Commissioners authorize value‑engineered elections building after bid drops from $3.05M to $1.79M

Robert Roberts, founder of Robert Roberts LLC, told the Dade County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 5 that value engineering trimmed the county's elections building bid from just over $3 million to about $1.79 million.

“Our bid came in at just over $3,000,000,” Roberts said. He said the team reduced scope by converting the planned two‑story, roughly 1,200‑square‑foot structure into a one‑story design, reorienting sewer and site drives and reworking a number of line items. Roberts said the original $3,048,000 estimate is now approximately $1,790,000.

Commissioners emphasized that the $1.79 million figure covers the building contract as presented and does not include furnishings, parking lot work or other site finishes. “The public needs to understand that’s for the building; we still have furnishing and parking and other soft costs,” Commissioner Hartline said. The chair confirmed the county will present a contract for execution once final contract documents — including revised drawings and specifications — are assembled.

Roberts also described several durability upgrades the team kept in the design, including a mechanically seamed standing‑seam metal roof and an upgraded HVAC system to control moisture where voting machines and ballot storage will be housed. He said the county prioritized a robust roof and HVAC because of the security and longevity concerns tied to ballot storage and equipment.

County staff said the contract will include standard payment and performance bonds and builders’ risk insurance. Commissioners asked staff to continue to look for further cost savings where possible and to clarify line‑item responsibilities, including local subcontractor participation and spoil management.

The commission added the construction agreement at the $1,790,911 figure to the consent agenda and later approved the consent agenda unanimously.