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Leavenworth County approves $4.3 million award for 230 Fifth Street road project
Summary
The Leavenworth County Commission voted unanimously to accept the low bid from Ebert Construction to build the 230 Fifth Street roadway between Hollingsworth and Dempsey roads, approving a $4,301,411.96 contract with a 7.5% contingency and noting funding from state and federal sources.
Leavenworth County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a notice of award to Ebert Construction for the 230 Fifth Street road project between Hollingsworth Road and Dempsey Road, awarding a contract in the amount stated in the meeting as $4,301,411.96 with a 7.5% contingency. The vote was unanimous.
County staff told commissioners the project has $950,000 in Kansas cost-share funding and $2,000,000 in congressionally directed spending secured with support from U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, for a total grant package described in the meeting as $2,950,000. Bill, the county project presenter, said the low bidder was about $920,000 below the next bid and the engineers’ estimate.
The county presentation said the project will be a 13‑month contract with most work next year and a start window in October. Plans were changed from an original chip‑and‑seal design to an asphalt cross section to reflect traffic needs and KDOT standards. Bill warned commissioners that geotechnical borings were not fully updated before bidding and that soil and rock conditions in parts of Leavenworth County can require additional cement-treated base or change orders.
On the bid margin, staff said contractors bid the job with unclassified excavation, forcing firms to estimate the amount of rock removal. "The low bidder was low by $920,000," Bill said, and the contractor told staff it stood behind its price.
The county also noted this is a Davis‑Bacon prevailing‑wage job; staff said union wages will apply. Commissioners asked questions about the competitive field and the contingency level; staff said the 7.5% contingency is intended to mitigate risk and that offering a later start date and a long contract window helped attract competitive bids.
The commission made the motion to accept the low bid and issue the notice of award; roll call returned affirmative votes from the full board and the award was approved.
The contract award authorizes the county to proceed with contracting and to manage construction oversight, change orders and contingency usage in accordance with county procurement rules and the project budget. Staff said they will monitor field conditions and return to the commission if major change orders are needed.
