The Manchester Water Works board reviewed the FY2026 chemical bid results and approved award recommendations following a reverse‑auction procurement process.

Phil (Director) explained staff piloted a reverse‑auction vendor for the chemical procurements. Vendors submitted initial bids and then participated in a live online reverse auction where bidders could lower prices in timed rounds. Staff reported that many line items saw robust competition (dozens of bids) and that the process generally produced competitive market prices.

On the board’s recommendation, the first motion approved the bid awards listed in table 1 on page 2 of the materials with the exception of three items: liquid oxygen, granular activated carbon (GAC) and GAC disposal. Later in the meeting staff reported they negotiated with suppliers on those three items; negotiated prices reduced liquid oxygen from an initial $500/ton to about $152/ton, and granular activated carbon prices fell from ~$52.40/ton to $45.43/ton with disposal pricing also significantly reduced in the negotiated memo. The board approved award of the negotiated prices for the previously excluded items.

Commissioners discussed the duration of the actual auction (roughly 30–45 minutes), vendor questions about tariffs/imported material, and the board approved both the primary table awards (except the three items) and the negotiated awards for liquid oxygen and GAC disposal.

Both motions (the main awards and the negotiated awards for the three items) passed on roll call at the May 22 meeting; staff will execute purchase orders in accordance with the approved awards.