GREENFIELD — The owner project manager for the city’s temporary and new fire station project has gone back to the company that will most likely supply the Fire Department with two trailers to temporarily house its offices and sleeping quarters in the hope of renegotiating a cost of no more than $405,000.
Fire Station Building Committee Chair David Singer said the committee received several bids for the job, but Vanguard was the only one that offered what the city is looking for. After checking with the state, Singer said he learned the committee could negotiate with Vanguard without seeking more bids.
Owner Project Manager Neil Joyce told the committee this week that he has been in ongoing discussions with Vanguard, which originally submitted a proposal of $675,000 for the job. Since then, Joyce has tried to renegotiate the price to $404,114 with a delivery date of June 15. To reduce the cost, the city will have to do some of the site work in the municipal parking lot on Hope Street, the planned site of the temporary fire station, before the trailers are delivered.
The Department of Public Works and the city’s IT department will do some of the work that Vanguard would have done at the higher cost, including plumbing, electrical and under-trailer work.
Joyce said if Vanguard signs the contract, the city will lease the trailers for two years. At the end of the lease, if the new fire station — which the city hopes to build at the corner of Main Street and Coombs Avenue — is not ready to be occupied, the city would pay $7,533 a month to rent the trailers on a month-to-month basis. The cost of the lease for the first two years is included in the $404,114. It will cost the city $47,750 to remove the trailers.
The Fire Station Building Committee voted unanimously to spend no more than $405,000 for the contract with Vanguard. The trailers, which will be placed at two different elevations in the parking lot, would include a deck and ramp for accessibility.
Singer said the committee will be happy if the project meets the budgeted amount of $1.77 million for the temporary fire station. The City Council approved a total of $17.3 million for both the temporary and new fire stations.
“I think we can do it,” Singer said. “Next week we will open the bids for the apparatus bays. We’ll know better where we’re at then.”
Firefighter Peter McIver, president of the Permanent Firefighters Union, said he believes the best option is on the table. He said the city should move ahead with the renegotiation and the project. Retired deputy fire chief Ed Jarvis, who is now a city councilor, agreed.
“In the end, our goal is to meet the total budget for the entire project (temporary and new), however that works,” Fire Station Building Committee member David Moscaritolo said. “Things will be added, no doubt, and other things will end up not being needed or costing as much as anticipated.”
Greenfield Department of Public Works Director Marlo Warner said his department will be able to do the work discussed, which Singer said will save the city about $200,000.
Fire Chief Robert Strahan met on the Hope Street site with Vanguard recently and said he was “very impressed” with the company’s presentation and the effort it is putting into the project to meet the city’s needs.
“I have no reservations,” Strahan said.
The Temporary Fire Station Building Subcommittee, chaired by Moscaritolo, will meet Monday at 4 p.m. online to open the bids for the apparatus bays and review the project schedule. Join at bit.ly/3e85QgD.
The full Fire Station Building Committee will meet Thursday at 4 p.m. online to review and discuss the bids. Join at bit.ly/3c023z1.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.