CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The guaranteed maximum price for Bradley Central High School’s fine arts center is just over $3.2 million.
“I believe we are getting a lot more building than the money we have,” Director of Schools Johnny McDaniel said this week as county school board members heard the bids read and approved the budget. “It’s a great time to be building.”
The bargain bids are the combined effect of the slow economy and some value engineering, officials said.
Board Vice Chairman Terry McGuire asked the construction manager for the project if any of the bids are “too good to be true.”
He asked Cason Conn with Tricon Construction Co. if the companies actually can do the work for the price they quoted.
“There are some bids here that are so good they do raise an eyebrow,” said Mr. Conn, adding that he knows almost all the bidders and has confidence in them.
“But that’s why you pay me. All these people, before they step on the site, will provide a bond. If it blows up in my face, that’s my problem,” Mr. Conn said.
BY THE NUMBERS$3.2 million: Guaranteed top price for fine arts center200: Bid packages sent to local contractors17: Separate work packages bid for projectSource: Tricon Construction
Board members also said they are pleased that most of the bidders are local.
Mr. Conn said 95 percent of the construction cost has been assigned to subcontractors within a 30-mile radius of Cleveland. The two exceptions, he said, are a fixed-seating company and a glass contractor, both from the Nashville area.
He said more than 200 bid invitations were sent to subcontractors. Tricon reached its goal to average three bidders for each of 17 packages of work, he said.
Responding to a question from board member Troy Weathers, Mr. Conn and Mr. McDaniel said they expect no surprises with unknown soil issues on the site.
“The reason I asked the question is that we had some issues with the earth work at Park View (Elementary),” Mr. Weathers said. “I want to make sure we are all on the same page.”
Mr. Conn said site preparation could begin Monday, now that students have left for the summer.
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