BILLINGS – U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg has sent a letter to the General Services Administration criticizing a decision to award a Minnesota-based company a $59.4 million contract to build a new federal courthouse in downtown Billings.
The Republican notes that Minneapolis-based Mortenson Construction’s contract came in more than $8 million higher than the Montana-based bids, and he says the decision hurts local contractors and the state’s taxpayers.
Mark Visocan, vice president of Sletten Construction in Great Falls, says his company bid $51.5 million for the project and was one of six finalists for the job. He and Rehberg spokesman Jed Link also say Swank Enterprises was another in-state finalist that was passed over.
GSA spokeswoman Sally Mayberry says she cannot comment until the losing bidders are debriefed next week. The agency requires the winning bidder to promise that at least 60 percent of the subcontracting opportunities go to in-state firms.