Water System Bids

The architect informed us today the specifications are ready for bid on the new water system. The project will require removal of an existing six inch water line that runs through the property and install a new underground system to include fire protection. The sealed bids will be opened April 19 at 2:00 p.m. in the office of the superintendent.

Architect and Contractor Begin Process

I talked with Bob Bailey, the architect, and he is submitting the storm drain prevention plan for approval today and preparing the contract for signatures. It should take about ten days for the plans to be approved. Also, I talked to Pete Edwards with Edwards Construction and he expects to begin work on the project about the time the storm drain prevention plan is approved. We will keep you updated with information and pictures as the property is developed. If you have any questions about the building, grounds or process, please don't hesitate to call the superintendent's office and we will try to get you an answer.

Excavation Bid Awarded

The Board of Directors in regular session on Monday night awarded the excavation bid to Edwards Bros. Construction. Their bid was $358,475. A storm drain prevention plan has to be submitted and approved to the appropriate state agency before dirt work can begin. It is estimated the approval may take ten working days. Edwards Bros. included in their bid a fifty day expected completion timeline with a time extension for weather days.

Bids Accepted

The architect accepted five bids for the dirt work on the project. The five bids were:
Big River Construction, Mayflower, AR - $572,850.00
Delk Construction, Bald Knob, AR - $2,499,744.00
Edwards Bros. Construction, Violet Hill, AR - $358,475.00
NoaCon Inc., Shirley, AR - $650,911.00
Provence Construction, Cave City, AR - $520,000.00

The School Board will consider the bids at the next meeting and award a contract.

Dirt Bids Opened Tomorrow

There has been considerble interest in the dirt work of the new building. Nine contrators have requested plans but all the contractors might not submit bids. The Contractors who are on the bidders list are: BB's Excavating & Hauling, Mount Pleasant; Big River Construction, Mayflower, AR; Delk Construction, Bald Knob, AR; Edward Brothers Construction, Melbourne; Frank's Construction, Inc., Mtn. View, AR; Noacon, Inc., Shirley, AR;
Provence Construction, Cave City, AR; Sweets Contracting Inc., Batesville, AR; White River Materials Inc., Batesville, AR. The sealed bids will be opened March 21 at 2:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria on the Melbounre Campus. We will post information about the bids immediately after the meeting.

Bidders

I talked with the architect today and he informed us that nine (9) bidders have picked up plans for the dirt work on the building site. We are pleased to have that much interest in the project.

Final Site Plans

We received the final site plans for the dirt work on Monday. This should clear the way for the bidding process that is scheduled on Tuesday, March 21 at 2:00 p.m. in the superintendent's office. Also, work continues on the specifications for the bids on the building erection. The building bids are scheduled for completion sometime around the middle of May.

Core Drill Results

The architect informed us this afternoon the complete results from the core drills should be available Tuesday or Wednesday. The bidders need this information before they can finalize their bids. The preliminary results show the soil in the site can be compacted to the required standard and the building area most likely will not have any significant rock problems. These are the results that we were hoping for. The bids are scheduled to be opened on March 21, 2006 in the office of the superintendent.

Dirt Bid Delay

The architect informed us today that the final test results on the core drills will not be completed in time to allow the bidders ample time to make a complete judgment on the shrink, swell and compaction capacity of the soil. It will be necessary to delay opening the bids on the dirt work for one week from March, 14 to March, 21. It is in the school's and bidder's best interest to have an accurate assessment of the subsoil structure before bidding. We want bids to be based on the actual soil that we have, not what they would have to assume is there.

Bidders on Site

Four bidders, along with the architect, were on the building site today to go over the specifications for the dirt work. They were also looking at the area to help determine the best way to do the excavation as required by the plans. In additon, the bidders had an opportunity to go over some of the technical aspects of the plans and specifications with the architect. The bids for the dirt work are scheduled to be opened March 14, at 2:00 in the superintendent's office.

Core Drills Completed

The engineering company has completed the core drills on the site and the report will be given to the architect in the next few days. The results of the core drills are the only remaining information necessary for bidders to complete their bids that will be opened on Tuesday, March 14. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7 to go over the specifications with the bidders.

Pre-Bid Meeting

A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled at 11:00 a. m. on Tuesday, March 7, with the architect, bidders and administration. The architect will go over the plans for the dirt work with the bidders and answer any questions they may have. This insures that all bidders have the same information on the specifications. The bids for the building erection are still on schedule to be bid in mid May.