OCEAN CITY- Ocean City officials last week approved a contract award totaling roughly $1.7 million for a renovation and addition to the Fire Department headquarters on 15th Street.
The Mayor and Council on Tuesday approved the award of the recommended bid totaling roughly $1.66 million submitted by Willow Construction for the expansion and rehabilitation of the existing fire department headquarters. An additional $35,000 or so will be needed to cover new technology equipment, furniture and other expenses related to temporarily displacing staff, which will be funded from a surplus from other capital projects.
The project includes an addition on the south side of the existing facility. A proposed expansion on the west side of the fire headquarters that would have enlarged one existing engine bay and created a gym and expanded space for firefighters was removed from the project design because of complications with the expansion of the town’s water treatment plant adjacent to the site and the removal of the existing water tower.
The approved project includes rehabilitating the existing engine bays with new overhead doors, paint and other repairs. The approved project also includes a new HVAC system for the fire headquarters, along with a complete renovation of the building’s exterior.
The total guaranteed maximum price for the expansion and renovation project, including previously bid construction management fees, came in a $1,665,200. With the inclusion of added expenses for IT equipment, furniture and other costs associated with moving manpower around during construction, an additional $35,000 is needed, bringing the total project cost to about $1.7 million.
The current balance of funds for the project is $1,638,000, leaving a shortfall of around $62,000. City Engineer Terry McGean explained to the Mayor and Council there was currently $100,000 in savings available from the St. Louis Ave. and Boardwalk renovation projects, and suggested the $62,000 shortfall in the fire headquarters renovation and expansion project be transferred from those accounts.
McGean explained the contract to Willow Construction would be handled in a “construction manager at risk” format, similar to the procurement process used for the new Ocean City Beach Patrol headquarters and the latest phase of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center expansion. The renovation and expansion is set to begin in February with the fire department expected to be back in the building by Memorial Day weekend.