000 more than Area 51’s previous bid because the Public Works Certification process was recently updated to mandate that contractors bidding on public contracts participate in a registered apprenticeship program.

Area 51 was told it must employ union craftsmen in exchange for the certificate, according to The Pettit Group. As a result, their labor rates increased, so their bid increased.

There are a total of three hockey rinks at the park. The project includes the raising of the sides of one rink, and the installation of a surface consisting of interlocking panels, as well as the resurfacing of another rink at the park. There was no alternate bid.

See related:
Gloucester Township Council Rejects Hockey Rink Bids
Gloucester Twp. Council Discusses Tax Abatement, Hockey Upgrades