Hopkins board hears $5.4 million plan for multi‑sport dome; down payment, procurement paths explained
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Summary
SiteLogic and district staff told the Hopkins School Board the multi‑sport dome package would cost about $5.4 million, split between a $1.73 million cooperative Sourcewell contract for the dome membrane and roughly $3.67 million in site work to be publicly bid; the vendor would require a 50% down payment to begin fabrication to meet an October goal.
SiteLogic and Hopkins Public Schools officials laid out details of a planned multi‑sport dome on Feb. 24, telling the board the project mixes two procurement methods and carries a roughly $5.4 million price tag.
The district’s presentation described the dome as two parts: the inflatable membrane and related vendor‑supplied equipment procured via a cooperative purchasing contract, and the site work and a support building that will be put through the district’s traditional public bidding process. “The total budget for the dome is approximately 5,400,000.0,” the presenter said. The cooperative Sourcewell portion is roughly $1,730,000 and the site and support‑building work about $3,670,000.
Why two procurement paths? SiteLogic’s team explained that cooperative purchasing (for example, Sourcewell or Omnia) uses competitively run, pre‑negotiated contracts that can speed procurement and sometimes provide discounts. SiteLogic noted Sourcewell participating agencies receive a 5% cooperative discount and that Sourcewell’s RFP for dome suppliers drew 15 responses and led to multiple vendor awards. For the membrane vendor Yaden, presenters said the contract would require a 50% down payment so the firm can source materials and begin fabrication in time for an October installation target.
Board members pushed for more clear benefit and usage data to accompany the cost figures. “I don’t really know how many people are gonna use this dome and for how long,” a board member said, urging the team to include ROI and usage assumptions with future contract materials. Presenters said the dome is intended for district athletics and community use, and that a support building will provide seasonal storage for the membrane so the facility is not removed year to year.
Administrators also told the board about a cooperative agreement on the consent calendar for a physical security gap analysis; that contract is limited to a Phase 1 discovery scope that will define later bid packages for electronics and physical security tied to construction timelines.
What’s next: the dome contract and related site work were presented as consent items for the regular board meeting; the board will receive further documentation including ROI and usage details and an explanation of funding sources as the project moves toward contract approval.