On March 27, general prime contractors submitted bids to the state Department of Administration for construction of the CDR/Babcock Hall project. These final bids included the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) subcontracts, and the $8M process piping and equipment allowance.

Based on the bids, the low bidder was C.D. Smith Construction, Inc. out of Fond du Lac, with a bid of $38,498,000 that covers construction costs (general construction, MEP and the $8M allowance). As anticipated by the state and university, this cost exceeded the original project budget. The UW System, UW-Madison and the Department of Administration worked together on an approach to fund the project without additional donor support. This plan allowed the Division of Facilities Development & Management to accept the bids and re-establish an appropriate post-bid contingency.

During the final design and bidding phase, the complexity of the project’s scope became more defined than at the design report stage. This resulted in additional review and re-design activities. Additionally, the need for specialized construction of the dairy research, teaching and small-scale production spaces, and the current bidding climate led to the cost increase that was reflected in the bids.

The funding plan will be presented to the UW Board of Regents on April 5. After Board of Regents approval, the plan will go before the state Building Commission on April 11. Pending these approvals, no additional value engineering will be necessary.