Bids for new DHS unanimously approved
By CARRIE FRILLMAN - cfrillman@daily-chronicle.com
DeKALB – The construction of DeKalb High School will create about 234 area jobs for carpenters, cement finishers, iron workers, electricians and other laborers, school officials said.
Almost 200 bidders were vying for 33 bid packages within the DHS project and 31 contractors were selected by district architects, construction managers and administrators. The construction bids, which are in line with the district's $88.5 million budget, were unanimously approved Monday at a regular school board meeting.
About 15 percent of all contracts awarded are to workers within DeKalb County, said Don Biggs, executive director of facilities and operations. An additional 45 percent are within a 40-mile radius, meaning that about 60 percent of all laborers assigned to the project are from the general area.
Among the 33 bid packages are jobs for asphalt paving, building concrete, masonry, roofing, drywall and landscaping, Biggs said. The initial five-hour bid-opening process took place on April 21 in the Hopkins Park Community Center in DeKalb.
Administrators had a turnout that was better than expected, they said, and only rebid two packages — one for landscaping and one for HVAC mechanical piping.
"We did have a couple of low bidders for those, but after doing scope reviews, we believed it was in the best interest of the board to see if more cost savings were available," Biggs said. "The district actually reviewed all of these proposals when they came in, along with the architects and construction managers, so we are all in agreement with who we think is best."
The new DeKalb High School will be built on 80 acres of land located off Dresser Road near Katz Park. A 400,000-square-foot project, it will be funded with part of a $110 million school construction referendum passed in February 2008.
The new building is designed to accommodate about 2,500 students and can be expanded if needed. Current high school enrollment is around 1,600 students. The district is scheduled to break ground on the project May 27.
