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POMEROY–Port of Garfield County Board of Commissioners (Port Commissioners) accepted Zero dB Communications, LLC from Spokane, Wash., bid of 497,466.30, awarding the contract for the completion of the broadband project.
Diana Ruchert, Port of Garfield Director, received four bids on August 17, for the completion of the broadband project, including Blue Mountain Communication, $609,820.59; Zero dB Communications, $497,466.30; Henkels & McCoy, $740,408.88; and Summit Utility, $954,806.81.
The Commissioners agreed to award the Spokane company, Zero dB Communications, LLC the contract not only because they had the lowest bidder, sufficient experience in broadband fiber construction and they can execute the contract within two weeks. The Zero dB website claims the company, established in 2011, has 54 years combined experience in the fiber optic field, and has completed thousands of projects.
The previous contractor, M&L Construction, was required to stop construction last spring due to COVID-19 restrictions. When construction was allowed to resume, M&L had already secured a different job, delaying their return to the project here. In addition, M&L requested specific COVID-19 protections before resuming work, and were hesitant to leave the project in Idaho. By mutual agreement, the contract between M&L and the Port was terminated. This action caused the Port to advertise again, for a construction contract. The Call for Bids was advertised in the Lewiston Tribune beginning August 3, to deadline August 17, 2020 and one time in the East Washingtonian, the Garfield County newspaper of record, on August 13.
The original completion date for the broadband project construction was October 31, 2020. That new contract’s deadline has been extended to December 31, 2020. The Port will offer Zero dB the same contract as M&L, and once bonding is in place, and contracts are signed, Zero dB will be able to begin work. Ruchert stated that she estimates the new contract will increase the expense to the Port approximately $10,000.
The Port has also signed a contract with Pocket iNet to complete the design work needed to extend the fiber to the fairgrounds, as requested by the Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC). The BOCC has given the Port a verbal (via email) agreement to reimburse the Port for the added expense of including the fairgrounds in Phase 1 of the Port’s broadband project.
The Port continues to request applications for the Port Commissioner position vacated by Cody Bye. They will advertise the request for one more week. To date, no one has applied for the position. If the Port has not appointed a replacement by September 29, the BOCC will appoint a person to the position.
The next regular meeting of the Port of Garfield Board of Commissioners will be Sept. 1, 2020, at 6:30 p.m., at the Port office.