PARK RIDGE—A second round of bids for renovations to Borough Hall was rejected when the three submitted bids “were higher than the price estimated for the completion of the project,” noted a resolution approved unanimously at the Nov. 9 council meeting.
The rejected bids were from ZN Construction LLC ($140,000), Catcord Construction ($123,100), and BGD Contracting LLC ($92,000).
The council next meets Dec. 14.
Borough Clerk Maggie Giandomenico said under the state bidding law, the borough could solicit bids that remain within the $50,000 budget line item originally set aside, and possibly award a contract by year end. However, much would depend on new specs developed by the Building Department and borough architect, reducing the scope of work needed for the renovations.
Efforts to reach Construction Department officials for comment were not returned by press time. A representative at Perry M. Petrillo Architects, Park Ridge, told Pascack Press that the firm was doing drawings for the project but not specifications. It was not clear what action the mayor and council may take on the project.
The resolution rejecting the three bids notes “all eligible bids were higher than the price estimated for the completion of the project; and as per the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:ll-13.2, a contracting unit may reject all bids if the lowest bid substantially exceeds the cost estimates for the goods or services or if the contracting unit wishes to substantially revise the solicitation.”
A first round of bids in September was also rejected when the four previous bids ranged from a high of $214,000 to a low of $143,300. (See “New Bids For Borough Hall Renovations Due Nov. 2,” Pascack Press, Nov. 1, 2021.)
Borough Administrator Julie Falkenstern previously told Pascack Press that approximately $50,000 was set aside in 2021’s capital budget for the Borough Hall renovations. Initially, she told Pascack Press that though they anticipated bids to be in the $30,000 to $40,000 range, bids were being solicited in case they exceeded the bid threshold.
“This project is confined to the second-floor area of the Park Ridge Borough Hall located at 53 Park Avenue in Park Ridge. The area currently houses the conference room, OEM, mayor’s office and Council Chambers. The work includes the removal and/or relocation of existing interior finishes, carpet, ceiling tiles and select interior partitions,” note the bid specifications.
“The existing lights, sprinklers, smoke detection, and emergency fixtures are to remain and be modified for the new office layout. A new service window for the building/planning/zoning/fire prevention departments will be constructed. Painting to be done by Borough. Contractor shall coordinate a schedule with the Borough to allow for in house painting,” state the bid specs.
“After the awarding of the contract, prior to any construction, a pre-construction meeting shall be held between the contractor, the borough, and the architect. The contractor shall coordinate the schedule with the Borough and take all necessary precautions to allow the Borough to continue to safely carry out Borough business at all times in the space not being renovated,” state the bid specs.
We’ve reached out to the mayor for comment.