Carson City supervisors awarded a $2.2 million contract to Las Vegas Paving Corp. on Thursday to complete a utility relocation project for the Carson City freeway, despite a protest made by the second-lowest bidder.
A & K Earthmovers contested the action, saying Las Vegas Paving did not sign the last page of a bid submitted to the city, rendering the bid invalid.
The Las Vegas company's bid was $200,000 lower than the next lowest bid submitted.
Supervisors voted unanimously to accept Las Vegas Paving as its contractor despite the fact that the bid was not signed and an improper form was submitted for the bid bond, following legal advice that the bid did conform.
After hearing testimony by Frank Cassas of Marshall Hill Cassas & de Lipkau, an attorney representing A & K Earthmovers, Melanie Bruketta of the Carson City District Attorney's office said it was her opinion the bid was legal.
"I still stand by the position this board should approve Las Vegas Paving's contract," Bruketta said.
The work will relocate water and sewer utilities in the area of Highway 50 to North Lompa Lane to accommodate Nevada Department of Transportation work to complete a portion of the Carson freeway project.
