Gloucester Township Council Rejects Hockey Rink Bids

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township Council has rejected both bids it received last month for upgrade work on two hockey rinks at Lakeland Park.

Council rejected the bids from Area 51 Lawncare and Landscaping and American Athletic Courts during its meeting Monday night at the municipal complex.

The two bids came in as follows:

• American Athletic Courts submitted a base bid of $175,000 and an alternate bid of $90,000, for a total of $265,000; and
• Area 51 Lawncare and Landscaping submitted a base bid of $73,893.75 and an alternate bid of $49,750, for a total of $123,463.75.

Although Area 51 submitted the low bid, it failed to include several necessary documents, according to a letter from The Pettit Group to the township administrator included in Monday night’s agenda packet.

One of these documents that was not submitted included a completed disclosure of investment activities in Iran. Business Administrator Tom Cardis described this document as the Iran Clause during Monday night's meeting. It is a document the company must submit to clarify that it has no dealings with Iran, and Area 51 didn't submit that, and other documents, when filing its application.

On Monday night, the owners of the lawncare company confirmed to Patch that it has had no investment dealings with Iran.

Other documents that were not included were a bid bond, a consent of surety, a signed statement of ownership, a completed subcontractor identification form and a Public Works registration certificate.

Although American Athletic Courts submitted all the necessary documentation in its bid, its base bid is well above the township’s allotted budget for this project.

This was the second round of bids the township solicited for this project, meaning that the township is able to modify the scope of the project and enter into negotiations with the bidders, The Pettit Group said in the letter.

The Pettit Group said that once the resolution is passed, it will enter into negotiations with American Athletic Courts first. If a deal can’t be reached, it would ask the township about further negotiations with Area 51.

The township is technically able to negotiate with anyone, although Cardis said Area 51 has a long history of doing this type of work.

The base bid covers the raising of the sides of one rink and install a surface consisting of interlocking panels, as well as the resurfacing of another rink at the park. The alternate bid would cover just the first project.

There are a total of three rinks at the park, according to Cardis. Read more here: Gloucester Twp. Council Discusses Tax Abatement, Hockey Upgrades