By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
EL RENO – Looking to save money, Canadian County Commissioners postponed action Monday on a request to hire a contractor for a health department remodel project.
Canadian County Health Department officials recommended awarding the project to a Canadian County contractor that submitted a $6,893 quote, citing the company’s location and quality of work based on three previous remodels at the health department.
However, this contractor’s quote was $1,422 higher than the lowest – which came from an Oklahoma County company. Three quotes were submitted for the small remodel project, ranging from $5,471 to $7,239.
County health department officials plan to remodel a break room/conference room at its Yukon clinic, 1023 E Vandament. The project will include installing a new wall and door.
Commissioners hesitated with awarding the project to the company with the second lowest price.
“I’m not totally comfortable because the work they’re going to do is not that complicated,” District 3 Commissioner Jack Stewart said.
Stewart could understand if the lowest quote came from a company in “some far-off distant place.”
County Commission Chairman Marc Hader also wondered why the project shouldn’t be awarded to the company offering the lowest cost. He’s seeking stronger justification.
“I would have a greater comfort level if you had a bad experience,” Hader said. “I’m always a fan of using as local as possible, but I don’t know if there’s a reason to go away from the low bid on this one.
