RANDAL BROWN
SOUTHWICK – The town is seeking bids on a truck mounted valve operator for the Department of Public Works (DPW).
DPW Director Randal Brown explained that the piece of equipment would help the water division clean and maintain the town’s water system valves, which number in the hundreds.
The bids, due to Town Hall by 2 p.m. on June 18, call for the bidders to furnish and deliver the valve operator, which will be on an expandable arm and controlled by a remote controller/data logger. The unit will also have capabilities of a gas-powered hydro vacuum.
“The vacuum will allow us to collect any dirt and debris that settles in the valve,” said Brown.
While Brown did not know the exact number of valves in the system, he said “it’s quite a lot” and said it is very likely in the high hundreds.
The equipment, which Brown expects to cost somewhere in the range of up to $60,000, will be well used. The funds were appropriated as a capital item in the current fiscal year budget.
“The water department is very excited about this,” he said. “That department will be trained to use it, however, they do not need a license to operate it.”
The valve operator includes a remote control that helps increase the safety of personnel.
Bid documents may be obtained at the Board of Selectmen’s Office during normal working hours. All bids for this project are subject to the provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30, Section 5 and 6, as amended. All bidders shall furnish with their bid a bid guarantee in the form of a bid bond, cash or a certified check, treasurer’s check or cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company in the amount of 5 percent of the total amount of the bid and made payable to the Town of Southwick.
No bid may be withdrawn within sixty days after the date of the opening of bids. Owner reserves the right to formally waive any informality in or to reject any or all bids, or to accept any bid in which in their opinion, is in the public interest to do so.
