Flint - Concrete Loading Dock & Sidewalk Replacement Project

The State of Michigan Department of Technology, Management, & Budget issued Request for Proposal 171 190000002308 on behalf of Genesee County for concrete services at the Flint State Office Building. The solicitation sought a qualified contractor to replace and repair the concrete loading dock and sidewalk at the facility. The RFP was posted on May 20, 2019, with a 15-day response period and a due date of June 4, 2019. All bidders were required to attend a mandatory site visit and submit proof of liability insurance naming the State of Michigan as an additional insured. Evaluation was conducted using technical evaluation criteria across four categories: General Requirements, Service Levels, Project Plan, and Vendor Questions Worksheet. Both submitted bidders—Blue Spader Contractors and McCarthy Construction Co. Inc.—achieved technical scores of 80 points, demonstrating comparable technical capabilities and meeting all mandatory requirements. The evaluation process culminated in a recommended award decision with potential State Administrative Board approval.

The procurement included a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) set-aside provision with a 10% price preference adjustment applied during evaluation. Blue Spader Contractors qualified as a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business and submitted a bid of $49,920.00, which was adjusted to $48,335.00 for evaluation purposes using the 10% SDVOB discount. McCarthy Construction Co. Inc. submitted the lowest responsive bid at $15,850.00, which remained the lowest bid even after the SDVOB price preference adjustment was applied to Blue Spader's proposal. McCarthy Construction Co. Inc. was recommended for award at the contract value of $15,850.00, as the significantly lower price—approximately $34,070 less than Blue Spader's original bid—combined with comparable technical qualifications constituted the best value to the State. The solicitation manager, Rob Telesz, was available to conduct debriefing sessions with unsuccessful bidders to explain the award rationale.