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Nags Head commissioners met on January 23 to discuss two bids for the South Old Oregon Inlet Rd. drainage infrastructure improvement projects. This project consists of constructing a discrete infiltration pipe collection system along the east side of S. Old Oregon Inlet Rd. Due to the size, scale and time restraints of the project, it was split into two project areas: #12 and #13, for bidding.

David Ryan, town engineer, highlighted the details of each project with the board and explained how the bidding was conducted and what was negotiated. He began with project area #13, which spans from Hargrove St. to Tides Dr., with a pump station, force main and infiltration basin immediately north of Fire Station 21. The project was opened for bidding in November 2024 and received two bids. In accordance with NC General Statute 143.132, construction contracts must receive a minimum of three bids. If less than three bids are received, the government must re-advertise. Therefore, the bidding was opened again with a re-bid due date of December 3.

The same two bids were received the second time, one by Hatchell Concrete Inc. for $1.7 million and one by Fred Smith Company for $1.8 million. The lowest responsive, responsible bid was found to be in excess of the funds available for the project. Funding for the full project is provided through a grant award in the amount of $2.95 million, received through the American Rescue Plan Act, NCDEQ Division of Water Infrastructure, and Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments Program. The funding amount includes project area #13 in conjunction with project area #12.

Negotiations with Hatchell through a value engineering process were conducted. Ryan explained that the original plans involved aggregate, 24-in. diameter pipe and filter fabric. In reducing the diameter of the pipe to 18-in. and replacing the aggregate and filter fabric with a perforated sock pipe, about $250,000 was saved. In addition, de-watering modifications were made along with reducing the depth of the trench and mobilization, to bring costs down. The impact of these modifications resulted in a bid reduction of $412,395 for an adjusted amount of $1,300,415.

Mayor Ben Cahoon asked if the original design included aggregate for protection purposes. “There’s coastal processes and then there’s inland processes form the thinking of an engineer,” Ryan answered, “The aggregate has a secondary layer of protection, but in coastal environments, engineers know that you can forgo the aggregate and just go with a sock pipe and still get the same performance.” He shared that the sock pipe model has been used in other recent drainage projects, such as the Old Nags Head Place drainage project and the drainage project on Soundside Rd.

Project #13 spans from James St. to approximately Juncos St., with pump station, force main and infiltration gallery located within the dune complex at the Juncos St. Beach Access. As with project #12, the project went through a re-bidding process after the same two companies, Hatchell Concrete Inc. and Fred Smith Company submitted bids. Fred Smith came in with the lowest responsive, responsible bid at $2.09 million. This amount again found to be in excess of the grant funding available, so negotiations were made.

After reducing the number of inlets and decreasing the pipe size while still maintaining the overall length, the bid was reduced by $283,442 for an adjusted amount of $1,808,058.

Along with approval of awarding project #13 to Hatchell Concrete and awarding project #12 to Fred Smith Company, the board needed to vote on a budget amendment in the amount of $96,559 to cover the shortfall for the combined project. All were in favor of awarding both projects to their respective companies and the budget amendment, and a motion to that effect carried.

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