V&T pit project construction bid award still on hold

The V&T Railway Overman Pit project is down to two low bidders, but an equal-opportunity law has mired one of the construction companies in another committee review.

The Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway decided Friday to award the construction bid to the lowest qualified bidder, when the Nevada Department of Transportation determines who that is.

Steve Oxoby, senior project manager for Carter Burgess, said NDOT should choose either company by Tuesday. The contractor will reconstruct 1.3 miles of V&T Railway across Overman Pit in Gold Hill. Crossing the pit is one segment of a 17-mile project to lay track between the Comstock and Carson City along the historic rail route.

Granite Construction returned with a bid of $3.7 million and Contri Construction came in about $3,000 less. The bid hasn't been awarded yet because Contri Construction hasn't met with certain equal-opportunity hiring laws.

"All construction contractors - including Contri Construction - are required to meet disadvantaged business enterprise goals and evidently Contri Construction didn't meet those goals," Oxoby said.

He said that Contri appealed the decision and a committee convened this week to discuss the issue. Oxoby said a ruling had not been announced as of Friday evening. After a company is chosen, NDOT's bid-review and analysis team will review the bid to make sure construction estimates are as accurate as possible. Once that is determined, NDOT can award the contract.

Commission Vice Chairman Bob Hadfield made the motions, saying that it was important that the commission stay in control of the award and not allow it to exceed $4 million.

Oxoby said $5 million was budgeted for the Overman Pit project, which includes construction, engineering and contingencies.

Advertisements went out seeking bids from contractors to build the roadbed 1.3 miles across Overman Pit in Gold Hill. If the bids are in line with estimates, work could begin by the end of March, project coordinator Kevin Ray said.

The project includes filling the pit with some 400,000 cubic yards of material, compacting the dirt and laying track. The availability of water from Virginia City to compact the dirt will be a key element.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.