Bidders on south infrastructure project threaten to sue Biloxi

BILOXI -- The City Council is in executive session because of a single document and an $11 million difference in the bid for the city's infrastructure project south of the railroad tracks.

The document, known as the "Mississippi Golden Rule," was omitted from Oscar Renda's contract, which came in nearly $11 million lower than the only other bid, submitted by Hemphill Construction.

Oscar Renda's bid was $82.9 million and Hemphill's was $93.7 million.

Peter Abide, attorney for the city, said both companies have threatened legal action if the contract is awarded to the other company.

Dozens of Oscar Renda employees asked the city to rebid the contract.

The deadline is Monday to extend or reject the contract.

Biloxi Council voted 5-1 to reject the Oscar Renda bid, with Council President Robert Deming III voting against the action., and to extend Hemphill's bid for 10 days.

The council also will be asked to allocate $600,000 to pave major streets that are torn up because of the infrastructure project and charge Oscar Renda, the contractor on the north project, for the emergency work.

The Sun Herald will update this article.

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 11:39 AM with the headline "Bidders on south infrastructure project threaten to sue Biloxi ."