University City staff asked council Aug. 11 to authorize notifying the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) that the city prefers the project’s base bid for Pershing Avenue; council approved the request and staff said the formal contract award will appear on a future agenda after MoDOT concurrence.
Public Works Director Sally Solange (presented as "Sally") told council the project is federally funded through the Surface Transportation Program (STP); eight responsive bids were received at the Aug. 5 opening and staff recalculated bid tabulations before preparing corrected figures for the packet. After council indicates a preference, staff will forward the three lowest bids to MoDOT for review of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation and for concurrence, a process the director estimated could take two to four weeks.
Council member Brenner asked about start dates; Solange said construction is slated to begin this calendar year and is anticipated as a winter project, with October or November mentioned as possible starting months. Council member Clay asked whether the city tracks DBE participation; staff said MoDOT reviews the DBE goal and whether bidders meet requirements.
Council member Brenner moved to approve the staff recommendation; Council member Tiemann seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. Staff noted the item before council authorized sending the preference to MoDOT but did not constitute a contract award, which will come later once MoDOT returns concurrence and the city issues a notice to proceed.