Board eyes project consultant

Jan. 11, 2011

By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

New Castle’s $19 million early learning center project attracted 18 companies wanting to be hired as construction manager.

A $6,500 contract and the choice of consultant could temporarily slow the selection.

Business manager Joseph Ambrosini had planned to ask school board members tomorrow night to hire Eckles Architecture & Engineering as the district’s adviser.

“I have no expertise in that area,” he said last night during the board’s work session. “(Superintendent George Gabriel) felt the same way. In conversation with Eckles, we thought it might be a good idea if we had someone review the proposals.”

Board members Mark Kirkwood and Dr. Marilyn Berkely were troubled with the recommendation.

Eckles Construction Services was one of the firms submitting a bid. The business is a separate entity from Eckles Architecture. However, some partners in Eckles Architecture have an ownership interest in Eckles Construction.

Gabriel said the administration and school board wanted to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest and declined to accept Eckles Construction’s proposal. A second company, Cornerstone Construction Management, had its proposal rejected for not providing requested materials.

“The whole reason we’re getting into this is that we didn’t want Eckles to work for Eckles,” Kirkwood said. “Now you’re having Eckles tell us who is going to work with Eckles.”

Gabriel rejected that assertion.

“At no point did I suggest Eckles was going to pick the construction manager. ... The board’s going to pick who to use.”

Berkely also questioned the agreement.

“I think what’s bothering me is Eckles. I don’t know. OK?” she said. “Eckles. Eckles. Eckles everything.

“So you’re just dealing with one company who’s doing everything, and you’re not bringing in anybody else to get any kind of other opinion or other view.”

Gabriel asked the group if they had another choice.

“If you have a name, we’ll pick ’em,” he said. “I don’t care who it is. I just think we need someone else who has expertise in the area.”

Anna Pascarella supported the idea of a consultant.

“It’s another set of eyes to look over this big project,” the board member said.

The 16 remaining proposals ranged from $307,509 (Pathline Inc., Altoona) to $981,692 (Heery International Inc., Cleveland). Eight of those surpassed $500,000.

Board member Brad Olson suggested the administration reject the high-end proposals. The move would reduce the time Eckles needed to assess the plans.

“Why are we going to pay someone $6,500 to review a bid proposal that we in no means ever are going to hire this firm? he asked. “It just doesn’t make sense. It’s throwing money at nothing.”

In a consensus vote that followed, the board instructed Ambrosini to meet with Eckles to renegotiate the preliminary contract.



THE CANDIDATES
Construction manager list

The following firms submitted proposals to serve as construction manager for the H.W. Lockley Early Learning Center project. Of the 18 proposals, the New Castle Area School District excluded two city firms from consideration — Cornerstone Construction Management and Eckles Construction Services.
Expressing interest were:

•Pathline Inc., Altoona — $307,509
•Chronicle Consulting LLC, Pittsburgh — $377,080
•GP Construction Inc., Edinburg — $397,678
•Massaro Construction Management Services, Pittsburgh — $456,140
•Scaparotti Construction Group, Cleveland — $466,851 
•P.J. Dick Inc., Pittsburgh — $480,037
•Thomas & Williamson, Pittsburgh — $481,984

•Foreman Program & Construction Management Inc., Zelienople — $545,945
•Turner Construction Co., Pittsburgh — $551,315
•Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Pittsburgh — $619,002
•Gannett Fleming Inc., Harrisburg — $630,789
•URS Corp., Pittsburgh — $660,087
•G. Stephens Inc., Akron, Ohio — $740,125
•Stantec Consulting Services Inc., Philadelphia —$800,000
•AMEC E&C Services Inc., Sewickley — $816,000
•Heery International Inc., Cleveland — $981,692
Source: New Castle Area School District