Under Way at OA Schools
When students return to school this fall at Owego Apalachin, they’ll see that construction, part of the $13.6 million capital improvement project, is in full swing. Work crews from several outfits began staging work in late July after the OA Board of Education unanimously awarded contracts to the following companies:
* SJB Services: for abatement project monitoring services, and for testing laboratory services/special inspections
* Daniel L. Lynch, Inc.: general trades
* J&K Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc.: HVAC work
* Ackerman Plumbing, Inc.: plumbing
* Nelcorp Electrical Contracting Corp.: electrical
The recommendations were presented by Kevin Hoffman, project manager for Bovis Lend Lease LMB, Inc., during a regular July board meeting.
On July 9, sealed bids were publicly opened at the OA offices for the district’s capital improvement project. The bid comparison sheets for general trades, heating ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing and electrical were reviewed. Bovis Lend Lease consulted with the low responsive bidder to review and confirm the scope, schedule and project requirements.
"Though we were going through the bid process in the middle of the construction season, we got very competitive bids, and we were pleased with the number of contractors who were interested in our project," said Dr. Bill Russell, OA superintendent.
"As a bidding strategy, a number of alternatives were incorporated into the project to ensure that the project came in under budget and would not jeopardize the ability to start construction," wrote Kevin Hoffman, project manager for Bovis, in a letter to Dr. Russell.
"Due to a very competitive bidding market, we came in under budget," Hoffman wrote.
"I’m especially pleased that we will be working with a number of local contractors, including at least one OFA graduate," Dr. Russell added.
(Dean Rypkema, Class of 1984, is president of Nelcorp Electrical.)
"It’s good to keep the work in the community, and they’ll have a special incentive to give us a quality job."
The following work is under way, or is scheduled to begin during the remainder of the summer, at Apalachin Elementary School:
* Bathroom renovations
* Classroom partitions
* Sink and casework replacement
* Corridor valve and ceiling replacement (as well as abatement)
Next summer, the following work is scheduled to begin at AES:
* Window replacement
* Energy management digital controls
* Electrical service upgrades and generator replacement
* Additional bathroom renovations
* Additional classroom partitions
The following work is under way, or is scheduled to begin during the remainder of the summer, at Owego Elementary School:
* Creating additional parking
* Replacement of existing parking lots and driveways
Next summer, the following work is scheduled to begin at OES:
* Window replacement
* HVAC equipment replacement
* Energy management digital controls
* Electrical service upgrades and generator replacement
* New fire alarm system
* New wireless clock system
The following work is under way, or is scheduled to begin during the remainder of the summer, at Owego Free Academy:
* Bathroom renovations
* Locker room renovations
* First-floor classroom partitions
* Sidewalk replacement
* Tennis court resurfacing and repair
* Roof repair and replacement
* Athletic complex lighting (including tennis courts, football stadium and soccer pitch)
The following work is scheduled to begin next summer at OFA:
* Additional bathroom renovations
* Second-floor classroom partitions
Pavement work, to be completed before the start of the new school year, is under way in the students’ parking area at OFA, as well as the lot between the school and the football stadium.
"Considering the late start in the summer construction, we’re pleased with the way the Owego Apalachin project has progressed to date," Hoffman said.
"Actually, I think it’s astonishing to see how much work our contractors are going to have accomplished before school starts," Dr. Russell said.
"Kevin and his colleagues from Bovis, and all of the contractors, have really gone after it, knowing they have to get as much done as possible before schools are back in session.
"At the same time," Dr. Russell added, "they have to have things put back together in a safe, clean, and orderly fashion for our students and staff to return in September.
"It’s a complex job of staging and scheduling that is going really well so far."