PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend commissioners have approved a construction bid for an air ventilation system at a building in Point Hudson for just over $85,000.
The contract was awarded to Air Flo Heating Co. of Sequim for $85,146.66 during the commissioners’ Wednesday afternoon meeting.
The contact is a result of a lease agreement that the port has with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Stipulated in the five-year agreement signed in the spring is that Fish and Wildlife would not pay new rental rates until a ventilation system was installed because of the creosote odors in the building, according to the commission packet.
The building has had a history of creosote odors. Air-quality testing confirmed the odors are not a risk to human health, but do pose an issue to tenants.
Two companies submitted bids to the commission, with Avril Construction Co. presenting a bid of more than $200,000 for the ventilation system, which is why the port went with Air Flo as the lowest responsive bid.
Both bids were asked to submit an alternative bid for a split heating system that would provide heat and cooling to the entire structure, due to the boiler failing during the bid process.
“Air Flo’s bid was found to be both responsible and responsive,” the packet said. “However, Avril Construction did not include [a bid alternative], and is therefore, unresponsive.”
Air Flo was the only company to submit both bids, but the alternative bid was an additional $129,006.20, so the commissioners chose to stick with the original bid, and replace the boiler separately, which will cost less than $25,000.
“I would love to do the heat pump,” Jim Pivarnik, interim executive director said. “But it’s just prohibitively expensive.”
The commissioners unanimously agreed to the contract.
“It meets our ceiling for the lease agreement with DFW,” Bill Putney, commission chair said.
________
Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5 or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
