MEMORANDUM

 

To:                   Mayor Lawrence and Members of Town Council

 

From:              Scott E. Hildebran, Town Manager

 

Subject:          Bids – Robbins Swimming Pool Improvement Project

 

Date:               October 14 2008

 

 

 

The Town of Blowing Rock received bids for the Robbins Swimming Pool Improvement Project at 10:00 a.m. on October 2, 2008.

 

The project consists of the demolition of existing pool and associated structures, grading, erosion control, swimming pool construction, asphalt paving, concrete paving, sidewalk construction, bath house construction, water and sewer services, storm drainage, and related appurtenances located at the Robbins Memorial Swimming Pool - 173 Lakeside Drive.

 

The bids are as follows:

                                                                        Base Bid         Alternate 1       Total w/ Alt. 1

Eagle Wood, Inc. (Denver)                                $1,244,500      $74,000           $1,318,500

Enterline & Russell Builders, Inc. (BR)                $1,158,950      $46,465           $1,205,414

Greene Construction Inc. (Boone)                           $1,186,495      $42,000           $1,228,495

Wilkie Construction Co., Inc. (Lenoir)                 $1,086,762      $27,200           $1,113,962

 

The bids received exceed our preliminary budget estimate. As such, McGill Associates began negotiations with the low bidder, Wilkie Construction, to ascertain if the scope of work and project costs could be reduced to within current budget limits. After a thorough review, the Town would still need to allocate an additional $150,000 to $200,000 to complete the project.

 

Based on the uncertainty of the current economic situation and project costs exceeding current budgeted revenues, staff would recommend that Council reject all bids at this time.

 

Staff will reevaluate economic conditions in the spring of next year; and depending on the financial climate, the project could be re-bid. During the interim, all designated pool monies will remain reserved. Also, the Town will continue to seek additional funding sources for the project. The approved $500,000 N.C. PARTF grant has a construction completion deadline of 3 years or until June 2010. As such, a six to nine month project delay would not affect the grant award.

 

I have enclosed a complete breakdown of the bids prepared by McGill Associates for your information.

 

Doug Chapman of McGill Associates will be available at the meeting to review the project and bids.