Valley View indoor-air-quality project: bids summarized; total project under preliminary budget, board to consider awards Dec. 9

Director of Finance Finneken presented an informational update on the Valley View Elementary indoor air-quality (IEQ) project, summarizing apparent low bids across scopes and the next steps for vetting and award.

Finneken said low bids or apparent low bidders had been identified for many trade packages (demo, concrete, structural steel, roofing, drywall, acoustics, flooring, fire suppression, electrical and others). Mechanical (the largest package) attracted three finalists and will be interviewed as a best-value scope; geothermal well work was identified as a separate best-value component with Midwest Mechanical Solutions identified as the low-cost offer compared with another large competitor.

After vetting apparent low bids and adding soft costs and contingencies, Finneken reported a total project estimate of $18,059,386.59 and noted the number is about $160,614 under the preliminary budget. The construction cost and contingency line was reported as approximately $15,000,002.25; soft costs and commissioning brought the total to the figure cited. Finneken cautioned the board that contingencies are included for expected items such as asbestos abatement and that costs can change over the two-year execution window.

Finneken told the board that a formal recommendation to award bids and a resolution authorizing the bond sale will come to the board at the Dec. 9 meeting; Ehlers (the district's financial advisor) is expected to attend to explain bond-sale logistics. The project schedule forecasts construction starting in 2026 and completion in August 2027 (two summer construction seasons).

Board members asked for the full bid tabulations and scope details; Finneken said staff will circulate the full bidder list and make the recommendation on Dec. 9. No vote was taken at the Nov. 25 meeting; the item was informational.