Board reviews bids for State High project

On Monday evening, the State College Area school board reviewed the lowest base bids and alternate selections for the State High project.

Based on the lowest base bid for packages such as site work, plumbing and electrical, actual construction costs totaled $117,023,100. Soft costs, which represent items along the lines of design costs or filing fees, are expected to add up to $20,682,375. Factoring in $3,935,393 worth of grants, the cost to the SCASD would end up being $133,770,082.

The board vote will on whether to accept the bids during a special meeting to be held on Monday, Nov. 30.

In addition to reviewing the lowest base bids, the board spent a portion of the evening’s meeting evaluating recommendations for alternate selections to the project presented by the district administration and the design team.

Alternate selections are additional work items that could potentially be included as a part of the overall project but are not included in the actual construction costs.

The district administration and design team recommended a total of $4,957,700 in alternate selections be undertaken while advising that other items on the list, totaling $13,588,100, not be pursued.

Among the district and design team recommendations for alternate selections were masonry restoration to portions of the North Building constructed in 1989, air conditioning for the main gymnasium and auxiliary gymnasiums and the renovation of an existing boys locker room into separate boys and girls locker rooms with support spaces.

After reviewing the list of recommended alternative selections, the board may vote to proceed with all, none, or some of them during the special meeting Nov. 30.

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 11:01 PM with the headline "Board reviews bids for State High project."