With two (2) new projects recently announced at the I-65 & State Road 28 interchange (NHK manufacturing facility & Five Below distribution center), those respective projects are dependant upon the utility expansion from Jefferson to that area previously announced in June 2019.
During the Tuesday, March 3, 2020, County Commissioners meeting, Jon Query of HWC Engineering provided the Commissioners with a report on the bids for Divison “B” (Water Project) of the I-65 utility expansion from Jefferson. A total of six (6) bids were received.
The I-65 utility expansion project comprises two parts or divisions. Division “B” is the water portion while Division “A” is the sewer portion.
Division “A” of the project and has not been bid yet due to waiting on EDA grant funding status before that portion bids.
HWC Engineering received a total of six (6) bids on February 20, 2020, ranging from $4,720,735 to $5,635,390.
The low bidder was J.G. Case Construction Inc. of Muncie, IN. HWC Engineering has worked with J.G Case Construction Inc. on prior projects and “that work has all been acceptable and good,” said Query.
The low bid of $4,720,735 came back close to the revised estimated of $4,750,000. The biggest reason for the change in estimated project cost was the change from a 12″ to an 18″ water main.
HWC Engineering recommended the Commissioners accept the low bid from J.G. Case Contruction Inc. in the amount of $4,720,735 pending the final review from the financial advisor, Baker Tilly, and the funding agency, SRF.
“Given the schedule with the developments (at I-65), we need to proceed with this pretty quickly,” said Query. “They (the independent project developers) are wanting water service early next year…we need to get notice to proceed to the contractor in the next few weeks.”
“(I) was very pleased the amount of bidders that we received,” said Commissioner Josh Uitts. “It made it a competitive bid and I think we saw the results of that with the bid coming in right where we thought it would, our estimated budget.”
The Commissioners voted to accept the recommendation, 3-0.
