Board approves base Prop B HVAC contract; alternates tabled for April

The Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District board voted March 12 to approve a base HVAC installation contract under the district’s Prop B bond program and tabled consideration of priced alternates.

Ray, the district’s Navigate project lead, presented the scope included in the bond: replacement of end‑of‑life rooftop units, replacement of 41 water‑source heat pumps at the middle and high school, and automated controls for the ECC green building. He said the base contract arrived very close to the original bond budget and recommended awarding the base purchase order to IFS so preconstruction work and permitting could begin.

Ray described alternates priced separately that would add work beyond the bond’s base scope: removing abandoned rooftop units and adding safe roof access ($4,000–$13,000 items), repairing dented ductwork ($32,002.50), ECC alternates ($65,500 total), additional classroom control and isolation work at the middle/high school (roughly $120,700), and a code‑driven option to tie 41 units to duct detectors and automatic shutdown (priced at about $140,001.60). He said combining those alternates would come to just under $400,000.

During action on the item the board approved the base installation agreement and voted to table the alternates until the April meeting so members could review bids and confirm mechanical‑inspector guidance on whether the code upgrades are required for the replacement scope.

The board’s motion to authorize the base contract allows IFS to proceed with preconstruction work and permitting and to be lined up to start during the summer window. The administration noted that some added alternates would improve safety and long‑term maintenance access but are optional and would require use of bond premium or contingency funds if accepted.