DeKalb to reject contract because cost too low

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County will reject a bid for a contract because the company submitted a cost that was too low.

The county received a $225,000 federal grant to conduct a long-range energy plan.

On Tuesday, the budget committee recommended the contract be awarded to S.L. King Technologies in Atlanta, which submitted a proposal to do the work for $225,000. However, Carbon Solutions America in Boca Raton, Fla. submitted a proposal to do the job for $199,210, according to county purchasing director Kelvin Walton.

The county interviewed six companies that submitted bids and ranked them based on their technical ability to the job. Under the review, Carbon Solutions received a score that was 62 points higher, Walton said.

“This is exactly what governments get criticized for,” Commissioner Jeff Rader said Tuesday. “What is the purpose of spending $25,000 more?”

County facilities management director David Fisher said Carbon Solutions was disqualified because they didn’t meet the bid specifications by submitting a proposal to do the work cheaper.

The county commission is scheduled to approve the contract on Tuesday.