SPS declines Fremont Elementary construction bid

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education declined to approve a recommended $12.95 million bid for renovation and construction at Fremont Elementary.

The bid was $1.3 million over the anticipated budget of $11.4 million for the 73,165-square-foot project. The recommended bid included $245,927 for kitchen equipment to be funded through a different budget line item.

Part of a $72 million 2013 bond initiative, the additional cost for the overage could be funded through bond premium. To date, the issued 2013 bonds have resulted in $2.7 million in bond premium, according to a news release.

During the May 20 meeting, the board said more financial and project growth information was needed before moving forward. It requested Census data and additional financial information with the agreement to hold a special meeting to revisit the bid recommendation.

Prior to the board meeting, the district held a value engineering meeting to discuss options for reducing costs in the recommended bid. Two options were identified:

• Eliminate four proposed classrooms resulting in three classrooms per grade level instead of the district standard of four classrooms per grade level for a savings of $534,000.
• Eliminate a 5 foot bump-out in design that provides shared storage space between classrooms and reduce Title I rooms to one from two. Planned collaborative space could be used for a second Title I room for a savings of $296,000.

All bids are guaranteed if approved within 30 days. The district plans to ask recommended builder DeWitt & Associates Inc. how long the company is willing to hold open the bid window, according to the release.

To date, the district already has spent $600,000 in architect and engineering design fees. If the board asks for a project redesign, construction would be delayed by a year.