Bids on library project come below estimate

Citadel Construction, Spokane, had the apparent low bid for the Whitman County Library renovation project with a base bid of $583,200 Thursday. The library received bids from eight contractors for the project.

The contract award will be made after the bids undergo review by a USDA architect in Olympia. The review is required because of the USDA financing involved in the project, according to Library Director Kristie Kirkpatrick.

Because the bids were under the expected $750,000 range the library anticipates all six of the alternatives will be folded into the project. Alternatives added to the project would be a skylight, a canopy over the back entrance, ceiling upgrades in the basement, a storage space for the mechanical room and changes in the front plaza including a new book return drop box and planter.

The alternative bid packet for Citadel put their overall bid at $647,271.

Next apparent lowest bid came from Blews Construction, Inc., Spokane Valley. Their base bid ranked fourth at $617,800 but their total bid on six alternatives was lower for a total bid of $660,940.

Other base bids were Golis Construction Eagle, Idaho, $581,000; Bateman-Hall, Inc., Idaho Falls, $598,900; Western States Construction, Valleyford, $620,000; Kenaston Corporation, Lewiston, $653,700; James Elmer Construction, Spokane, $655,558; and D.R. Construction Services, Spokane, $689,500.

Bids on the six alternatives pushed the Golis and Bateman base bids over the total for the Blews bid.

The overall library project is expected to cost around $1 million. In addition to USDA financing and state library funding, the library has conducted a fund drive. Kirkpatrick noted the influx of stimulus funds into the USDA loan package has led to additional qualifications for the program which has slowed the process. She hopes the review of the bids will be completed in about two weeks so a contractor can be hired and the work can get underway.

The library had been moving parts of its operation to unused space in the back of the US Bank building. Some of the facilities will be located next door. When work on the project gets underway, the library building will be closed to the public.

Kirkpatrick noted the shutdown of the building led to savings for the project because the contractor will not be required to provide public access when the work gets underway.