Taylor board approves nearly $8 million contract for summer elementary renovations

The Taylor School District Board of Education voted to award Braun Construction the general-contractor contract for the district’s 2024 summer elementary renovations, a project the district said will total $7,986,955.72 including accepted alternates and an owner contingency.

Gary Campbell of Planter and RealPoint presented the recommendation and the procurement record to the board, saying the district received three sealed proposals and that Braun submitted the apparent low base bid. "Overall, the award recommendation that we're bringing tonight is $7,986,955.72," Campbell said, summarizing the bid alternates, contingency and fee included in the recommended award.

Why it matters: The projects cover renovations at Holland Elementary, McDowell Elementary and Myers Elementary as part of the district’s 2021 bond program. Board members pressed for clarity about schedule risk, material lead times and how much would be paid from bond proceeds versus the general fund.

Details and budget: Campbell told the board the district set aside an earlier estimate of about $1.5 million for the Holland addition under prior bond language, but current prices pushed the district’s general-fund exposure to $2,845,100; he said the bond proceeds would cover approximately $5,141,855. The recommended award includes $329,078.72 in owner contingency, $266,046 in general conditions, $123,427 for insurance and bonds, and a project fee of $298,046, according to the presentation materials.

Procurement and bids: The board packet included a bid-tabulation and a collaborative recommendation letter. Campbell said Braun’s low base bid (reported in the packet as $6,989,371) was substantially lower than the next proposals and that the team conducted post-bid scope reviews to confirm inclusions. The other proposals listed in the packet were from DeMaria ($7,874,843) and City Contracting Group ($7,874,000), with a presented total cost of work of $7,657,877 after selected alternates.

Schedule, lead times and site security: Board members asked whether the contract included liquidated damages and how the team would handle long lead items. Campbell acknowledged concerns about doors, hardware and mechanical components and said the contractor proposed alternate sequencing and night/weekend installation so occupancy would not be affected. For the Holland addition, Campbell said temporary fencing and doors would be part of the plan and that the team would coordinate moves, furniture delivery and decommissioning with the district’s maintenance schedule.

Board action and next steps: A motion to award Braun Construction the 2024 Summer Renovations Project was made and seconded; the board president announced, "That carries 4-2." The motion was recorded as approved and the award is subject to final review and approval by the district’s legal counsel before execution.

What’s next: District staff said they will continue meetings with the selected contractor to identify potential scope reductions or alternate materials to lower costs and to finalize mobilization timing after schools let out for the summer.