Bids for CCCC tech ed building approved

Nearly $10 million in bids for the construction of the new Technical Education and Innovation Center were approved by the Cloud County Community College board of trustees during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
The first bid package for the technical education facility totaled $9,967,076, with $9,858,101 of that to come from the board of trustees fund and $108,975 to come from capital outlay funds for the alternate sewer expansion as part of the project.
Cloud County Community College (CCCC) plans to break ground on the 33,275-square-foot building, that will be located on College Drive between the college and Walmart, next spring.
The Technical Education and Innovation Center will house the college's renewable energy, nursing and allied health, agriculture and welding programs.
CCCC has raised $13.4 million for the project.
It was reported to the board that items included in the bid package are vital to the construction and purchase of essential products to avoid significant shipping delays and to reduce increased costs from rising inflation.
Items included in the bid package that was approved include:
Earthwork, $733,151; utilities, $831,950; site concrete, $654,405; asphalt paving, $322,326; concrete structure, $735,967; steel, $1,060,323; plumbing, $861,980; HVAC, $1808,209; electrical, $1,174,583; preconstruction service, $9,500; general conditions, $322,871; cost of work/general requirements, $541,024; building permit, $30,130; insurances, $247,856; construction contingency of 3 percent, $281,523; contractor fee, $241,641.
Mike Hattrup, senior preconstruction manager with McCownGordon Construction, gave a presentation to the board on the building project.
CCCC contracted with McCownGordon as the construction manager at-risk for the project.
Included in the presentation was a floor plan of the building.
“It is kind of spread out into two wings. So the building has kind of changed shape since we have been on board helping out,” Hattrup said.
Hattrup said the construction schedule for the building is geared around the time frame for the procurement of materials.
The schedule presented by Hattrup sets the target start date for construction on April 3, 2023 and the target finish date for July 17, 2024.
With the approval of bid package #1, McCownGordon will continue designing the project and preparing the second bid package that has a target cost of $6,225,783.
“That is something we are still working through, the design team, to find as much cost savings as we can. It is important to be conscious about budget,” Hattrup said.
Hattrup said that they are hoping to have the final construction documents completed by late January or early February. Those will then be taken out to bid.
“It takes a little over a month to get those back and sorted through so we can come back to you with bid package two,” Hattrup said.
It was reported to the board that the bids were vetted for best price and complete scope of work as listed in the bid specifications.
CCCC plans to use the $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded from the state of Kansas to cover some of the cost of the first bid package.
It was recommended by the college administration that the board approve the alternate sewer connection that will prepare the college's infrastructure for future growth and expansion, and use capital outlay funds to support that portion of the bid versus it being included in the construction budget.
The alternate sewer route will provide sewer connections at the softball complex and the agriculture facility.
In other action taken during the meeting, the board approved accepting the transfer of ownership of a parcel of land from the city of Concordia for the construction of the technical education building.
The city of Concordia owns the small parcel of land within the college's desired development. The parcel includes a concrete flume inlet and storm sewer pipe that funnel storm water runoff from the south into the 21st Street Dam and flood control area.
The proposed site plan removes the concrete flume inlet but incorporates the storm sewer pipe into an enclosed storm sewer system design. It also includes a paved parking area that covers a portion of the city's parcel.
The Concordia city commission approved the transfer of the parcel of land to the college on November 16 to facilitate efficient and fully functional traffic flow on the site of the proposed technical education building.
A permanent public drainage easement to protect the public storm sewer infrastructure that feeds the 21st Street Dam flood control area was also approved by the city.
Dedication of the permanent public drainage easement will occur as part of the plat process, but transfer of the land ownership has occurred first so accurate property ownership is shown on the preliminary plat.
The board, along with college president Amber Knoettgen, vice president for academic affairs Kim  Zant, vice president for administrative services Caeser Wood, human resources director Chris Wilson, and attorney Justin Ferrell, met in executive session for 20 minutes for the purpose of attorney/client privilege.