PLEASANT PRAIRIE FIRE STATION #1 PROJECT MOVES FORWARD
CONTRACTS APPROVED FOR 11 OF 21 BID ITEMS RELATED TO PROJECT

On Monday evening, July 21, the Pleasant Prairie Village Board considered bids received for 21 items related to the reconstruction of Fire Station #1. Contracts were approved for 11 of the 21 items, while bids for ten items were rejected. For the 11 approved contracts, costs were in line with initial estimates. For the ten rejected items, costs were greater than initial estimates.

The project construction manager, Riley Construction, administered the bidding process. Sealed bids were solicited for 21 items in June and were opened on July 9. Once tabulated, the bids received totaled $6,627,589, approximately 15.5% (or $891,723) over the project budget of $5,735,866. A representative from Riley explained that a busy construction market has resulted in fewer bids that were higher than expected being received. The representative explained that when the construction business is good, contractors are less inclined to submit sealed bids, because they just don’t have the time for that or the immediate need for the work.

Project contracts were approved for: general conditions and staffing; excavation; cast in place concrete; precast concrete; masonry (materials only); structural steel and miscellaneous metals; general trades; aluminum storefront, windows, and glazing; fire protection; plumbing; and mechanicals. Plans are to proceed with the approved contracts in order to have the building enclosed before winter weather arrives.

The remaining ten items will be put out for bid again near the end of the year when construction projects are expected to slow for the season. The project team will alter the bidding process to give contractors more time to respond and look for economies within the original construction plans in order to keep the project close to budget.