The Board of Aldermen has awarded a two-year police vehicle maintenance contract to Auto Repairs Unlimited of Ansonia.
Auto Repairs bid service for police cars at $58 an hour.
The company has held the contract twice before, and the police department is satisfied with the past service, according to Police Chief Kevin Hale.
There were three companies that bid for the contract, but the two others did not have complete bid packages, according to the Board of Police Commissioners.
While Frank’s LLC, also of Ansonia, had bid a lower price, the bid was not eligible for approval because it lacked proof of a performance bond.
Alderman Eugene Sharkey said that rendered Auto Repairs Unlimited ​“the lone successful bidder.”
The following was posted in an article Tuesday
Frank Heusser, Jr. says his ongoing dispute with the Ansonia Police Department might have blocked him from winning a two-year contract to repair the department’s vehicles.
Heusser, owner of Frank’s LLC, was the lowest of three bidders for the contract.
But police commissioners last week said they didn’t recommend Frank’s LLC for the job because his bid package was incomplete.
“He didn’t have proof that he could get the performance bond,” said Police Chief Kevin Hale.
At its meeting last Wednesday, the Board of Police Commissioners voted to pass along to the Board of Aldermen a bid from Auto Repairs Unlimited.
The Board of Aldermen will vote on which company to award the contract to at its meeting on Tuesday.
The Bids
The Board of Police Commissioners received three bids:
- Auto Repairs Unlimited for $58 an hour
- Rogers Repairs for $65 an hour
- Frank’s LLC for $49.49 an hour.
The vendors had to give a $1,000 check as a bid bond and proof that they could receive $25,000 in a performance bond.
Of the three vendors, Auto Repairs Unlimited was the only that had proof of the performance bond — in the form of a check for $25,000.
Police commissioners said they have had two previous contracts with Auto Repairs Unlimited, with no problems.
Low Bidder
Heusser said he didn’t realize he had to include the performance bond with the bid package until he was walking into City Hall to drop off his bid.
Heusser said the application says that ​“minor informalities” could be waived if it’s in the best interest of the city.
“Eight dollars and change is definitely in the best interest of the city,” Heusser said. ​“Over two years that could save a lot of money for the city.”
Heusser, who is often at odds with the police department, said if it weren’t for his history with the department he would have been given a second chance to get the performance bond.
“I think they would call and ask for a performance bond,” Heusser said.
