Middletown council approves dozens of subcontract awards as school projects move forward, town says costs are below budget

The Town of Middletown Town Council on Tuesday approved multiple subcontract awards for its new middle/high school and for renovations to the existing high school (the elementary school complex), moving both projects closer to construction and authorizing the town administrator to notify recommended contractors.

Council received detailed bid-package recommendations from Colliers Project Leaders and Bentley Companies and passed two resolutions directing the town administrator to proceed with subcontract awards for the two school projects. The council voted by voice to approve the awards after staff said most major lines have been awarded and that construction is active on site.

The council’s action covers dozens of trade packages recommended by project managers. For the new middle/high school, Colliers and Gilbane recommended awards that included: Excel Construction Corporation for interim cleaning and general carpentry ($2,200,000); Unified Door and Hardware for doors, frames and hardware ($1,037,529); Rugeri Brothers Inc. for tile ($425,000); H Carr & Sons for acoustical ceilings ($1,554,800); Kenville Flooring for wood flooring ($561,060); Rugeri Brothers for carpet and resilient flooring ($1,750,000); Allegheny Contract Flooring for epoxy flooring ($291,612); HSI Construction for specialties ($959,000); Excel Construction for toilet partitions and accessories ($283,496); and Northeast Interior Systems for manufactured casework ($1,758,000). Several packages noted minority- or women-owned business participation rates in bid proposals.

For the elementary school complex (renovations at the existing high school), Colliers/Bentley recommended awards including Northeast Steel Structures for miscellaneous metals ($65,523); JD Cement for concrete ($37,180); Woodcraft Millwork for millwork ($118,000); and Advantage Glass for glass and glazing ($34,200). Colliers said alternates related to restroom renovations and an elevator for that building were being held until an October deadline.

“Colliers Project Leaders and Gilbane Building Company are recommending to award Excel Construction Corporation in the amount of $2,200,000,” Colliers assistant project manager Colin McCarthy said while reading recommended awards aloud. McCarthy and other staff noted several packages were above or below the project’s 60% construction document estimates and reported WBE/MBE participation figures where bidders supplied them.

Project staff also updated the council on overall progress. A staff presenter said Gilbane is “fully mobilized on the site,” with stripping, soil excavation and footings in place; state permits including major land development and building permits have been received; and nonhazardous excavated material is being moved to a staging property while hazardous material has been removed off-site. McCarthy told the council the project’s current construction value sits at $113,570,000 and that the program is “trending below budget, about $7,000,000 favorable” at this stage, while cautioning that a small number of final trade awards remain.

Councilors offered few substantive changes during the public meeting; the council passed the resolutions by voice vote after brief questions about the remaining packages and overall budget status. Councilors also received and filed multiple written communications from project managers listing the recommended awards before the votes.

The town said it is concurrently completing schematic design and interviewing construction managers for the library project; the library schematic designs are expected by September and a construction manager selection will follow.

What’s next: staff said remaining best-and-final offers for a small number of trade packages will return to the council as required for award. The council authorized the town administrator to notify the selected subcontractors and to execute related steps to implement the awards.

Votes at a glance - Resolution approving recommended subcontracts for the new middle/high school (multiple RTA bid packages recommended by Colliers/Gilbane): motion passed by voice vote; mover and second not recorded in the public transcript. The resolution authorized the town administrator to notify Gilbane Building Company to award the subcontracts. - Resolution approving recommended subcontracts for the elementary school complex (multiple RTA bid packages recommended by Bentley Companies/Colliers): motion passed by voice vote; mover and second not recorded. The resolution authorized the town administrator to notify Bentley Companies LLC to award those subcontracts.

Sources and authorities The council acted in open session after an executive-session recess; the meeting record shows a separate vote to seal executive-session minutes pursuant to section 42-46-7 of the Rhode Island General Laws.