Staff recommends that City Council award a contract for W.O. 26-01, Contract 1: 2026 Water Main Replacement, to COP Construction, LLC. in the amount of $4,334,253.

This project is part of the City’s annual water utility maintenance and replacement program and will replace approximately 8,830 linear feet of aging water mains in two areas of Billings. The replacements were prioritized based on factors including age, break history, lead joint pipe and services, undersized infrastructure, and coordination with future pavement preservation projects. The project will improve system reliability by addressing water mains with frequent breaks and reducing the risk of costly failures on a critical 16-inch transmission main that serves as a primary backup feed to the Heights area. Following a competitive bidding process, staff recommends awarding W.O. 26-01, Contract 1: 2026 Water Main Replacement, to COP Construction, LLC in the amount of $4,334,253, which is within the FY26 Water Fund budget.

The City replaces and upgrades its water utilities as part of an annual maintenance program.  This project will replace approximately 8,830 feet of existing 8-inch, 12-inch, and 16-inch diameter water mains in two separate geographic areas of town.  Area 1 consists of Central Avenue from 15th Street West to the alley west of 17th Street West, Lynn Avenue and Saint Johns Avenue from 16th Street West to the alley west of 17th Street West, and 16th Street West from Central to Saint Johns Avenue.  Area 1 will replace approximately 4,950 linear feet of 8-inch and 12-inch water mains.  Area 2 consists of 6th Avenue North from North 13th Street to North 18th Street, and within North 13th Street and within North 18th Street from 4th Avenue North to 6th Avenue North.  Area 2 will replace approximately 3,880 linear feet of 16-inch water mains.

The water mains being replaced were selected based on several criteria including age, break history, lead joint pipe, lead services, undersized water mains, and replacement prior to future pavement preservation projects. The water mains in and adjacent to Central Avenue have a very high frequency of break history and have caused recent property damage.  The 16-inch water main within 6th Avenue North is the primary backup feeding the Billings' Heights and has had several main breaks in recent years.  Due to the large diameter of the water main, breaks are difficult and expensive to repair.  

The project was advertised on May 1, May 8, and May 15, 2026, in the Yellowstone County News and on the City's website.  Bids were opened on May 19, 2026 and three bids were received.  COP Construction, LLC. submitted the lowest, responsible bid.

The following bids were received:

Contractor	Total Bid Price
COP Construction, LLC	$4,334,253
Askin Construction, LLC	$4,899,401
Western Municipal Construction	$4,939,184

This project was budgeted in FY26 using Water Funds.  There is sufficient budget to award this project.

City Council may:

• Award W.O. 26-01, Contract 1: 2026 Water Main Replacement, to COP Construction, LLC in the amount of $4,334,253; or,
• Do not award a contract and reject all bids.  If the project is not awarded, the City's water mains in these areas will continue to be unreliable and experience ongoing maintenance problems and expenses.