Assembly awards $269,495 contract for canopies at new transit facility after higher‑than‑estimated bids

The Assembly Finance Committee voted 7‑1 to award IFB 2615 to Alcan Builders Inc. for $269,495 to build seven steel canopies over man doors at the new transit administration and maintenance facility.

Corey Beal of General Services and Jonathan Shambare of Public Works said the project addresses snow accumulation at man doors discovered during the first winter after construction. Beal said the work is funded by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant dollars remaining from the original transit facility project and carries an 80/20 federal match. Beal said roughly $2.2 million remained in the grant fund at the time of the meeting.

Several committee members, including Ms. Wilson and Mr. Kress, questioned why the lowest bid (about $269,495) exceeded the engineer’s estimate of approximately $201,000 by roughly $68,000. Staff explained that engineer estimates and contractor bids sometimes differ because contractors factor actual labor, supply sources and market conditions into their bids; staff said they review bids for reasonableness and will reject bids judged to be unreasonable and rebid when necessary.

Members also clarified that the canopies will be steel, that the work covers seven man doors (not overhead doors), and that the consultant who designed the project reviewed the bids as part of the borough’s normal reasonableness check.

The motion to award was recorded and passed by roll call with one recorded dissent. Staff described the canopies as a delayed additive to the original facility design intended to improve safety by reducing snow at doorways.