Middle school renovation receives competitive bids; award delayed pending conservation-district permit

At the Dec. 17 property committee meeting, project consultants reported apparent low bidders for the Springfield Township School District middle school renovation and described a critical permit delay with the Montgomery County Conservation District that could delay contract awards.

Doug Taylor, the district project representative, reviewed approvals and the project schedule and identified the conservation district’s signoff on erosion and sediment controls as the critical-path item. "We were due our response from the conservation district last month, and we have not received it," Taylor said. "We need the conservation district approval in order to move forward with the project in order to receive a permit from the township."

Taylor told the committee bidders were responsive and that the project attracted several qualified trades despite a crowded bidding market. The apparent low general contractor was Bracey Construction, the apparent low mechanical contractor was JBM Mechanical, the apparent low electrical contractor was ElectroTech, and Reynolds was the apparent low plumbing bidder. Taylor described the bids as favorable overall and said the base bid sat about $70,000 under the project budget before recommended alternates.

The des…