Council reawakens commissioning-agent award for high school after low bidder withdraws; second-lowest bidder selected for $41,450

The West Warwick Town Council voted April 28 to rescind an original bid award for commissioning-agent services on the high school construction project after the low bidder withdrew its offer and to award the contract to the second-lowest bidder, Affiliated Engineers of Boston, in the amount of $41,450.

The council heard from Mark, a representative of the school building committee, who said the low bidder — Sustainable Engineering Solutions — requested to withdraw its bid because of an estimate error and its right to do so without penalty. "They made an estimate error and asked to withdraw," Mark said, explaining the rationale for rescinding the prior award.

Council members then considered the recommendation of the school building committee to reaward the commissioning-agent services to Affiliated Engineers. The council approved the award by voice vote; the funding source identified was loan proceeds or anticipated bond proceeds. The motion passed with at least one member recorded as opposed during the voice vote.

The council also received the school building committee's monthly update earlier in the meeting. Mark reported construction on Payan Street is ongoing and on schedule but noted rot discovered under window framing that will require repairs. He said schematic-design comments for the high school (Maisie/Maysie Quinn) were received, and that initial estimates had cost exposures — about $385,000 over estimate on one project and roughly $155,000 on another — but he said those figures remain within project allowances pending value engineering.

The council did not amend contract amounts for commissioning-agent services at the meeting beyond awarding the $41,450 contract; the project financing will proceed through the town's loan or expected bond issuance. The council recorded the vote by voice; no formal roll-call tally was provided in the record. The town plans to proceed with commissioning services as the school projects move through the design and construction phases.