BERNARDSTON — The Selectboard has awarded a $933,800 contract to Baker Excavating & Construction Services to replace the sewer system at Bernardston Country Estates.
The Goshen-based construction company will be responsible for replacing the sewer system that serves 38 mobile homes at the 75 South St. property with a Title 5-compliant system by the end of the calendar year.
Brian McHugh, director of community development with the Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority, said bids were due on Sept. 11, and Baker Excavating & Construction Services’ bid was the lowest of the two bids received. He added that the bid was under the budget set by the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, which is funding the replacement.
“We received two bids. One of them was for $933,800 and one of them was $1,055,000. The grant budget for this construction was $959,000,” McHugh said, “so we’ve got about $26,000 in wiggle room.”
McHugh told the Selectboard that the company has never worked on a sewer system of this size, but it comes with good references, so with some guidance on state and federal regulations, he feels “comfortable” awarding the contract to Baker Excavating & Construction Services.
“I do feel like there’s going to be some handholding with this contractor,” McHugh noted. “We will have to guide them through all the contractual stuff that’s required for a federal project. There are lots of forms that they need to get to us.”
He explained that before the contract is signed, the company will need to provide forms showcasing compliance with state and federal minimum wages, and it cannot hire undocumented workers to complete the project.
Selectboard Chair Brian Keir asked if the company is prepared to deal with the waste from the system throughout the process, as the town is unable to transport it for treatment.
The company is still brainstorming how it will deal with the waste, according to McHugh. The bid documents note that the waste is the responsibility of the contractor and should be included in the company’s budget for the project. Baker Excavating & Construction Services has been made aware that the town will not consider an amendment to the contract if transporting the waste ends up being more than the $933,800 bid can cover.
McHugh said the project could be delayed by long lead times on materials, particularly the holding tanks. Still, the company is prepared to begin work as soon as possible.
“I would love to see some shovels in the ground soon,” McHugh said.
Selectboard members voted unanimously to award the contract to Baker Excavating & Construction Services and authorized Keir to sign the contract as soon as the company completes all the necessary paperwork.