MSAD 51 board awards one‑campus construction contract to Great Falls Construction, removes costly parking alternate

The MSAD 51 Board of Directors voted unanimously June 18 to award the district's one‑campus construction contract to Great Falls Construction, approving the base bid plus alternates 1 through 7 and deliberately excluding alternate 8 (a parking deck/parking over the retention pond).

Board members said the decision followed a close review of bid tabulations, contractor estimates and program priorities. With alternate 8 removed, the winning package totals $35,329,352; the bid with all alternates had been $36,149,329 and alternate 8 alone was priced at $819,977.

Why it matters: The award launches the next phase of the multi‑year “one campus” project that includes a new school building, classroom additions at Mabel I. Wilson (MIW), parking adjustments and site work. Board and building‑committee members said the bids came in under the district's planning target, giving the board room to add several previously deferred alternates while leaving one particularly expensive parking option off the contract.

Details of the bid and debate Board members…