Tippens Community Center rehab bids vary widely; lead paint report raises major cost question

City staff briefed the council on June 5 about four bids for the Tippens Community Center and gymnasium rehabilitation and new information on hazardous materials that could materially change project costs.

Henley and Miss Penley summarized proposals received after the February 11 request for bids. The low bid, Big Sky General Contractors, was $1,993,500; Nuvo Management Corporation bid $2,137,621.47; Albion General Contractors bid about $2,494,742; and NPSGbuilt submitted approximately $4,000,000. Penley flagged several issues in lower bids, including missing line-item pricing, undersized HVAC proposals (residential units where 2 25-ton commercial units are required) and scope gaps such as sprinkler systems and camera pricing.

Penley also reported environmental findings: a county asbestos report from 2022 showed two small asbestos spots, but a lead-based paint evaluation completed after the bids showed pervasive lead-based paint "on every floor, exterior, interior," she said. That lead report was not priced into the bids and Penley said she was awaiting estimates for lead abatement; the cost of abatement and remediation could require change orders or a rebid.

Council members discussed options including requesting clarifications from bidders, rejecting bids and rebidding with lead-abatement pricing, or asking for additional detail before proceeding. Penley said she expected to have abatement cost estimates within weeks so the council could decide how to proceed.

No contract award was made on June 5; council members acknowledged the buildings historic value and the projects complexity and deferred a decision pending additional cost estimates and clarification from bidders.