TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Allison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities
SUBJECT:
title
Award of Contract for the Cunningham Phase 1 Water Main Improvements Project to Austin Tyler Construction Inc. in the Amount of $4,256,274.71
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BACKGROUND:
On January 5, 2021, the Mayor and City Council approved Resolution No. 7613, committing to water conservation through the reduction of non-revenue water in order to comply with the allocation requirements of the Level of Lake Michigan Act, 615 ILCS 50, and the corresponding State regulations. A condition of the City’s Lake Michigan water allocation permit is completion of the City’s Non-Revenue Water Reduction Plan. A major component of this Plan is water main replacement. The water main replacement program, estimated at approximately 3% per year, must be sufficient to achieve the reduction of non-revenue water from the City’s water system to not more than 10 percent by the year 2030.
The 2026 Water Main Replacement Program consists of 12 contracts to replace a total of approximately 20 miles of water main, at a cost of approximately $65,760,000.00. The Cunningham Phase 1 Water Main Improvements Project was identified to be completed as part of the 2026 program. This project consists of replacing approximately 10,418 linear feet of water main in various sizes on Raynor Ave / Kelly Ave / Wilcox St / Oakland Ave / Clement St / Vine St (Moran St to Ruby St); Highland Ave (Moran St to Ross St); Nicholson St (Moran St to Will Co building); Ross St (Wilcox St to Oakland Ave, Clement St to Highland Ave, and Nicholson St to Vine St). Sanitary sewer work included in this project includes a point repair. Also included in the scope of work for this project is replacement of any lead water service lines encountered. Attached to this memo is an exhibit showing the project location.
Design drawings and bidding documents were prepared and the invitation to bid for the project was advertised in the Joliet Herald-News on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
The Public Service Committee will review this matter.
CONCLUSION:
On Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., five (5) sealed bids were received for the Cunningham Phase 1 Water Main Improvements Project. The bid summary is as follows:
CONTRACTOR BID AMOUNT
Austin Tyler Construction Inc., Elwood, IL $4,256,274.71
M&J Underground Inc., Monee, IL $4,783,693.89
P.T. Ferro Construction Co., Joliet, IL $4,806,600.79
Airy’s Inc., Joliet, IL $4,815,451.20*
Lex Cox & Sons Excavating, Crest Hill, IL $5,549,063.98
Engineer’s Estimate $4,970,000.00
* denotes corrected amount after mathematical errors were corrected
The low bid from Austin Tyler Construction Inc., in the amount of $4,256,274.71, is 14.36% below the engineer’s estimate. Austin Tyler Construction Inc. has previously completed similar work for the City and completed this work to the City’s satisfaction.
Funds will be charged to the Water Main Replacement Fund (Org 53880000, Object 557200, $4,161,323.76), Lead Water Service Line Replacement Fund (Org 53880000, Object 557200, $79,993.95), and Water & Sewer Improvement Fund / Sanitary Sewer Collection (Org 50180020, Object 557200, Project Code 26002, $14,957.00).
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council award the Contract for the Cunningham Phase 1 Water Main Improvements Project, in the amount of $4,256,274.71, on behalf of Austin Tyler Construction Inc.
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