All three unsuccessful bidders on a $2.9 million project to install synthetic turf in Roswell parks have filed protests over the awarding process.

Sprinturf of Atlanta, Deluxe Athletics of Marietta and Sports Turf of Whitesburg are seeking to overturn a Jan. 14 decision by the City Council awarding the contract to a North Carolina company which submitted the high bid. The firms say the awarding process was flawed.

The Roswell City Council voted 5-1 to award the contract to Medallion Athletics for synthetic turf installation on seven city park athletic fields. The bid of $2.9 million was more than $200,000 higher than the next closest bid and almost $400,000 more than the lowest bidder.

Finance Director Keith Lee told council members the staff recommended Medallion based on several factors, including the company’s product quality and its ability to oversee all phases of construction and installation.

Lee did not return requests for interviews Friday.

Sprinturf, which turned in the lowest bid, is arguing that the city’s selection process for the project accorded an inappropriately small weight, 20 percent, to the cost for the service. Technical considerations, such as experience and staffing, were weighted at 80 percent.

Regional sales manager Trent Moore said his company is also concerned that the city allowed Medallion the opportunity to adjust its proposal twice during the selection process and that specifications the other companies were penalized for were a “moving target.”

Sprinturf”s protest also alleges that city staff misled the City Council when they stated that no one had seen the cost proposals until the evaluation process was completed.

Representatives from Deluxe Athletics and Sports Turf declined comment on their protests.

Under Roswell code, the city’s purchasing manager will review the protests, and will file a recommendation to the city attorney within 30 days.