The Wild/BIF estimate is still the official project estimate despite the confirmed conflict of interest in a bidder providing the project estimate.
The official (Wild) project estimate is $1,513,908.00.
Some bidders have walked away from the project that is seriously tainted and where they would essentially be working through the City and through BIF for the contractor that was excluded.
Two bids are received.
Messer Construction $2,004,905.00
Southern Constructors $2,525,122.50
There is no public discussion or action by City Council to reject the bids.
Todd Morgan sends a letter to TDOT stating that the City is requesting TDOT's concurrence to reject all bids, re-design the project, and re-bid.
TDOT agrees with the request to reject and re-bid. This rejection was reasonable--especially since the City/MSP intended to make changes to the project prior to any re-bid.
Remember BIF's/Wild's/MSP's estimate of $1,513,908.00. We will watch what happens to this estimate as later estimates are submitted after significant cuts are made and after the project becomes a parking deck only.
Just so you don't have to wait too long...Wild's/MSP's estimate $1,513,908 was for a parking deck and retail shells below with a vapor/water barrier because putting a parking deck on top of retail space (instead of below) isn't cost effective and has risks of water intrusion into commercial space.
A geotechnical/soil study was done in 2011 after the first estimate/first bidding. The results of that study were said to have resulted in cost savings of $150,000. Other design cuts were made by BIF. Finally, the retail shells were eliminated in late 2012/early 2013.
After the Geotek savings which were said to be $150,000, after additional cuts, and after the elimination of the retail shells, an independent contractor from Knoxville (not Wild and not with close connections to Wild or the Millennium Partners) provided an estimate of $1,428,235.
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