Board rejects non‑compliant low concrete bid, approves low bids for new bus/maintenance facility

The Tea Area School District 41‑5 board voted to reject a concrete bid that did not meet project specifications and approved the other low bids for a planned custodial/maintenance and bus facility south of the existing transportation building.

District staff presented bid results across five categories and said the low bids for the overall project totaled "just over $300,000." The business manager told the board that capital outlay has $350,000 allocated for the project but after adding required engineering, fiber, permitting, builders risk insurance and a contingency, the total would be about $377,000. Staff noted the district is tax‑exempt, so the successful bidder will deduct sales tax from the final contract amount.

Staff explained the planned facility would include two concrete stalls with a concrete floor for maintenance work (mower and equipment maintenance), a small office and restroom, and four gravel‑floor single stalls for buses. Site preparation and stormwater drainage engineering are part of the scope; the building is sited to the south of the current transportation building (where a small yellow shed now sits) and leaves room for possible future expansion.

Wayne (district operations staff) reported that the low concrete bid from Elevated (listed in one set of notes as submitted through “Reeves”) was missing a substantial portion of the work and therefore had to be rejected. The board moved to "reject the concrete bid from Reeves due to it not meeting the required specifications" and then approved the remaining low bids as presented. Both motions passed unanimously. Staff said the hope is to begin construction in April, subject to ground and weather conditions, and to complete the project by July or before the start of school.

The board also approved moving forward with required engineering, permitting and procurement steps to finalize the contract awards.