Bid deadline for USD 234 projects adjusted

Dates for final bids to be reviewed for an upcoming slate of USD 234 school bond projects have been moved back, USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham said.

Previous plans were to have final bids in by Nov. 19 and Nov. 24 for all interior and exterior work to be started soon at all four district schools, with a possible start date of early to mid-December.

Now, the new plan is for officials with the district, Nabholz Construction Services of Olathe and Hollis and Miller Architects of Overland Park to review all bids Dec. 3.

"We knew this was a possibility with the holiday week," Beckham said in an email Friday. "This will ensure that the bidders have adequate time to get all questions answered and that we get the best and most accurate bids possible."

On Monday, Beckham said no bids have been reviewed and that he planned to meet with the construction manager and architects today to get more information to bring back to the USD 234 Board of Education and district patrons.

"It is my understanding there were quite a few questions (from bidders) about bid documents and actual drawings," he said. "Nabholz is sifting through that now ... they have not received or opened any bids."

Beckham said he was not sure about specific questions from bidders and that he hoped to learn more during his planned meeting today with those involved with the projects. He said moving the bids back will allow more time for "clarifying" and reviewing bids.

"The better they (bidders) understand bids, the better and more accurate number they can give us," he said.