District accepts construction bid for High School Skills Center

Walla Walla Public Schools accepted the nearly $8.3 million bid from Leone and Keeble, Inc. of Spokane, WA to construct the Southeast Area Technical Skills Center on the campus of Walla Walla Community College. Leone and Keeble, Inc. presented the lowest bid for the project slated to begin in early April 2013. The bid acceptance recommendation now moves to the State of Washington for final approval.

Two of the project’s major subcontractors are from Walla Walla: Walla Walla Electric and Cutting Edge Plumbing & Mechanical. The project is expected to be completed during the summer of 2014 with classes beginning September 2014. Earlier this fall the district rejected all bids for the project due to a funding shortfall of $1.2 million.

“Leone and Keeble, Inc. is an outstanding contractor and have done a number of projects in Walla Walla,” Superintendent Mick Miller said. “This project will help stimulate the local economy. We are most excited about the fact this fully state funded project will be built primarily by local people as two of the major subcontractors are from Walla Walla.”

In the spring of 2012, the Washington State Legislature allocated $10.3 million to fund construction and equipment for the Southeast Area Technical Skills Center in Walla Walla. The Skills Center will serve regional high school students and be located at Walla Walla Community College on Isaacs Avenue.
The Southeast Area Technical Skills Center will offer high school courses in construction trades, welding, renewable resources and health occupation programs. The Walla Walla Skills Center will be a branch campus of the Kennewick School District’s Tri-Tech Skills Center.

Walla Walla Public Schools anticipates the Skills Center will serve 60 Full-Time Equivalent students when it opens and grow to 160 FTE in future years. High school students will attend for a three period block in either the morning or afternoon. Career and Technical Education courses at Walla Walla High School will still be offered.

Partnering districts include: Dayton, Waitsburg, Touchet, Prescott, College Place and possibly local private schools.
(An agreement could also be reached with the Milton- Freewater School District.)

Construction Cost Summary:
Base Bid: $7,459,000
Alt. A1: $91,400 (Landscaping on southside of the project)
Alt. A2: $34,100 (Casework in the office section)
Alt. A3: $21,700 (Metal roof instead of shingle roof at construction area)
Alt. A6: $5,500 (Anti-graffiti coating)
Alt. A7: $-30,900 (Deductive change order – using colored CMU block instead of brick in certain areas)
Alt. A8: $7,800 (Permanent benches)
Alt. M2: $20,400 (Upgraded heat pump in construction area)
Total: $7,609,000
State Sales tax: $677,201

Total Contract Recommendation with state and local sales tax: $8,286,201
***Furniture, equipment, fixtures, design, contingencies, permitting not included in construction costs
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