A long-planned effort to replace up to 85,000 lead water pipes in New Orleans is on ice after the losing bidder accused the Sewerage and Water Board of violating its own contracting rules.
Community Infrastructure Partners filed a formal protest in May after a selection panel chose CDM Smith for the job, triggering an appeals process that must ultimately be settled by the S&WB’s executive director.
Former executive director, Ghassan Korban, resigned in May and the agency’s new leader, Randy Hayman, is set to begin on July 28. Hayman is expected to appoint a special arbitrator to weigh the appeal and make a recommendation before he makes a final decision.
Meanwhile, the water board won’t vote on the contract until the appeal is resolved, which seems unlikely until next month at the earliest. The S&WB originally hoped to sign a deal with a project manager by the end of 2024, according to an agency presentation…