OCEAN CITY- Ocean City officials this week approved a variety of bids for several projects and purchases in the resort from canal dredging to a new generator for the fire station to the repainting of the Boardwalk Arch. The following is a quick look at some of the bid processes:
Canal Dredging
The first phase of the long-awaited canal dredging program will get underway this year after the Mayor and Council approved the low bid on Tuesday.
The long-term plan is to dredge most of the bayside canals that have silted in over time, but the first phase includes a handful of locations. Among the areas approved for funding in the first phase are the canals in the area of 48th and 49th Street behind the Wight Bay condominiums, the south side of 52nd Street and the canals in the area of Hitchens Ave., Trimper Ave. and Canal Street.
In addition, the first phase includes four limited locations where outfalls exist, mostly in the north end of town in areas like Caine Woods and in and around Northside Park. The budget included $500,000 for the project and the staff recommendation targeted a $450,000 expenditure. The winning bid for $417,783 was submitted by a local company, Hi-Tide Marine, which does a lot of the dredging work in and around the resort area. The highest bid came in at over $1 million.
“This is the first year we’re doing this,” said Mayor Rick Meehan. “It will be a progressive process.”
Tourism Strategic Plan
Town officials on Tuesday got an overview of the quantity and quality of the potential bidders for Ocean City’s five-year strategic plan.
Ocean City is soliciting proposals for a five-year strategic plan for tourism. The project will include interviewing key Ocean City stakeholders, evaluating the resort’s tourism assets and conducting market analysis to incorporate into a strategic plan that will serve as blueprint for the town’s tourism marketing, identifying target and niche markets and priorities from 2015 to 2020.
While Ocean City has seen its market share rebound somewhat following the recession, as indicated by a 22 percent increase in the room tax collected last summer over the prior four years, town officials have embarked on an effort to develop a five-year strategic plan for tourism marketing in order to keep the momentum going.
New Generator for Fire Station
The Mayor and Council on Tuesday approved a low bid from Fidelity Power Systems in the amount of $44,469 for a new 150-kilowatt generator to be installed at the new Fire Station 4.
Just two bids were submitted and the second was just about $2,000 more. The budget included $85,000 for the new fire station generator, so the successful bid came in significantly lower what was budgeted. In response to a question about the relatively low number of bidders, Councilmember Dennis Dare explained bids for larger equipment purchases often include service contracts.
“Some things like generators have warranties and guarantees and if you bid on it, you have to service it,” he said. “If you’re in Singapore, it wouldn’t make sense for you bid on a generator for Ocean City if you have to service it.”
Boardwalk Camera Installation
The Mayor and Council on Tuesday also approved the low bid of just under $92,000 for the installation of the new Boardwalk surveillance camera system.
A total of $150,000 was appropriated for the project from the Boardwalk bond project cost savings. McGean explained the cost of the installation of the cameras was separated from the purchase of the equipment in order to save money on the sales tax. The material costs came in at around $31,000. The first phase includes the installation of seven cameras at downtown Boardwalk locations including Dorchester and N. Division Streets along with 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th and 12th Streets.
“Sometimes we separate out the installation from the materials with different bids,” said McGean. “We can save sales tax if we can specify and bid it out ourselves.”
Tennis Center Fence Replacement
Town officials on Tuesday also approved a successful low bid for a fence replacement project for the Mallard Run Tennis Center at 62nd Street in the amount of $31,546.
A total of $45,000 was budgeted for the project. In response to a question about the need for the project and where the money, McGean explained revenue generated from the Tennis Center is folded back into the general fund. Councilmember Dennis Dare said the revenue generated typically covers maintenance and other costs such as the fence replacement.
“Historically, that tennis center has paid its own way,” he said. “It’s only staffed in the summer, although it’s used all year round.”
Boardwalk Arch Recoating
The Mayor and Council on Tuesday reviewed the potential bidding process for the recoating and repainting of the iconic Boardwalk Arch at North Division Street.
The paint is failing and the arch needs to be recoated. It was last recoated in 2005 and the cost at that time was around $40,000. Roughly the same cost is anticipated for the next repainting and recoating and the funding has been approved. The bids are expected to be opened at the February 11 work session.