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NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. – Maguire Group, AECOM and HKT Architects Inc., will be invited to present a more detailed proposal for redeveloping the existing Department of Public Works facility on Fletcher Street.
The three firms received the highest scores in evaluations conducted by DPW Director James Shuris and members of the Building, Planning and Construction Committee at a meeting last night.
Six firms submitted Request for Qualifications (RFQs) to study the feasibility of redeveloping the Fletcher Street site - DHK Arch, Inc., AECOM, Maguire Group, Kaestle Boos, HKT Architects Inc., and Leonard Engineering.
Scoring was based on a variety of criteria, from the flexibility of the company to work for a lump sum to the company’s experience in Massachusetts public construction and related laws and procedures.
Top scorers were AECOM, 23.14; HKT, 22.57; and Maguire Group, 22.43. Receiving lesser scores were Leonard, 20.57; DKH Arch, 19.71; and Kaestle Boos, 19.71.
BPCC Chairman Thomas Pilibosian said he was impressed by one firm that presented an even more aggressive schedule than the one planned by Shuris.
Shuris hopes to have a final report, including the estimated cost of design and construction, by the end of April and to ask voters to support a redevelopment project in the Spring Annual Town Meeting in May.
The feasibility study is being funded with $76,220 approved by voters at the Fall Annual Town Meeting last November.
The study will also look at an alternative site, town-owned land at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, 644 Providence Road.
At next week’s meeting, each company will be asked to give a 15 or 20 minute presentation followed by 10 or 15 minutes of questions from BPCC members. Following the three presentations, the BPCC again evaluate based on the presentation and select the firm they feel best qualified to conduct the study.
Shuris said he hopes to give the firm selected “a notice to proceed” by March 30.
In an unrelated matter, the BPCC heard a report from a Kaestle Boos representative on library repairs.
Voters at the Fall Town Meeting approved spending $105,000 to repair 235 cracked, broken and missing slate roof shingles, replace gutters and downspouts, and a need to install heating elements for the gutters.
The BPCC was told it will take about a month for Kaestle Boos to put together the necessary bid document and another month to advertise for bids with the expectation that work will begin in May.
Shuris said the DPW, using money from the DPW budget, installed the heating elements to prevent ice dams last week.
Just An Opinion., Hopefully Someday The Town May Attain A New DPW?
Plus maybe for the Time being would it be possible to store some of the DPW equipment in the local National Guard Armory Garages that are not being used? It may be a stop gap measure? Maybe better then the rust worms enjoying the equipment that the Tax Payers paid good money for? Or at another possible approved location?
Our BPCC Chairman has a tough job in these economic times, I guess hope for the best but maybe just prepare if the DPW may not pass again, just an 'overall opinion'. I have a feeling unless the Town may receive a lot of Federal or State Grants for a new DPW, or it may be very, very, 'cheap' the out come may be questionable?