The second of three bid packages for the Whitefish High School redevelopment project was approved by the board despite coming in higher than estimated. 

The district was hoping the bid package would come in at $2,306,608, but was awarded for $2,620,300 Tuesday.

The second bid package includes site work for the entire project, and underground electrical, structural steel, excavation and concrete work for the new addition.

Costs for the bid came in higher than expected primarily in the areas of site work, concrete work and underground electrical due to soil conditions. 

These are working numbers that are changing as general contractor Langlas & Associates goes through value engineering efforts with district architect DLR Group. These efforts have since resulted in a lowered bid package sum of $2,554,099, said district consultant Bayard Dominick of Steeplechase Development Advisors. 

Dominick said he would have like the second bid package to have been completed and approved two weeks ago, but to reach any potential savings, more time was needed for the value engineering process. 

Part of that process involved meeting with architects from DLR Group at their Washington office and refining construction documents so nothing was lost in translation. Some of the specifications were details not typical to Montana construction and could be adjusted to curb costs, said Loren Cantrell of Langlas. 

Other projects have added to the scope of redevelopment, and the $19 million budget has an overage of about $451,747.

One such project was a city requirement for a particular style of streetlights to be installed along Fourth Street at a cost of about $20,000 Dominick said.

Langlas’ preconstruction service fees may also be re-negotiated at a later date from an original amount of $20,000 to possibly $75,000 due to extended work.

Langlas’ services were to end February after three months. Since the project has been broken into three bids, the contractor’s services may extend through May.

A district budget and oversight committee discussed how to cover the budget overage. Many involved with the project are banking on bid-day savings for the third package, which contains the majority of new construction work and the B-wing renovation.

The district will put out calls for bid on the third construction package May 7. The bids are due June 7, according to a revised timeline.

There is also potential that the independent high school will sell in the near future. The property may bring in up to $450,000 and is garnering interest from prospective buyers, Dominick said.

Other possibilities include using tax increment funds, doing alternative fundraising for furniture purchases, or using a portion of funds from a $900,000 furniture, fixtures and equipment budget.

Meanwhile, Dominick is hearing back from grant applications. Recently, the high school redevelopment project received a $20,000 grant from Burlington Northern to purchase career and technical education equipment. It will be earmarked to primarily purchase welding equipment. This grant should free up money in the furniture, fixtures and equipment budget.

The gym, which is the first major leg of the project, is still expected to meet a June 30 deadline despite unexpected issues with the flooring structure. Floor installation is slated to begin April 29, with bleachers delivered June 1. 

While gym construction goes on, physical education classes have been held in weight and wrestling rooms not affected by construction. As the weather improves, classes will start to move outside. 

High school Principal Kerry Drown reported that rerouted traffic has been manageable. Parking however, is tight, with overflow alongside the tennis courts and football fields.

Site work for new construction on the south side of the school is expected to begin today.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].