The Daily Reporter - WI Construction News & Bids » bid

Removing graffiti a true art form

Jeff Cota — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:55:23 +0000

Armed with spray paint, markers or any number of preferred ways of applying messages or decorations, a graffitist leaves an “I was here” imprint on a street sign, building or parking garage.

JobTrac Alert: Wednesday deadline to submit letter of intent to respond to attend mandatory site walk-through

Ann Knoedler — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:45:06 +0000

The Portage County Purchasing Department has issued a request for proposals for an upcoming project to replace and upgrade sound systems in courtrooms. Sound System Replacement/Upgrade in Courtrooms of Circuit Court Branch, 1, 11, 111 and County Board Room in Courthouse, 1516 Church St., Stevens Point, Portage County To be eligible to attend an upcoming [...]

Kraemer & Sons low bidder for Hoan Bridge project (UPDATE)

Joe Yovino — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:37:23 +0000

By Joe Yovino One of Milwaukee’s landmark bridges is one step closer to getting a facelift. Hoan Bridge Under Deck Netting, B-40-400, I-794, Pavement Marking and Under Deck Netting (No. 20) Edward Kraemer & Sons Inc., Plain, submitted the low bid Tuesday for installation of netting under a portion of the Hoan Bridge over the [...]

Builders want debarment details from state

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:58:33 +0000

By Paul Snyder Industry associations are withholding support for proposed contractor debarment rules until the state can prove it will not unfairly prevent companies from bidding on jobs. The threat of debarment is a useful tool for the Wisconsin Department of Administration to make sure contractors play by state rules, said John Mielke, vice president [...]

Milwaukee bid preference cuts city contractor

Joe Yovino — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:26:43 +0000

By Sean Ryan M.J. Construction Inc. fell $17 short of winning its seventh Milwaukee contract under the city‘s local preference law. The law requires Milwaukee give a 5 percent bid preference to city-based companies, and a sewer project bid by Milwaukee-based M.J. exceeded that amount by $17. That means the city will accept a $143,550 [...]

Overstimulated cities return road money

Joe Yovino — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:36:58 +0000

By Sean Ryan Low bids for local road projects are reversing the flow of stimulus payments as cities and counties kick surplus federal money back to the state. “I don’t know what they’re going to be doing with that money this year because I know that there are a lot of projects that are being [...]

Judge upholds local bid preference (UPDATE)

Joe Yovino — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:00:51 +0000

By Sean Ryan Milwaukee’s local bidder preference Monday withstood legal challenges filed by sewer contractors that lost projects because of the law. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge William Pocan ruled the city of Milwaukee can apply the preference to sewer and water projects that receive low-interest loans from the state’s Clean Water Fund. Contractors that [...]

Local preference hits pavement job (UPDATE)

Joe Yovino — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:20:44 +0000

By Sean Ryan D.C. Burbach Inc. could become the first paving contractor to lose a job because of Milwaukee’s preference for city-based bidders. Waukesha-based Burbach submitted a low bid of $497,143 to repave West Tower Avenue. But, based on the city’s local preference law, Milwaukee-based Stark Asphalt Service Inc. is the recommended project winner with [...]

Talgo project sidesteps local preference (VIDEO)

Joe Yovino — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:12:55 +0000

By Sean Ryan The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee eliminated a local bidder preference from the Talgo Inc. project to avoid any chance a lawsuit would delay work. The authority, under a lease agreement with Talgo, has until July 1 to complete renovation of a 300,000-square-foot building at the former Tower Automotive site [...]

Subs want bill to kill bid shopping spree

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:19:25 +0000

By Paul Snyder Subcontractors searching for state project deliveries perfectly free of bid shopping might have to settle for a good-enough compromise. “Is trying to stop any bid shopping after the general contractor’s bid better than what there is now? Yeah,” said Jeff Beiriger, executive director of the American Subcontractors Association of Wisconsin. “But is [...]

Error causes Findorff to back off low bid for Waukesha job

Joe Yovino — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:04:40 +0000

By Sean Ryan J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. is trying to walk away from a Waukesha County project after realizing the company’s low bid was based on a $220,000 mistake. Waukesha/Retzer Maintenance Building “Unfortunately, errors do occur,” said Mike Dillis, vice president of Madison-based Findorff, “and that’s the nature of errors, and you try to [...]

Local bidders get shot at federal project

Joe Yovino — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:06:19 +0000

By Sean Ryan Local contractors are welcoming the chance to openly bid on a La Crosse stimulus project that was supposed to be limited to six out-of-state companies. “The amount of work will increase significantly since we will have more control over everything,” said Dan Graham, business manager for Fowler & Hammer Inc., La Crosse. [...]

Contractor warns county of the price of preference

Joe Yovino — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:16:10 +0000

By Sean Ryan A contractor is warning Milwaukee County that paperwork, oversight and program management are unavoidable costs of a local hiring preference for projects. “It might not cost bids, but it will cost taxpayers,” said Larry Rocole, vice president of J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc.’s Brookfield office, which is in Waukesha County. Milwaukee County [...]

Milwaukee County inches toward bidding preference

Joe Yovino — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:37:04 +0000

By Sean Ryan Milwaukee County soon could give a bidding advantage to the contractor that hires the most county residents for a project. The goal of the county resolution, sponsored by Johnny Thomas and Theo Lipscomb, is to eventually offer a preference to public works contractors that hire people who live in the county and, [...]

Our preference is no preferences

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:10:53 +0000

By Chris Thompson

editor

Milwaukee’s clumsy law favoring local bidders already has trampled on too many contractors.

Milwaukee sticks with MJ, rejects local preference appeal (UPDATE)

Joe Yovino — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:51:51 +0000

By Sean Ryan MJ Construction Inc. owner Michael Tomasini on Wednesday won a third sewer contract under Milwaukee’s local preference law but spent the morning defending his bids. “This is the cheapest we have ever bid,” said Tomasini, whose company is based in Milwaukee. MJ’s operating costs are higher than those for some other construction [...]

Contractors rekindle local preference fight (UPDATE)

Joe Yovino — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:21:30 +0000

By Sean Ryan Milwaukee has invoked its local bidder preference on three sewer project awards, and contractors have challenged every contract. Builders filing the latest challenge argue the local preference law hurts Milwaukee residents looking for work because, in the long run, fewer people are employed. One contractor, MJ Construction Inc., has received each sewer [...]

Contractors avoid market risks

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:44:53 +0000

By Sean Ryan Shellshocked Wisconsin road builders are avoiding equipment purchases and work force expansions even with the promise of a packed bidding schedule in early 2010. It’s a mistake, said Kevin McMullen, president of the Wisconsin Concrete Pavers Association, but contractors do not want to overcommit by expanding to chase more contracts this winter. [...]

State’s 5 percent preference for minority builders could help others

Rick Benedict — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:09:14 +0000

By Sean Ryan sean.ryan@dailyreporter.com Steve Ristow was the low bidder on a state project and lost the job because Wisconsin offers a preference for minority-owned companies. Ristow said he expects that defeat to pay off for him. The bid preference helps minority-owned companies get contracts so they can grow, said Ristow, president and owner of [...]

Contractors prep for local preference showdown

Rick Benedict — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:38:41 +0000

By Sean Ryan sean.ryan@dailyreporter.com A Tuesday court hearing represents the one chance contractors will have to kill a Milwaukee bidding preference because city leaders remain steadfast in their support. The chances are slim to none the Milwaukee Common Council will reverse the law, said Richard Wanta, executive director of the Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association. The [...]