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Middletown council approves multiple subcontract awards for middle/high and elementary school projects
Summary
Council approved a package of subcontract awards for the Middletown Middle–High School and elementary school renovation projects, including a late-added $2.8 million exterior storefront and curtain-wall contract and a mechanical repairs contract for the elementary school.
The Town of Middletown council on June 9 approved a slate of subcontract awards and an authorization to proceed for alternates tied to the ongoing middle–high school construction and the elementary school renovation projects.
Justin Bernard, senior project manager with Colliers (project management services), briefed the council on multiple RTA (request to award) packages submitted by Gilbane Building Company. Bernard said Colliers and Gilbane recommended awarding the exterior storefront and curtain-wall package (RTA 08b) to Danielson Glass for $2,800,000; that item was added to the agenda on an emergency amendment because of the package’s long lead time.
The council also approved awards and authorizations covering concrete, structural steel and site work (authorization to proceed/ATP), masonry, miscellaneous metals, applied fireproofing, panelized exterior veneer (metal panels), drywall and general trades, dumpsters, surveying and temporary toilets. Bernard flagged that the masonry package (Capaso Enterprises Inc.) came in significantly above the 60% construction-period budget; Capaso’s winning bid for masonry was $6,140,000 against the earlier 60% estimate of about $3.45 million. Colliers noted the masonry bids reflected scope changes between 60% and 100% drawings and reported MBE participation of 16.9% in that package.
Several other awards were below their budget numbers. Notable figures discussed at the meeting include: - Miscellaneous metals: Shepherd Steel Co., $474,000 (budget: about $1.43 million). Shepherd Steel also serves as the structural-steel contractor and reported roughly 19% WBE participation in its package. - Applied fireproofing: Century Drywall, $577,000 (budget: about $982,410). - Panelized exterior veneer (metal panels): NRD Construction Inc., $1,000,341 (budget: about $1.4 million) with 4.82% WBE participation. - Drywall and general trades: New England Finish Systems, $9,595,000 (budget: about $10.47 million); MBE participation ~15.01%. - Dumpsters (site): Waste Management, $390,000 (unit pricing basis). - Surveying: Frank O. Waterman & Associates, $90,000 (matches 60% CD budget figure). - Temporary toilets: United Site Services, $72,000.
Bernard also requested authorization to proceed (ATP 001) on alternate 9, the hoistway and elevator at the middle school, which carries a combined value of about $72,000 for the participating contractors. The council approved the ATP.
Councilors asked about the drivers behind the masonry overrun; Bernard and Gilbane staff said the 100% construction documents increased the masonry scope and included more complex detailing, which raised labor and material needs. Project managers said savings in other façade packages—particularly metal panels—help offset the masonry increase. The council heard that, overall, the project is currently trending under its original budget estimate by several million dollars but that several major packages remain to be awarded and cost risk remains.
The council voted to approve a resolution directing Gilbane to award the listed subcontracts and to include the RTA 08b exterior storefront and curtain-wall award in the resolution as amended. The resolution states funding will come from school improvement bond proceeds and that school department capital project accounts will record the expenses.
