Select Board conditions award for school asbestos abatement on contractor schedule

The Select Board authorized staff to award a phase‑1 asbestos abatement contract for five contiguous classrooms to the low bidder, Apex Abatement and Demolition, contingent on the contractor completing work by Oct. 10. Staff reported eight responses to the town's request for quotes; Apex submitted the low price at $23,009.76 and the next-lowest quote was listed at approximately $27,067.50. Staff asked that the award include a contingency allowing the town administrator to authorize the contract with the second-lowest bidder if the low bidder cannot meet an aggressive timetable. The board and staff discussed containment logistics and noted that per-room costs decrease if contractors can abate multiple rooms within a single containment envelope. MassDEP requires a 10-day notification period before abatement work begins; staff requested the work be completed in about a month. Board motion and directive: the board moved to award to Apex contingent on the firm completing the work by Oct. 10; if Apex cannot meet that deadline staff were authorized to award to the next-lowest bidder under the same timing requirement. Staff will notify MassDEP as required, finalize the contractor arrangement, and coordinate with flooring replacement plans once abatement is complete.