Linn supervisors scrap lower but flawed bid, award Oxley contract to Miron

Miron Construction of Cedar Rapids won the contract to build Linn County's new administrative office building Wednesday morning.

County supervisors decided not to pursue the apparent low bid from Hillenbrand Construction, Davenport, after Hillenbrand's owners admitted it included an incorrect quote for substituting terrazo tile for ceramic. In the initial bid last week, Hillenbrand said it would deduct $170,230 off its $10,705,847 bid for the change. In a letter to supervisors last week, company owners Sylvia and Todd Hillenbrand wrote the correct deduction should be $2,555.

Holding them to their initial bid would be “unconscionable,” the Hillebrands wrote.

The Hillebrands noted their firm would still be the lowest bidder with the corrected quote, but supervisors decided accepting the firm's revision could set off a legal challenge delaying the project.

“There's no support in the statute or the case law” to accept a modified bid after the deadline, Assistant County Attorney Gary Jarvis told the supervisors. “Exercise your judgement as to which bidder constitutes the lowest responsible, responsive bidder.”

Supervisors decided that was Miron, with a base bid of $11,036,000 and a $2,700 for the change of flooring. Miron also quoted a possible $22,600 deduction if planners choose a new-design elevator.

The Jean Oxley Public Services Center will be built in and around the gutted former Administrative Office Building, 930 First St. SW.

Hillebrand did not return a call seeking comment.