Board awards $4.3M sewer rehab contract to SBW Constructors; final change order reduces cost by $978,000 and extends completion

The Water Resources Board approved awarding the 2025 sewer rehabilitation contract to SBW Constructors, the low bidder, for a total contract amount presented as $4,300,000. Speaker 3 said the bid came in higher than earlier staff estimates and attributed increases to market factors including high demand for contractors and supply costs; the contract includes developer-paid lining work (about $202,000) and NTSU private-line repairs for which the university will pay roughly $120,000.

Speaker 3 explained staff had targeted a $3 million project but market volatility and coupling of two projects produced the larger bid. Board members discussed why competing bids varied; staff said apparent bid differences can come from bidders anticipating more bypass or other work. Construction time was estimated at about a year.

Staff also presented a final change order for an earlier 2023 rehab project. The change order adds 184 days to the substantial-completion schedule (construction finished June 25 but final documentation and video submittals remain pending) while reducing the project contract value by $978,000 because contingency and unused allowances were returned. Speaker 3 said some large-ticket items and contingency funds were not used and that portions of the project were removed because easements were not obtained in time.

The board approved the contract actions and the final change order by voice vote. Staff told the board the combined funding strategy typically splits project costs between the operating budget and working-capital reserves (historically about $1.25 million each), though the mix was altered this cycle by project timing and scope. Legal review is required before the change order form is finalized.