City streamlines bidding process for construction contractors

Contractors seeking to participate in construction projects for the City of El Paso will have to make fewer trips to city offices and have more information immediately available via the city’s Web site.

Bid packets, the voluminous documents describing the specifications and requirements to bid on city construction projects, were previously available to contractors if they were able to physically pick them up at city offices.

Now, they’re also available on the city’s Web site at  http://www.elpasotexas.gov/purchasing/ep-invitations.asp. Users will have to create a username and password to access information.

“These bid packets include so much information that, in the past, we haven’t had the space to post them online,” said Leila Melendez, interim deputy director of the City of El Paso’s Engineering and Construction Management Department. “We hope that having all the documents available on the Web site will make it easier for more contractors to compete and participate in these projects.”

The Engineering and Construction Management Department oversees all aspects of the city’s Capital Improvement Program which includes nearly 400 active projects and is valued at more than $1 billion.