Staff recommends the City Council award a contract for W.O. 23-33: Grandview Park Irrigation System Replacement, to the Good Earth Works Co. Inc. in the amount of $313,062.00.

This project was approved in Parks FY23 CIP.

W.O. 23-33, Grandview Park Irrigation System Replacement, is intended to replace the aging irrigation system at Grandview Park.  Grandview Park is located south of Poly Drive between Montana State University Billings and Intermountain Health.  The new improvements include installation of an irrigation system, pump station, and electrical upgrades. 

The existing irrigation system is aging and is operated manually.  The manual irrigation system requires a park attendant to operate the system and disrupts activities during the day.  An automated system will free up the attendant to focus on other duties and enable irrigation operations to occur overnight, opening up more hours during the day for recreation and activities.  Furthermore, irrigating overnight will save water due to daytime evaporation. 

Additionally, this project includes an alternate to replace the underground piping from the BBWA canal that provides the inlet suction water to the irrigation pump.

This project was originally bid on May 2nd, 2023, and June 20th, 2023. No bids were received from either posting. 

The project was advertised on February 23rd, March 1st, March 8th, and March 15, 2024, in the Yellowstone County News and on the City’s website.  Bids were opened on March 19th, 2024 and three bids were received.  The Good Earth Works Co. Inc. submitted the lowest, responsible bid. The bid was reviewed by staff and the project consultant.  The bid unit prices appear competitive given market labor and material conditions.

City Council may:

• Award W.O. 23-33, Grandview Park Irrigation System Replacement to The Good Earth Works Co. Inc. in the amount of $313,062.00; or, 
• Not award a contract and reject the bid. If the project is not awarded, Grandview Park will continue to be irrigated manually during the day, leaving large portions of the park unable to be utilized. In addition, the irrigation system will continue to be maintenance and labor-intensive.

The following bids were received; Good Earth Works base bid of $289,582.00 for irrigation system, $23,480.00 add alternate #1 pump supply line replacement. Jake Theusen Landscape base bid of $391,830.00 for irrigation system replacement, $58,225.00 add alternate #1 pump supply line replacement. R&P- Lawn Ranger base bid of $695,200.00 for irrigation system, $27,500.00 add alternate #1 pump supply line replacement.  


This project was budgeted in FY23 using Park District 1 funds. The amount budgeted for approved FY23 CIP Multiple Parks Irrigation Automation is $924,750. There is adequate budget to award the project. Remaining funds will be used for subsequent park irrigation automation projects within other City parks.