A project representative reported the project cost estimate is about $14,000,000 and said the team will forward the estimate to the Administrative Office of the Courts for review.

"We're at right around $14,000,000 with that," Speaker 5 said, noting the estimate was completed and would be transmitted to AOC. He added the project documents are being assembled for bidding and that the contracting approach can be structured to encourage local participation.

When asked whether local contractors would be able to bid, Speaker 5 said the project team can break work scopes into smaller packages designed to encourage local firms, while still requiring bidders to meet bonding and insurance standards. "That's kind of the beauty of using the [approach] is that we can break down the work scopes into smaller packages that, you know, we encourage local participation," he said.

The board did not take a vote on bid packaging or on awarding contracts at this meeting. The discussion concluded with the project team agreeing to forward the estimate to AOC and continue preparing bid documents.