Bethlehem Area SD recommends six contract awards for Fountain Hill project; bids come in under construction target

The Bethlehem Area School District's facilities team reported to the facilities committee that bid openings for the Fountain Hill Elementary School project produced competitive results and staff will recommend award of six contracts at the board meeting on March 17.

District staff said the prime construction bids plus accepted alternates put the projectabout $3 million below the district's $50.4 million construction target. With soft costs and a recommended $2.7 million contingency the team said the total remains about $59 million against a $62 million project budget. Staff also said the district expects a pending $1.5 million hard-cap grant that, if finalized, would further reduce the district's exposure.

At the committee meeting, staff walked members through alternates used to manage price and risk on a constrained, sloped site in a dense neighborhood. Presenting staff said alternates let the…