Agenda - 04-03-2001-8g - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 3, 2001 Action Agenda Item No. q SUBJECT: Authorization to Award Bids for Renovation of 129 East King Street, Hillsborough PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam Jones (919) 245-2652 . TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227 2031 PURPOSE: To consider-authorizing the Purchasing and Central Services Director to award bids for renovation work at 129 East King Street, Hillsborough in an amount not to exceed $100,000. BACKGROUND : The County purchased the referenced property in which to relocate the Department of Purchasing and Central Services from leased space. After considerable delay, plans were finalized, appropriate approvals were obtained and bids solicited for the renovation work at 129 East King Street. Bids received from three bidders ranged from $297,098 - $334,245, a significant over-run of the $150,000 estimate submitted by the architect and substantially exceeding available funds. The architect continues to believe the value of the work is around $150,000. It is unclear why the bids were above the estimate, however, builders general unfamiliarity with the sustainable design features of the project, coupled with the fact that. small jobs may pay a premium price in an active construction market such as the one in the Triangle area are likely factors. Negotiation with the low bidder yielded savings of approximately $57,000, however these savings remove many of the sustainability elements of the project and reduce the value of the project below a level that is acceptable to the County. Much of the renovation cost lies in the general contractor part of the work, of which a significant portion can be accomplished with County forces. Through collaboration between the Public Works staff and the Purchasing staff, a process has been established to use County forces for part of the general contract work; and supplemental contracts executed for the installation of HVAC, electrical and plumbing work that cannot be accomplished in house. Although not all of the work can be accomplished within the $125,000 limit set by statute for projects using County staff, it will enable substantial completion to the point the space can be occupied by the Purchasing and Central Services Department. Any remaining work that is critical to the project may be scheduled at some future date in subsequent years.