Board awards bids for Louise White renovation, approves HVAC purchase

The Batavia USD 101 Board of Education approved awards for the Louise White Building Improvement Project and separately authorized the cooperative purchase of HVAC equipment and controls.

Facilities staff described the scope of work for Louise White, which includes security vestibules, reconfiguration of kindergarten rooms, a full roof replacement, replacement of doors and windows, and rooftop HVAC/DOAS units. Staff said the electrical trade required re-bidding to attract more vendors and that some trade estimates came in much higher than expected: on average, trade prices rose about 18% compared with last year and millwork costs showed notable volatility. The project includes allowances (presented in materials) to cover potential change orders.

Board members stressed the importance of competitive bidding and prudence as the district manages capital investments given rising construction costs. The board moved and voted to award the lowest responsible bidders as presented.

Separately, the board approved the purchase of HVAC equipment and controls through Omnia Partners, a cooperative purchasing arrangement, noting long lead times for some units and the district’s plan to store equipment until installation. Administration said that bundling and prior purchases reduced the net cost for this package compared with last year.

Motion language: "That the board award the bids for the Louise White Building Improvement Project as presented" and a separate motion to approve the HVAC equipment and controls purchase were both carried in roll-call votes.

Next steps: administration will proceed with contracts and scheduling; staff said allowances and allowances-labeled contingency sums are included in the project total to accommodate likely change orders.