Pequot Lakes school board accepts bids for middle and high school additions, with conditions

The Board of Education of Independent School District #186 (Pequot Lakes Public Schools) voted 5-0 Dec. 22 to accept the low qualified bids for the Pequot Lakes Middle and High School Additions and Alterations project and to approve a set of bid alternates as recommended in a bid recap prepared by R.A. Morton & Associates.

"to accept the Pequot Lakes Middle and High School Additions and Alterations bid packages from the lowest qualified and responsible bidder for each bid section as recommended on the Bid Recap document presented by R.A. Morton & Associates for the base bid; to accept Alternates 3, 4, 5, and 7; and to reject Alternates 2, 6, and 10. Alternates 1, 8, and 9 will be held for approval until a later date," moved Director Pamela Johnson and seconded by Director Ross Nelson, according to the meeting record. The board approved the motion unanimously, with Directors Kim Bolz-Andolshek, Mariah Hines, Pamela Johnson, Dena Moody and Ross Nelson recorded as voting yes.

Board members and staff noted a procedural condition on the approvals: authorization is contingent upon "successful Pre-award interviews with each prime contractor, as determined by R.A. Morton." The condition requires pre-award interviews for each prime contractor before final contract awards and was included explicitly in the motion passed by the board.

The action resolves the immediate procurement step for the additions and alterations project by selecting qualified low bidders and clarifying which alternates will move forward, which are rejected, and which remain pending for later board consideration. No dollar amounts, individual bidder names, or contractor-specific award decisions were recorded in the minutes; those details remain subject to the pre-award interview process and further documentation.