The National Park Service has awarded a no-bid contract worth $5 million to cover bronze statues on a major bridge with gold plating, more than double the original $2.4 million estimate, with the work scheduled for completion before Independence Day.
The project involves restoring the iconic bronzes by applying gold coating in time for the holiday, a costly decision that comes without the typical competitive bidding process. The Park Service selected a single contractor for the job, bypassing the standard procurement method that would normally invite multiple bids.
The significant cost increase raises questions about project management and budget forecasting. The jump from $2.4 million to $5 million represents more than a 100 percent increase, though officials have not detailed the reasons for the substantial revision.
The statues, part of the bridge's historic architecture, will undergo the gilding transformation to restore their appearance before the Fourth of July deadline. The compressed timeline and no-bid nature of the contract suggest urgency shaped the procurement decision.
The Park Service has not released specifics about which contractor received the award or provided a breakdown of costs associated with the materials and labor involved in the gold plating work.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "A no-bid contract worth millions to slap gold on statues before a holiday is exactly the kind of government spending that makes taxpayers roll their eyes."
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