Also from Altamont Press:

Apparent low bidder loses in rail project

An apparent low bidder’s application for the first phase of rebuilding the historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad has been rejected and the contractor has lost its appeal, officials said Tuesday.

But Nevada Department of Transportation officials said the project remains on track for work to begin in mid-April.

Officials said Contri Construction of Reno, which bid $3.792 million to build track across the Overman Pit to American Flat south of Gold Hill, failed to meet federal minority employment guidelines.

The application for the second lowest bidder, Granite Construction of Sparks, is under review. Granite bid $3.795 million for the work — or $3,000 more — and officials said if its application is in order, the contract could be awarded the first week of March.

Roc Stacey, contract compliance officer for NDOT, said Contri’s bid was rejected because the company didn’t comply with federal disadvantaged business enterprise guidelines regarding subcontractors and suppliers. Under federal rules, a certain percentage of minority businesses are required for some federally aided projects.

If the rules aren’t met, construction companies bidding for a project can still qualify by showing a “good faith’’ effort. Stacey said Contri submitted this information as part of its bid but missed the deadline.

Contri officials said Tuesday that they couldn’t comment on an appeal decision because they hadn’t been informed of the action. Stacey said a letter was sent Friday to the company’s lawyer.

Board members of the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway said they are grateful the two top bids for the long-awaited work came in under the projected cost of just over $4 million. - Tim Anderson, The Reno Gazette-Journal, courtesy Richard C. Datin, Larry W. Grant