Contractor ceases seeking waiver for ferry ramp steel

The contractor which ran afoul of the federal Buy America Act by incorporating pontoons made in Mexico into the Puget Island ferry replacement ramp has ceased seeking a waiver to the requirements.

Bergerson Construction of Astoria notified Wahkiakum County officials in June that they would drop efforts to avoid having to replace the pontoons at their own expense.

The company contracted with another company in Ohio to construct the new pontoon. The Ohio company, in turn, hired a Mexican firm to build the pontoon, and that company used a mixture of Mexican and American made steel in the pontoon.

The county had obtained federal grant funding which required, through the Buy America Act, that all steel used in the project be made in the United States.

When Bergerson discovered the error, company officials notified county Public Works Director Pete Ringen, and together, they lobbied state and federal officials for a waiver because only a portion of the steel was Mexican made, and because there are few firms that manufacture the pontoons.

In a June 3 letter to Ringen, Bergerson President Gregory A. Morrill said "it has become readily apparent that they (Federal Highway Administration officials) are not willing to pursue such options."

"Therefore," Morrill said, "Bergerson Construction has elected to replace the pontoons in question with new Fexifloat brand floats comprised entirely of domestic steel."

Morrill asked that the county agree that no liquidated damages be assessed because of the issue. He noted that the project was completed in good time, and the ramp is in full use.

The Flexifloats are a slightly different design than in the original design plans, Ringen said, but the difference--no corrosion coating on the inside--shouldn't be an issue. Companies using them in Alaska said they have used them for 40 years without problems.

The board of commissioners approved the change.

Ringen said Bergerson will probably change the floats in October; the work will require a two or three day closure of the ferry ramp.