Staff recommends that the City Council approve and award the Airport's Water Tower Painting Project to Viking Industrial Painting, LLC. for $257,700.

Included in the Airport's Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2022 is the funding to repaint the existing Water Tower at the Airport.  This 100,000 gallon tank is located west of the Airport, is approximately 100 feet tall and the only water storage facility for the Airport.  It also has a rotating lighted beacon on top to visually notify pilots of the location of the Airport.  It is currently painted with a white and orange checkerboard pattern and was last painted in 2003.  The sunlight and weather has significantly faded the paint over the past 19 years and as per Federal Aviation Advisory Circular 70/7460-1M (Obstruction Marking and Lighting) since this is a permanent structure near an Airport it must be repainted.  The Airport plans to repaint the tower a solid white with a new 8-foot Airport logo instead of the orange and white checkerboard pattern, which saved the Airport approximately 20% in cost, materials, and labor.  The contractor will remove the exterior paint by sandblasting it off, restore/repair the surface of the tank, and repaint.  The new "BIL" logo will be painted on both the north and south sides and a new relief vent will be installed at the top of the water tower.  This project is scheduled to take place late this Fall, after the high demand in water is over for the Summer, as the water tank must be empty in order to perform the work.  The interior of the tank was also inspected to ensure that it did not need any maintenance.  The inspection revealed that it was in very good shape and did not need any maintenance at this time.

This project was advertised in the Yellowstone County News on March 18, 25, and April 1, 2022, and posted on the City and Airport's Websites.  On April 5, 2022, the following bids were received:
 

CONTRACTOR	BID
Viking Industrial Painting, LLC	$257,700
Hancock Sandblast & Paint, LLC	$794,600

The low bidder contacted the Airport's engineering consultant, Morrison-Maierle, numerous times to ensure they understood the scope of the project.  After the bids were received, the bid packets were inspected and the low bidder Viking Industrial Painting, LLC was satisfied with their bid.  No contact or questions were ever received from the high bidder.
 

City Council may:

• Approve the award of the Water Tower Painting Project to Viking Industrial Painting, LLC for $257,700; or
• Decline to approve the award, reject all bids, and possibly delay the project.

The low bid for this project is $257,700 and funding is available in the Airport's Capital Account.