Port Angeles board approves three middle school bid alternates, including synthetic turf and covered canopy

The Port Angeles School District Board of Directors on July 24 voted to accept three bid alternates for the Stevens Middle School construction project, including a synthetic turf field, gym acoustical panels and a covered covered canopy that will provide the ADA entrance to the gym.

Nolan Due, district staff, told the board the district’s project funding for Stevens is $80,141,000 and that the combined base bids received totaled $49,783,006.44. “When we were at 90% contract documents, our estimate for the work … was $51,035,853,” Due said, adding that current bids are below that estimate and that the budget includes multiple contingencies. “This is as healthy as a budget as we can get. I’ve never seen this.”

Why it matters: accepting these alternates adds scope to the modernization rather than forcing scope reductions. Staff said alternates 1, 7 and 8 together remain affordable inside the project budget after the project’s contingency and other reserves are accounted for.

Details and board discussion - What the board approved: The motion on the floor, which the board adopted, accepted alternate 1 (synthetic turf field), alternate 7 (gym acoustical/finish work to improve gym appearance and acoustics) and alternate 8 (a covered canopy between the new building and existing gym that will serve as the ADA entrance). A voice vote recorded the motion as carried (all in favor; no opposition noted). - Budget math presented: staff reported the value of all alternates bid equals $2,544,629; the GCCM (general contractor/construction manager) will include a 3% contingency within its GMP; the district’s separate contingency line is $3,683,000; and, after adding every alternate, the presenters said the project would still have roughly $994,000 above contingency (figures as reported during the meeting). - Synthetic turf: the turf alternate bid was reported as $1,347,935 (as presented). Due noted subsurface soil testing found a roughly one-third section of the field area with unsuitable soils down about four feet; that could require additional work to stabilize the turf base. Staff recommended acceptance of the turf alternate despite that issue because contingencies are available. - Gym acoustics and finishes: staff recommended accepting the gym acoustical panel alternate (reported at about $75,000) to avoid leaving the gym with painted OSB walls that would contrast with the rest of the renovated building. - Covered canopy (ADA entrance): staff said the canopy will match the front canopy and will enclose the only ADA entry path to the gym; they recommended it as essential to circulation and accessibility.

What the board did not approve: The board declined alternates that staff said were priced beyond their value for this project, including an upgraded rubber floor (alternate 2), specialty ceilings and a commons projector and platform curtain that had bid prices well above estimates. Board members discussed performance lighting for the commons and whether to add it now; the board elected not to amend the motion to include the lighting.

Next steps: staff will add the approved alternates to the conformed contract documents set and will proceed toward form A/GMP finalization and construction. The GCCM process will continue to manage change orders and contingency draws.

Attribution and procedural note: The motion to accept alternates 1, 7 and 8 was made and seconded from the dais; the meeting recorded a voice vote with “Aye” from the board and no opposition recorded. The board also discussed, but did not act on, additional optional alternates that staff had presented.