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Atchison County hears $131,160 design proposal for new road and bridge facility
Summary
Architects from BG Consultants presented a design-and-bid services proposal for a 13,500-square-foot Road & Bridge facility, outlining a $131,160 fixed design fee, a $1.6 million conceptual construction estimate, a 24‑week maximum design schedule and optional construction administration services.
BG Consultants presented a proposal to the Atchison County Commission on March 11 for design and bidding services to build a new 13,500-square-foot Road & Bridge facility.
Clint Head, architect principal with BG Consultants, told commissioners the firm's $131,160 fee covers full architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical and civil engineering to produce construction documents suitable for public bidding. Head said surveying for the site already has been completed and geotechnical services are outside the base scope and would be procured separately.
The contractor selection approach the county prefers, commissioners said, is to award a single general contractor for a turnkey build. Commissioners and staff pressed the design firm about scope items that could be pared back to reduce costs — for example, less frequent design‑phase meetings or removing optional interior‑design decisions — and about using alternates in the bidding documents so the county could keep a base bid within its capital limits while preserving upgrade options.
Head said the proposal assumes a conceptual project cost of about $1,600,000 and that BG Consultants will provide periodic cost estimates at key phases (schematic design, design development, construction documents) using RSMeans and local market feedback. He described a phased approach: schematic design, design development and construction documents, with an optional construction‑administration contract available later. Head said construction administration is priced separately and, if engaged extensively, is typically measured as a percentage of the design fee rather than the building cost.
On schedule, BG Consultants estimated a maximum 24‑week design timeline from notice to proceed; Head recommended bidding in the fall so site and footing work could begin before winter, with building erection following in spring. He also said the firm would support bidding and make recommendations to the county about the lowest‑qualified bidder.
Joe Snyder, Atchison County Road & Bridge superintendent, and commissioners emphasized the county’s limited capital funds and asked that the design deliverables enable an apples‑to‑apples bid so the county can choose a qualified general contractor to oversee construction without retaining architect oversight through the entire build if the county prefers that approach.
The discussion closed with staff and BG Consultants agreeing to refine the scope and clarify optional services before any contract decision by the commission.
