Local contractors gather to learn about process for courthouse
project
Local contractors gathered in a warehouse building off Fremont
Alley on March 19 to find out more about the bid process for the
San Benito County Courthouse project. Staff from Kitchell, the
company that is acting as the construction manager-at-risk on the
project, gathered to give out preliminary information about the
project.
Local contractors gather to learn about process for courthouse project
Local contractors gathered in a warehouse building off Fremont Alley on March 19 to find out more about the bid process for the San Benito County Courthouse project. Staff from Kitchell, the company that is acting as the construction manager-at-risk on the project, gathered to give out preliminary information about the project.
At least 60 people gathered in the building, set up as a mock courthouse with a jury box, a judge’s chair and wooden benches. Randy Rominger, the project director from Kitchell, explained that the mock-up, which uses wood and Styrofoam was created to give an idea of whether the plans on paper would function in real life.
Rominger started by going over the numbers with those gathered. The project is estimated to cost $30,064,000. It will be 41,500 square feet, with two stories on a three-acre site. The Kitchell staff went over the many trades and areas of expertise that will be required to complete the project, including masonry, roofing, flooring, walls, HVAC, security, exterior skins and more.
The staff has not yet decided how it will put the project out to bid, and which trades might be packaged together. They said the Friday afternoon meeting was intended to give local vendors a chance to fill out a vendor registration form to express their interest and expertise.
“We want to hear from you to understand how to package (the bids) best,” said Rominger. “Prequalify for as many as you can and then bid.”
To enter a bid, contractors have to meet some requirements set forth by the Administrative Office of the Courts, since the project is using state funds. Some of the requirements include a mandatory prequalification, liquidated damages, prevailing wages, performance and payment bonds. Kitchell staff will also look at litigation history, safety records, history with prevailing wages, bond capacity, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise certification and insurance compensation. Some of the other items they will look out include a history on public works projects and on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects.
During a question and answer period, some contractors expressed concerns that smaller contractors such as many of the ones residing in Hollister would not have means to bond on a multi-million dollar project.
“What are you provisions for locals who can’t bond?” one man asked.
Rominger stressed that they could not be flexible on the requirement to bond because that comes from the AOC.
Rominger and his staff did say that only the prime contractor needs to be bonded, not the subcontractors so there may be opportunities for smaller companies to work on the project even if they do not bid directly on the projects.
The Kitchell staff will be hosting a prequalification workshop April 26, with the time and location to be announced at a future date. The preliminary schedule calls for prequalifications to be issued in May. Bids will be accepted January through March 2011, with construction to follow in spring.
Anyone interested in filling out a vendor registration form or in finding out more can visit www.kitchell.com. Rominger encouraged contractors to submit questions via the Web site so that they can answer questions on their Web site for other contractors who may want the same information. Contractors can also contact Kitchell staff at ho*****************@ki******.com, by phone at 408-280-7889, by fax at 408-280-7192, or by mail to Kitchell, 255 W. Julian St., Ste. 400, San Jose, CA 95110.
