7 bids received for new complex

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7 bids received for new complex

By Martin B. Cassidy
Staff Writer

September 16, 2006

Seven contractors entered bids to build the town's new police station and parking garage, after an earlier round only drew one offer.

Yesterday's low bidder, Bethel-based Worth Construction, entered a bid of $30,978,000 to build the police station and 177-space parking garage, according to Jim Latham, the town Purchasing Department's senior buyer. The contract is for the first phase of a five-year project to build a public safety facility that will house the police, fire, and emergency medical administrations all under one roof.

The contract will probably be awarded within two weeks, Latham said.

Town officials had said they hoped the bids would come in beneath their $31 million "budgetary number" to complete the project.

"We're very pleased with the response," Latham said. "We have seven bids and two within the budget range."

Town Building Superintendent Alan Monelli, who will oversee the review of the bids, was unavailable for comment.

"It's my understanding that the two low bids were very similar to each other, so we'll have to evaluate them and see if they are comparable," First Selectman Jim Lash said.

In July, the town received only one bid to build the police station and garage, a $35.8 million offer from Stamford-based Viking Construction Co., which revised its second bid down to $30,987,000 on Thursday.

The other five bids ranged from $33.5 million to $37.9 million.

The low bidder isn't guaranteed the contract; Latham said the town must review Worth's track record, references, and financial wherewithal to verify whether they are a "responsive and responsible" bidder that can deliver the new building at the promised cost.

The contract for the police station and garage calls for the entire project to be completed in 850 days, with the garage being built first and opened by the 600th day.

Construction on the new police station and garage is scheduled to begin early next year.

The town is expecting the recently vacated Police Administration Building on Bruce Place to be demolished this month.

After the completion of the police station and garage in 2009, the Police/Fire Building next to it will be renovated to house the Greenwich Fire Department, with a projected completion date of 2011.