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City manager says Benchmark is low bidder for new Sanford fire station; council to review Dec. 16
Summary
City Manager Steve Buck reported seven bids for a planned Sanford fire station, with base bids from about $14.9 million to $19.0 million and base-plus-additives between about $17.2 million and $22.2 million; Benchmark Construction was the apparent low bidder and staff will bring a recommendation and budget comparison to the Dec. 16 council meeting.
Sanford City Manager Steve Buck told the council that a Nov. 20 bid opening produced seven proposals for the city's planned new fire station and that Benchmark Construction emerged as the apparent low bidder.
"There were 14 firms that took out bids. Seven of those firms submitted bids to us," Buck said, summarizing the Nov. 20 opening and the range of offers. He reported base bids of about $14,900,000 to $19,025,000 and base-plus-alternatives bids ranging roughly $17,200,000 to $22,200,000. Buck said the three apparent low bidders'Benchmark Construction, Dukas Construction and Dilton's Construction'had a tight spread of about $500,000 (roughly 2.9 percent), which staff viewed as a positive sign for the competitiveness of the process.
Buck said staff and the city's engineering consultant reviewed subcontractor lists, sole-source items and construction-management schedules and found no major issues during interviews. "The end of the interview was productive and very informative, and we ended with a very positive impression of Benchmark," he said, adding that Benchmark is based in Westbrook.
City staff will continue standard checks and will present a bid-tabulation summary, interview notes and a budget comparison at the council's Dec. 16 meeting. Buck said the most recent engineered comparison still showed roughly $4.3 million below the referendum-based budget for the headquarters station after accounting for consumables and other items staff expects to purchase directly.
Why it matters: Selecting a contractor will commit the city to a multi-million-dollar capital project that affects construction labor, subcontractors and the schedule for emergency services infrastructure. Council members can expect a more detailed staff recommendation and the formal motion to award the contract at the Dec. 16 meeting.
What comes next: Buck said staff will return to the council on Dec. 16 with the recommended award, the full bid tabulation and a budget comparison reflecting the engineered estimates used for the referendum.
