The Port of Toledo, after reviewing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), has chosen ASCOM to put in their 600-ton mobile boat life at a cost of just under $2 million. ASCOM, Marine and Industrial lifting equipment specialist, is an Italian company. The award of the contract, however has sparked a legal challenge from an unsuccessful bidder. According to Port Manager, Bud Shoemake, the port received six bids from four companies, and ASCOM offered the largest lift and lowest price. Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin based Marine Travelift and its West Coast sales agent, Kendrick Equipment, proposal was for a 500-ton lift at just about $2.5 million. “We elected to go with the larger lift for a half a million less.”

Travelift and Kendrick Equipment have filed a protest against the bid award with the port and a judicial review petition with Lincoln County Circuit Court. The two companies protested how the request for proposal for was written. According to Shoemake port staff, two boatyard staff, a port commissioner and an independent marine vendor scored the bid proposals and ASCOM’s 600-ton lift received the highest amount of points.

After a legal review, the port commission authorized its attorney to reject Kendrick’s protest and directed Shoemake to negotiate a contract with ASCOM, as soon as this hurdle with the courts has been cleared. The port replied on Tuesday with a letter to Kendrick and asked them to drop their judicial petition and protest. Shoemake said this is a big deal for Lincoln County. The lift is part of a $6.2 million expansion of the boatyard and he said it is expected to add 167 jobs to the local economy. “After Steve Webster closes river bend in September the Port of Toledo will be the only haul out in the area” said Shoemake.

Story By Kiera Morgan