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Board approves Pounds auditorium mechanical and electrical contracts amid concerns about limited bids
Summary
The board approved mechanical and electrical contractors for the Pounds auditorium renovation after Buildings & Grounds reported a low-bid package and options that reduced an initial estimate to about $3.62M; board members said the electrical bid pool was small and urged caution.
The Palisades board voted to approve mechanical and electrical contracts for the Pounds auditorium renovation at the June 3 meeting after a Buildings & Grounds summary outlined bid results and alternatives.
Buildings & Grounds reported five general-contractor bids for the mechanical scope and two bids for electrical, then combined the lowest bidders and proposed alternatives that reduced an initial $3.868 million estimate to about $3.621 million. On the board agenda, Tri-County Mechanical was approved as the mechanical contractor for $278,000 and Wingate Electric as the electrical contractor for $1,873,900. Mr. Freeman, who summarized the committee's review, said the committee "didn't get as many options as we should have" and that only two electrical bidders responded, which reduced competitive choice.
Board members who supported moving forward cited cost escalation risk from delaying the work; others said they would have liked more bidding alternatives and more time to review RFP options. The administration and committee members said construction would start in summer if awards proceed.
The board asked administration to continue exploring alternatives where feasible and to share additional bid-package detail with the Buildings & Grounds committee.
