Dafter, Michigan — Cloverland Electric Cooperative announced the successful bidder for the demolition and site restoration of the House of Bargains building in downtown Sault Ste. Marie. The decision comes after a thorough evaluation of proposals received in response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued October 31, 2023.
Initiated by Stantec Architectural Engineers and posted on Cloverland's website, the RFP outlined mandatory requirements, including a walk-through for all bidding firms, a bid bond equal to 5% of the total bid and submission of abatement and refuse disposal plans. The walk-through, held November 13, drew significant interest with representatives from seven firms participating.
Two proposals were received by the November 30 bid deadline. A late bid was disqualified for tardiness and missing essential documentation.
Following a comprehensive review, additional information was solicited to ensure a complete understanding of the project's requirements. Bonacci Contracting responded promptly, affirming their ability to fulfill the project obligations. However, one vendor withdrew its bid citing an inability to complete the project for the submitted amount.
After careful consideration, Stantec and Cloverland Electric Cooperative staff recommended awarding the bid to Bonacci Contracting. Per the cooperative’s bylaws (Article IV, Section 9), the board of directors approved the bid award. Director Bonacci abstained from the vote and indicated he was not directly involved in the bidding process.
Demolition is expected to take place this spring and redevelopment plans are still in discussion.
The cooperative is committed to ensuring a transparent and rigorous selection process for the benefit of its members and the community.