Lawyer says port was right to deny contractor’s $44M bid
GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) – A lawyer for the Mississippi State Port Authority says the board acted rightfully when it denied a $44 million contract to W.C “Cotton” Fore.
The Sun Herald reports that Fore took his protest to court Thursday, asking Harrison County Circuit Judge Larry Bourgeois to give him the $44 million contract, because his bid was $127,000 less than Necaise Bros. Construction Co.
Brant Pettis, a lawyer for the port, tells Bourgeois the port was within its rights to deny Fore the contract because he failed to follow specifications by including certificates of responsibility for his subcontractors. Pettis also says electrical subcontractor C&C Land Services, doesn’t have the required 10 years of experience.
Fore’s attorney, Sam Kelly, argues Fore is qualified, having completed more than 35 port projects over four-plus decades.
