By Tony Pennington
The Norman Transcript

When it came to awarding the first construction contracts of the $16 million 2005 Bond Issue at its regular meeting Monday night, the Norman Public Schools Board of Education went with experience.

Based on the recommendations of Bill Kaighn, principal and founding member of Kaighn Associates Architects, Inc., and the results of the bidding process, the board agreed to extend contracts to the Noble based Sun Construction; Metropolitan Air Conditioning of Oklahoma City; Norman firm Barbour & Short; and Westfahl Construction of Oklahoma City, Barbour & Short and Westfahl have completed several past projects for the district.

With the winning base bid of $756,840, Sun will be responsible for the restroom renovations at Lincoln, Eisenhower and Lakeview Elementaries, Norman High School and the vestibule air lock at Lakeview. The total contract with extras included come to $8247,275.07 or more than $97,700 under allocated bond funds. Kaighn expressed his faith in the company as they were award the bathroom renovations at Whittier an dIrving Middle Schools last year.

“I think they are very knowledgeable about materials and construction,” he said.

Metropolitan’s base bid of $212,620 for the heating and air conditioning contracts at Irving and Whittier was good enough to overcome three other competitors. The units in service at those schools were installed during the 1970s and parts are no longer available.

“They have served the district well, but they are in dire need,” Kaighn said. “It’s time.”

The total price tag for the project will be $516,500 with fees and alternatives included. The original estimate for the contract was $500,000.

Westfhal will handle the installation of the sir conditioning units at the competitive gymnasiums at Alcott and Longfellow Middle Schools. They were the only company to submit a bid, but the board was comfortable with awarding them the contract. Westfahl’s base bid was $564,000 and with fees and extra the total is $610,632.94 or more than $189,367 under estimate.

Westfahl has had experience with air conditioning installation as they were in charge of similar projects at Norman High and Norman North. The company currently is in charge of the classroom addition at Washington Elementary.

The last construction contract awarded went to Barbour & Short. The firm’s base bid of $181,700 for door modifications at all the elementary and middle schools beat out two other companies. The final contract is worth $210,534.81, with fees and extras, or $135,465.19 under the original estimate.

On completion of the contract awards, Kaighn asked the board to review a bond analysis. According to Kaighn after Monday’s decisions and with nine more packages to bid, the board has a surplus of $363,316.60. But he expects to use that money for the upcoming roofing projects.

“It’s encouraging,” he said of the surplus. “But, the tough ones will be the roofing next month.”

At press time the board was still in session.