Council OKs second HVAC bid for new high school project

Date: 9/28/2011

Sept. 28, 2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Editor

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Town Council voted 7 to 2 to add one more alternate item to the finals bids for the new high school project at its Sept. 20 meeting.

The vote, however, did not come without a lot of questions regarding the need for the alternate, and whether the additional bid gave a current town contractor an unfair advantage.

Mayor Edward Gibson asked the council to approve a second bid for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) work at the high school so contractors could also include an estimate using HVAC computerized controls manufactured by Trane Commercial Systems.

“We have made a considerable investment in our school, in [this municipal office] building and our library [and] most have Trane controls in them” Gibson told councilors. “By maintaining Trane [control systems] our staff will only have to be trained on one system. This is a cost savings, standardizes the systems and offers energy efficiencies that come from standardized controls.”

Under the provisions of the school building agreement with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, contractors are required to submit bids using the lowest priced components for each element of the project. Gibson’s proposal, he said, would allow the town’s Planning and Construction Committee (PCC) to request a second bid estimate.

Leo McNeil, director of Northeast Division of Comprehensive Solutions for Trane, told the council that approving the additional alternate bid item would give the town the opportunity to consider keeping all its public buildings on one HVAC control system.

“All that’s being asked of the council tonight is to allow us to continue presenting this through channels,” McNeil said.

At Large Councilor George Kelly said he understood how the idea of one HVAC control system could have merit, but wanted “to be sure it will be cost effective for the town.”

Town Council President Kathleen Bourque asked if a vote of approval would be giving control over the final selection of system to the PCC.

Gibson said that as written in the Town Charter, the council’s approval would “authorize the PCC … to make the best decision for our building.”

District Three councilor Michael Finn asked if all contractors had to be pre-qualified in order to submit bids, and if so, “isn’t Trane getting two bites of the apple?”

Gibson said the idea that contractors were pre-qualified before submitting a bid was “a misunderstanding” and that by approving the alternate the council was not giving the company “two bites of the apple.”

District one councilor Angus Rushlow suggested the council table the vote until the next meeting so councilors could get more information about the bidding process.

Town Counselor James Donahue said it was his understanding that the amendment presented would “require that bidders, as part of the alternate bid, submit a proposal that includes a proprietary [control] system by Trane or a system by a competing company that is compatible with the systems at the other schools.”

He said the alternate bid was ”looking for a standard in the bid that the town did not request in the original bid.”

Councilors Kelly and Rushlow voted against approving the alternate bid when the roll was called.

Finn asked why contractors didn’t just bid with Trane if the project is looking to make all HVAC systems compatible.

Gibson said the request for an alternate bid was made because “the PCC wants to insure, on the town’s part … it doesn’t get gouged.”

McNeil added that, to meet MSBA requirements to request an alternate bid on a construction component, three committees in a municipality must approve the request.

“Two have accepted the bid alternate,” McNeil said. “ We’ve gotten a vote from the PCC and from the School Committee. We’re looking for a vote from you.”

Debbie Gardner can be reached by e-mail at debbieg@thereminder.com