Publish Date : 04-Jun-2016
Three Meigs County schools will have improved security before to the commencing of the 2016-17 school year.
A month ago, the Meigs County School Board jointly consented to pursue bids to setup safety vestibules at Meigs Middle School and Meigs North and Meigs South elementary schools.
When bids were opened in mid May, RBA Construction of Dayton presented the low bid of $139,950.
A lack of competitiveness among just 3 bidders, in scheduled part, head to RBA's proposal exceeding the original evaluation of $83,500.
The over $56,000 difference drove the Board to table the matter until Meigs County Director of Schools Don Roberts and Project Architect Brian Templeton, with Upland Design Group, might talk about a drop in the cost of the project.
"RBA countered with some cost-saving measures that didn't jeopardize the integrity of what we are trying to get accomplished," said Roberts.
RBA shaved more than $17,000 off its original bid with a new estimate of $122,600.
The new bid was presented to the Board at a recently called meeting
A second option was considered to wait until December when bids are accepted for a $1.1 million broadening project at Meigs County High School.
If the School Board decided on this route, the security improves might have been added as a bid alternate with more contractors competing for the job.
"There would be more bidders, no doubt about that, but you would have no guarantees on the price," said Roberts.
The Board choose to go ahead with RBA as the security project contractor at the renegotiated expense. The measure gained executive approval during the recent meeting.
The Board's quick action means the project will still be finished near its original target date of July 21.
"It will be ready when we open school in August," said Roberts. "They'll be able to do the work in 50 days."
Much of the cost savings in the renegotiated bid price is work that can be done in-house.
"There were some things we can do independently outside the contract and save a considerable amount of money," said Roberts.
Among the expense saving measures are flooring work, delivering on-site dumpsters for demolition materials, and rewiring of office communications systems.
Roberts, Templeton, and the principals from each of the three schools will meet with RBA to finalize the contract for the project.
At last, the Board was willing to accept the accelerated expense since the end result will be improved security for Meigs County students.
"Everybody felt like it was too important and they just didn't want to wait," said Roberts.
"That was the exact sentiment of the Board.
At each of the 3 schools, Upland proposes to alter an open lobby to develop a secure vestibule.
The plans might develop a pass-through window where visitors might check in at the prime office before being allowed inside the school.
"You hope nothing ever happens, but would you not kick yourself if you got into the beginning of next school year and some situation arises that could have been averted by having this in place," said Roberts.
"It's something we were going to do eventually, regardless."
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