KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

Tullahoma City Schools got a head start in the new year as the TCS Board of Education held a special called meeting to approve the guaranteed max price budget for the Jack T. Farrar project for $18 million.

The special-called meeting was held on Tues, Jan. 2, where the board members were presented with the final design budget and updated timeline for the renovation and construction project for Jack T. Farrar Elementary School.

The board had previously approved of the schematic design budget of $17,987,939 back in July, where Finance Director Hank Jordan would present the board with the guaranteed max price (GMP) budget later in the year.

According to Jordan, the GMP budget presented to the board members was developed based on sealed bids collected Dec. 21, which were reviewed and allowed any interested public parties on that day. The bids were based on a final set of plans and a project manual completed by Billingsley Architecture and OLG Engineering on Nov. 28.

“The GMP budget for 44,041 square feet of new construction and 5,000 square feet of renovations to the existing is $18,097,370, or $369.33 per square foot,” Jordan said to the board.

He then noted more information to the board regarding the bid price:

• The pricing reflected a 17-month construction schedule with an expected start date of January 2024 and a completion and turnover date of May 2025.
• The cost included a 2.6% construction contingency.
• Bids were not received for four trades (HVAC, General Trades, Casework/Millwork and Building Concrete). The estimated prices in the GMP budget for the trades were still estimates. The packages were being rebidded with a due date of late January. When the hard costs are set, the budget will be adjusted by either adding or subtracting from the contingency amount. 

Jordan said after a review of the budget and timeline, he recommended approval of the GMP budget of $18,097,370 and the timeline presented by American Constructors. Jordan opened the floor for questions and informed the board that American Constructors Senior Project Manager Zach Baldwin was in attendance to help answer questions. Board member Pat Welsh asked did the potentials bidders for concrete didn’t know how much they needed or were the prices for concrete still volatile. Baldwin said they did have one firm that placed a bid but they did not have a bid bond in place on time, as per the constructor’s contract requirements.

“We had one priced out but they did not have a bid bond,” Baldwin said. “They couldn’t get with their insurance in time.”

He added with the new deadline set for later in the month, there will a few other firms who will be bidding for building/concrete with the extra time given during the holiday. When asked when they can mobilize on the project, Baldwin said American Constructors, if approved, were hoping to get started in full force in the next few weeks. Board member Amy Dodson asked if the main deadline was overall set, stating that anything could happen to change the deadline, and Baldwin said they felt confident with the timeline, noting the longest wait time item would be electrical gear which would be 12 months.

“That’s probably the longest wait time item, but we’re typically sitting at 14 to 16 months for school projects and we feel comfortable with that not being too rushed or too accelerated,” Baldwin said.

Dodson then asked if both the Jack T. Farrar Elementary School Principal Travis Moore was involved with what’s happening, so he can communicate any changes in routine with the parents. Baldwin said there will be a full time superintendent on site every day who will be the main point of contact and there will be meetings to make sure things everyone feels good about what’s happening.

Baldwin was then asked about portions of renovations on the school and he said it will depend on the timing and the school program. He said if they can get everything out in front and worked on during the summer if possible, but if that doesn’t work out then they will need to coordinate and schedule things out so the renovations do not disrupt any kind of flow during the school year.

Chairman Kim Uselton then gave the leadership at Jack T. Farrar a chance to add anything else to the discussion and Moore said they have had many meetings and they were already working on plans during the renovations, including preserving much of the playground as possible, changing where the students will be dismissed and picked up, summer school and the kitchen.

“We’ll do whatever we have to make it happen,” Moore said.

The board then unanimously approved the GMP budget as presented 6-0. Board member Gigi Robinson was absent.