Board awards Dickinson High School bid package 1 after JE Dunn report; package came in under estimate

JE Dunn Construction told the Dickinson school board that the first major buy‑out for the Dickinson High School rebuild — bid package 1 — came in substantially under the contractor’s estimate, and the board voted to accept the recommendation to award the package.

James Kramer, client solutions representative for JE Dunn, introduced the construction team and noted that a student intern, Ella Sickler, presented a review of the Roosevelt Elementary project and construction process earlier in the meeting. Sickler described preconstruction, construction management and closeout steps and her responsibilities on the Roosevelt project.

Bid package 1 results and scope

JE Dunn said bid package 1 comprised 12 scopes of work — including classroom pod demolition, building and site concrete, precast exterior shell, interior concrete polishing/sealer, structural steel, damproofing/waterproofing, elevators, earthwork/site demolition, structural excavation, concrete paving and site utilities — representing about 28% of the overall high‑school project. JE Dunn’s internal estimate for that package was $21,709,416; the awarded package totaled $19,826,000.96, roughly $1.9 million below the estimate. The company said that produces about a $1 million net reduction relative to the district’s previously reported total project overage after combining the package 1 savings with other budget items.

JE Dunn reported 57 bids across the 12 scopes from 37 companies; most successful contractors were local to Dickinson or elsewhere in North Dakota. JE Dunn noted precast concrete work will come from outside the state (Holly, Minnesota) because precast plants are not local.

Board action and next steps

Board member Mister Seakes moved to approve the construction manager at‑risk recommendation to award Dickinson High School bid package 1; the motion was seconded and approved on a roll‑call vote (Wilkie: Aye; Rutkowski: Aye; Seegs: Aye; Vice President Parker Schwartz: Aye; chair: Aye). JE Dunn said bid package 2 was being prepared and that bid package 2 would cover the remaining work; superintendent’s earlier remarks noted bid package 2 would be released the following day and opened on March 6.

Project implications

JE Dunn described the bid results as lowering project risk and giving the district a budget buffer heading into the remainder of procurement (bid package 2 covers approximately 72% of remaining work). The firm emphasized local subcontractor participation and presented a month‑by‑month photo progress record for Roosevelt Elementary as an example of typical reporting to owners.

Ending

Board members thanked the presenters. The board formally approved awarding bid package 1 and will consider remaining buyouts as subsequent packages are bid and brought forward.