Bids approved for new BC3 nursing program building
Bids for initial site work in the first phase of the $18 million project to add a new building for the nursing program at Butler County Community College were approved on Wednesday.
The board of trustees approved five bids for preparation of the construction site for the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building and one bid for design and engineering of phase II.
Brian Opitz, director of operations at BC3, said the bids came in within budget, so all the alternatives that were in addition to the basic design will be included in the project.
He said $4.5 million was budgeted for the project's first phase, and the bids came in at about $4.2 million.
The extra $250,000 will be placed in a contingency fund to pay for any changes required as site work progresses, Opitz said.
The general construction contractor will be DiMarco Construction Co. of Clairton, Allegheny County at a base bid of $3.9 million.
Five additions to the project add up to another $138,000 for the general contractor bid.
The mechanical bid of $369,450 was awarded to Reno Brothers of New Brighton, Beaver County.
McCurley Houston Electric of New Castle, Lawrence County, submitted the successful bid of $385,500 for base work and one addition to the project.
Plumbing prep work for the project will be completed by East End Plumbing and Heating Co. of Sharpsburg, Allegheny County at a bid of $162,000.
The fire protection bid was awarded to William T. Spaeder Co. of Erie at a bid of $88,876 for base work and $36,000 for one addition to the project.
The trustees also voted on architectural and engineering design for the next phase of the project.
That work was awarded to Stantec of Butler at $630,000.
Opitz said the contractors are now limited on the work they are permitted to do because of the coronavirus pandemic, and will need some time to be released for the work at BC3.
He hopes contractors will be on site by July 1 for prep work and construction will be complete by August of 2022.
Nick Neupauer, BC3 president, said the awarding of bids speaks to the college's dedication to the expansion of its nursing and health careers program.
He said more nursing students are being accepted at the main campus and at the Brockway campus.
He said $3 million has been raised for the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health building, and the college has dedicated operating dollars to the nursing program.
Neupauer said a bridge loan is being considered to take advantage of the current low interest rates.
“During this unique period of time, I think we have the great advantage of flexibility,” he said.
He added that officials also are close to naming an assistant dean of nursing.
