High bids stall Selkirk Interpretive Loop Center
<p>Construction of the Selkirk Interpretive Loop Center has stalled due to higher-than-budgets bids. Once completed, the center will serve as a bike path trailhead, rest area, welcome center and more. (Courtesy illustration)</p>
SANDPOINT — Overbidding contractors have stalled the construction of the Selkirk Interpretive Loop Center.
A planned construction project to be located at the southbound off-ramp of the Sand Creek Byway, the Selkirk Interpretive Loop Center is projected to be signature landmark for travelers and residents alike. Once it is completed, the center will serve as a bike path trailhead, rest area, welcome center and more.
The project is funded through an agreement with the Idaho Transportation Department in the negotiations leading up to the construction of the byway. However, the lack of contractors bidding within the project budget prompted Sandpoint Public Works Director Kody Van Dyk to explore other construction options.
The city launched two bidding processes, one in June and one this month, to contract the project out. On both occasions, the bids were over-budget. Most recently, the lowest bid for the project came in at $286,310, well above the existing $216,000 grant funding allotment.
Contractors suggested cutting some of the more distinctive elements from the project as optional add-ons, but Van Dyk opposed this approach in his memo to the Sandpoint City Council. For one thing, language in ITD’s required bid documents would prohibit adding funding to pay for both the base and the alternatives. For another, the project would be significantly altered from what was envisioned.
“This means that even if funding were found to pay for the base bid, the resulting building would be considerably altered from the architect’s original intent,” Van Dyk said.
In response, Van Dyk recommended last week that council members reject all bids and empower him to investigate a design-build option — a suggestion they approved. Contrary to most construction projects, a design-build option puts the project design and its construction into a single contract to be bid out to architect-builder teams.
“The premise is that teams — a builder and architect working together — offer different proposals to design and build the Interpretive Center,” Van Dyk said.
According to Van Dyk, this mitigates costs and should help put the Selkirk Interpretive Loop Center in line with a $200,000 budget. That frees up $16,000 in grant funding for any necessary alterations or adjustments. A selection committee will choose the best team for the job.