HomeMy WebLinkAboutReject Bids for Downtown Bozeman Streetscape and Alley Improvements, direct to re-bid portion1
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Dustin Johnson, Project Engineer
Debbie Arkell, Director of Public Services
SUBJECT: Reject Bids for Downtown Bozeman Streetscape and Alley Improvements Project
MEETING DATE: October 24, 2011
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to reject the bids received for the Downtown
Bozeman Streetscape and Alley Improvements project, direct staff to re-bid the project to include only
the Rouse and Bozeman Avenue sidewalk and street light improvements, and authorize the City Streets
Division to complete the alley improvements, with the costs associated with the alley improvements paid for from the HUD Special Project Grant.
BACKGROUND: The City of Bozeman was awarded Special Project Grant #B-10-SP-MT-0075
from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in November, 2010. The purpose of the
grant was, “…for reconstruction following an explosion in a downtown historic district.” Of the $974,000 awarded $784,792.83 was used for construction of the third floor of the F&H Building. The remaining $189,207.17 was designated for Downtown Bozeman Streetscape and Alley Improvements.
These improvements include paving the alley behind the explosion site, new sidewalk and street lights
for Rouse Avenue and Bozeman Avenue.
The F&H Building project was completed in September 2011, and all funds designated for that purpose have been expended. At this time, $18,743.96 of the funds designated for the Bozeman
Streetscape and Alley Improvements project have also been expended for engineering design and the
original bid of the project. Currently, approximately $170,000 of the original $189,207.17 is available
for the bidding, engineering inspection, and construction costs associated with the ‘Streetscape and Alleyway’ component of the project. On August 30 bids for the Streetscape and Alley Improvements were open. There were two
bids received and both were well above the engineer’s estimate of $168,600 and the budget. The
Downtown Bozeman Association offered approximately 10% of the budget to “fund a gap”, which is not adequate based on the bids received. At this time of the construction season it is too late to redesign, rebid, or seek other funding sources.
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In discussions with staff and the Downtown Bozeman Partnership it has been agreed that the best approach is to reject the bids received on August 30th
. The design could be scaled back, and the
project rebid with alternatives that can be added or deleted, depending on budget, early next spring.
Another option is to have the City Streets Division complete the alley re-surface work. The Division has been paving alleys in the downtown area over the past few years. Streets Superintendent VanDelinder estimated materials at less than $20,000. Wages would be on a cost basis, but are
estimated at 200 total hours, for approximately $7,000. The work would take approximately one week
to complete. The Division works with the businesses to keep alley access open as much as possible for
deliveries, rather than close the alley for the duration of the project. This adds time to the project but is beneficial to our working relationship with the downtown business owners and customers.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES: None.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission. FISCAL EFFECTS: The approximately $170,000 remaining in the grant for the project will still be
available when this project is redesigned and rebid next spring.
Attachments: Bid tabulation from 8/31/11
Report compiled on: October 11, 2011
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