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GELD Bids Come In Way Over Budget

Groton Electric Light Department will now return to the drawing board to simplify their design following receipt of seven bids for construction of the new Groton Electric Light Department office and garage complex on Station Avenue - all of them exceeding the estimated total project cost of $3.5M - and the highest of them $2M over the projected amount.

The estimate was validated just before the bids went out by the professional cost estimator from GELD's architectural firm MacGuire Associates, Inc. and the results came as a surprise to that firm. The estimate included $3M for the project itself and $500K for permitting and other costs.

Although there were some bids that were "relatively close," GELD Manager Kevin Kelly, said the seven bids ranged from a low of $4.317M to a high of $5.96M, adding that GELD's "contract with MacGuire calls for the project to come in within budget."

Greg Yanchenko of Helene Karl Architects told GELD that he felt that the $3.5M estimate was too low. "Unfortunately as GELD's project manager he was right," Kelly said.

"It is way over budget and now we have to redesign and rebid," he stressed, adding that GELD's goal to have the redesign done and all documents updated in time for a rebid for a December/January timeframe. This is a more ideal timeframe for bidding, Kelly noted, as this is when construction companies are planning and confirming their projects for the spring, adding, "We should be able to get the best price."

"I am optimistic that the bids done in winter will come in closer to our number and we can move forward for a spring ground breaking," Kelly said.

"What will most likely change in the redesign are some of the architectural interests planned for the building in order to get the costs down," such as styles of windows, roof design, and other architectural niceties as well as eliminating the potential for a second story on the administration building. Kelly said.

Now, GELD will return to work with their architect, update their documents and return to the Planning Boards Design Review Committee on their effort to make changes so they can bring the project to a winter bid and spring construction start schedule.

Groton Herald

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