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Bennington Public Schools awards nearly $11.5 million in early contracts for second high school
Summary
The school board approved early bid packages for the district’s second high school, awarding multiple contracts that total just under $11.5 million — about $900,000 over the preconstruction estimate — and heard that the district expects a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) in early October.
Bennington Public Schools board members voted to award eight early bid packages for the district’s second high school, awarding work to foundations, steel, concrete/floor systems, elevators, site utilities and geothermal contractors.
A project representative from Hausman (presenting the bids) told the board the packages cover early work — foundations, structural components and site utilities — intended to keep the project moving through winter. The district received bids for eight packages and recommended awards that together total just under $11,500,000, about $900,000 over the preconstruction estimate of $10,588,896.
Why it matters
The early packages move critical site and structural work forward for the second high school. Hausman and district staff said selecting certain bidders above lower bids reflected considerations about scope match and schedule to reduce later change orders and avoid multi-month delays.
Awards and reasoning
The board approved awards (motion and roll call) to the following recommended bidders and amounts as presented in the motion: CNC Foundations, $484,100; DW Steel, $439,336; TR Construction (foundations), $2,161,626; Midwest Steel Supply (structural miscellaneous steel), $3,450,350; KONE (elevators), $267,064; Horselab Structures (hollow-core/structural system), $520,852; Titan, $2,174,374; and K2 Construction (geothermal/site utilities), $1,995,800. The total of these recommended awards is described in the presentation as just under $11.5 million.
Presenters said some recommendations are not the lowest bid because the recommended contractors better matched the bid scope (reducing the risk of change orders) or were the only bidders able to meet the owner’s required start date (February 1), which the district said would avoid a 2–4 month schedule delay.
Project schedule and next steps
The presenters told the board that after these packages the project is roughly 20% complete; the next large bid package is expected to bring the project to about 90% of the scopes that will be bid. Architects DLR have provided full drawings; Hausman said it will present a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) in early October for board consideration.
Vote
Board member Steve made the motion to award the listed contracts; a second was recorded and the clerk called roll. Board members Allison, Jeremy, Tim, Cara, Joe and Steve recorded yes votes and the motion passed.
Background and budget context
Presenters reiterated the district’s full project budget target of $24,600,000 and said they expect to meet that target despite the early-package overage because later packages may come in lower. The board asked for clarification about one large overage in structural miscellaneous-steel pricing; presenters said detailed drawings produced after preconstruction estimates revealed additional stainless steel and connection work that increased fabrication and installation costs.
