Gay Darsie and George Baker talk after the vote to award the swing bridge contract to GLF. Photo by Liza

BY LIZA STROUT AND MARCY SHORTUSE - Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Chairman David Hayes stuck to his guns when GIBA held a special meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 15 to allow GLF Construction Corp. a chance to argue their case for being awarded the swing bridge contract as the apparent low bidder.

The meeting was called after the company lodged a letter of protest against the GIBA board’s decision to reject all bids because they were based on a 75 percent completion rate.

The vote to accept GLF as the swing bridge builder was 4-1, with Hayes the lone dissenter. George Baker, who was not on the board when the decision to put aside the original bids was made, made the motion  to accept the company’s offer. Gay Darsie, also a new board member, seconded the motion.

Hayes said his reason for not approving GLF on the project was, in part, due to the fact that one of the other five companies who placed bids with the bridge board could also lodge a letter of protest.
Despite reassurances from GLF at Wednesday’s meeting that it was unlikely another company would come forth with a letter of protest, Hayes warned the board before the vote that awarding the contract to GLF could lead to other bidders lodging protests, and the board would have to bear the costs involved with such actions.

On Wednesday afternoon, a call came into the GIBA office.

According to Executive Director James Cooper, an attorney for Orion was on the line, telling him that a letter of intent to file a protest would be sent to the board.

“We mailed out a letter to all of the bidders explaining that we made the award on the 15th,” said Cooper. “I am keeping the board informed as the situation progresses. We do have another board meeting on February 20, but I don’t know if we will call another special meeting before that.”

According to an email Cooper sent to the board, the protesting bidder is Orion Marine Construction, the second-highest bidder and the company currently contracted for the fixed bridges project.

 

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