Forum held to encourage local firms to seek city contracts

When the city of Marlborough put work out to bid, it appeared that many local contractors were intimidated by what is viewed as a bureaucratic bidding process and simply declined to bid.

“I think it’s really the process that keeps people away,” Mayor Arthur Vigeant told the MetroWest Daily News. But, he added, “Once you learn how to do it and get into it, it’s not a big deal.”

On Sept. 13, city, state and federal officials held a forum to help local contractors become familiar with the process for getting work in the city and to encourage them to bid. The 90-minute session, organized by the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation and the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, was attended by about 40 people, most of them contractors.

Beverly Sleeper, the city’s chief procurement officer, advised attendees to carefully review the city’s advertisements.

“Read the entire procurement pitch and project,” she said. “Note the procurement schedule. Submit questions during the question-and-answer session. Don’t think anything is a stupid question.

“Let us know that you’re a responsible bidder,” she continued. “And don’t be late. A minute late, a second late, they can’t accept you.”

Sleeper also noted that if a contractor is found to lack insurance, he or she will be ineligible to bid on city work for the next three years.

Marlborough Housing Authority Director Doug Bushman said that working with local contractors makes sense for the city because the local firms don’t have to factor in transportation costs.

Other speakers included Barbara Miller, the training, outreach and marketing director for the state Operational Services Division, and representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Commerce Department.

Chapter 30B, the state’s uniform public procurement law, allows cities and towns to forgo the sealed, competitive bidding process for jobs of less than $25,000, though municipalities must seek at least three written or oral quotations for jobs expected to cost between $5,000 and $25,000.

Sleeper said that the city is considering hosting a second, longer procurement session.