Apache Junction rejects 9 bids for fiber-optic project

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

Nine bids ranging from more than $2.1 million to nearly $4.6 million for conduit and fiber-optic work connecting Apache Junction government facilities in a loop were recently rejected after coming in over the budgeted amount.

The city’s budget was $1.2 million based off engineering estimates, Assistant City Manager Matt Busby said during a recent meeting.

“As part of a broader strategic approach to increase broadband in the city and also strengthening our city’s fiber-optic network, we went out to bid recently for this project which would ... kind of create a loop to our current fiber-optic system for the city, linking several different areas under control of the city,” he said.

On Sept. 4 the city issued a request for bids for installation of approximately 8.5 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure, and design and construction of the fiber-optic infrastructure. On Nov. 3 the city received nine responses:

• Mears Broadband LLC, $2,133,202.37
• BPG Designs LLC, $2,341,583.67
• Pauley Construction LLC, $2,397,055.13
• TeamFishel, $2,471,555.03
• HP Communications Inc., $2,490,083.70
• Allo Fiber Allo Communications, $2,817,602
• B&F Contracting, $3,578,701.29
• MP NexLevel, $3,997,276
• Kimley Horn. $4,596,900

“They came in way higher than we expected, so staff is requesting respectfully that you reject all bids and let us go retool the approach a little bit and refine the scope and then we’ll figure out next steps of how to complete this project,” Busby said to the council Dec. 16.

The Apache Junction City Council voted unanimously Dec. 16 to reject all proposals received for the project.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, https://www.yourvalley.net/civility-checklist/.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.