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Board accepts $3.348 million low bid for Warren County High School cafeteria, adds $125,000 contingency
Summary
At a special-called meeting the board accepted FTM Contracting’s $3,348,000 bid for a new Warren County High School cafeteria and approved a $125,000 contingency for utilities and site uncertainty; the motion passed by voice vote.
The board overseeing Warren County schools voted to award the cafeteria construction contract at Warren County High School to FTM Contracting for $3,348,000 and approved adding a $125,000 contingency for potential utility and site work, moving the project budget to $3,473,000 if the contingency is used.
Presenter laid out the bid tabulation and alternates, saying four timely bids were opened: Core Construction of Smyrna ($3,580,000), FTM Contracting of Cookeville ($3,348,000), Sain Construction of Manchester ($3,725,000) and Thrash Construction of Franklin ($3,400,000). One additional bid arrived late and could not be opened. The presenter said architect Alan Hill recommended retaining the specified polished-concrete flooring and the acoustical ceiling/lighting rather than taking the listed alternates.
The presenter recommended accepting the lowest compliant bid and adding a $125,000 contingency to cover potential utility-related work in the hilly area of the site. "I will tell you that at 3.473 I'm actually very pleased with that price," the presenter said about the total if the contingency is encumbered. The presenter also emphasized the schedule: the project is expected to be completed by the end of February 2027 to prepare the space for the following school year.
Board members discussed trade-offs between price, schedule and past performance. Several members cited past timing issues with the low bidder on other Warren County projects and noted that Sain Construction, though higher by roughly $300,000, had completed a recent Centertown addition ahead of schedule. Staff said the contract includes liquidated damages of $600 per day for each day the contractor fails to complete the project after the February 2027 deadline.
Mr. Brown moved to accept FTM Contracting's bid and add the $125,000 contingency for utility/improvement allowances; an unnamed board member seconded. After brief discussion the board approved the motion by voice vote. The motion carried with no roll-call tally provided.
Next steps: staff will proceed with contract execution and oversight; any use of the contingency would require a change order. If the contingency is not used, those funds would be returned to the board.
