Su Valley High project goes to Collins Constr

PALMER–Today the contract to build the 51,000-square-foot Su Valley Jr./Sr. High School went to Collins Construction, Inc. The contract award will be considered by the Assembly for approval on Aug. 5.

“The MAT-SU Borough is very pleased to have three solid proposals submitted,” said Russ Krafft, Borough Purchasing Officer. “This has been a high priority project for some time. We are confident that we can move this forward to award with construction beginning this fall.”

Collins Construction proposed a cost of $17,354,000, down $496,000 from the company's earlier cost in a separate process for the same project. The former proposal was cancelled. The same three contractors submitted new proposals. Collins received the highest score a second time.

Roger Hickel Contracting, Inc. submitted a cost for $17,696,000 down $207,000 from an earlier proposal. The proposals of the two companies, Collins and Hickel, were previously split by only $53,000, but now differ by $342,000, with Collins offering the less expensive contract. SKW/Eskimos, Inc. submitted a proposal cost of $18,670,000.

A fire on June 5, 2007, destroyed the former school. During the school year students have been attending school in portable classrooms nearby at the Upper Susitna Senior Center.

Assembly Member Tom Kluberton and Borough Manager John Duffy insisted on getting the school built as soon as possible.

“The next step is obtaining Assembly approval and then beginning construction as soon as possible. We look forward to getting the students back into their high school,” Duffy said.

The contract requires that the school be mostly complete by Dec. 1, 2009, with incentives for building it earlier. The contractor will receive $2,500 a day, every day prior to Dec. 1, 2009 and after Aug. 1, 2009, that the school is substantially complete. Substantially complete means the project is 30 days away from completion with small items to complete.

For more information call Purchasing Officer Russ Krafft 745-9615 or Assistant Purchasing Officer Todd Lindstrom.

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