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Kingsport school board approves contract for Washington Elementary HVAC replacement, authorizes 6% contingency
Summary
Kingsport City Schools voted unanimously to award the Washington Elementary HVAC replacement contract to SB White Company and authorize a 6% contingency; staff said work will begin after equipment delivery and the project’s total cost is $2,262,760.
Kingsport City Schools on Sept. 9 voted to award the Washington Elementary HVAC replacement contract to SB White Company and to authorize a 6% contingency for the project.
The board approved staff’s recommendation that the district enter an agreement with SB White after staff told members the project attracted three bids. Staff reported a low bid of $1,998,000 and a high bid of $2,217,810; the total project cost was presented as $2,262,760, which includes an architect fee of $119,880. Board members voted unanimously to accept the contract and contingency.
The district advertised the project on July 26 and opened bids on Aug. 26, according to the staff presentation. Fry, a district staff member who presented the item to the board, said SB White had previously performed HVAC work at Jefferson, Robinson and Johnson schools and that the contractor had “been very good to work with.” He said the contract calls for work to begin “within 60 days,” but actual start will depend on equipment delivery.
Fry also noted the work will cover both heating and cooling systems and that the district will stage construction during the school year to avoid leaving students without heat. “These are projects that just can’t get done during the summer break,” Fry said, describing the need to move classrooms as work proceeds at some sites.
The board’s vote followed a motion to accept the recommended agreement “for services and payment as presented.” The board clerk announced the motion passed unanimously.
The district did not supply a contract number or an exact, final contract dollar figure in the meeting materials beyond the bid and the total project cost staff presented. Staff said the approved 6% contingency equals $119,880 and that the architect contract had been previously approved on a 6% basis with a not-to-exceed figure that will not be reached given the lower final project cost.
Work scheduling, equipment delivery, and the contractor’s coordination with the school and the architect were identified as the next steps; staff said they will begin procurement immediately after contract execution and order equipment so work can start as soon as deliveries arrive.
A board member asked whether the HVAC system will provide heat as well as cooling; Fry said it will and emphasized the district will ensure students are not left without heat during construction.
