Columbus will open bids for interior work of a new fire department training facility next month after revising its Request for Proposals.
The Columbus Board of Works on Tuesday approved a new description for the scope of work for the project after the city rejected a bid for $614,400 from Driftwood Builders Inc. earlier this month that was higher than what had been budgeted. The city had estimated interior work would cost around $500,000.
The bid from Driftwood Builders Inc. was the only one received by the city.
Changes in the new scope of work for the project includes a reconfiguration of the layout of the building and specifications of materials used, Fire Chief Mike Compton said.
The changes include adding a room for the Columbus Police Department to be used for firearms simulator training, while eliminating the amount of asphalt outside of the building, said Mary Ferdon, executive director of administration and community development.
Timeline to complete the 12,000-square-foot facility, planned for Verhulst Street in the Columbus AirPark, has been delayed a month — until January, Ferdon said.
The facility, which will have two classrooms with space for 30 people in each room, will be used for simulation exercises such as extrication and fire extinguisher training when it opens.
Other fire departments and first responders around Indiana will be able to rent the space for their training needs. The city established a non-reverting fund last year to collect revenue generated from the facility, including classroom rentals.
Money for the project is coming from the fire department’s cumulative capital fund, in addition to money from the city’s public safety non-reverting fund. Compton said he anticipates a bid will be awarded for the interior work of the building sometime in August.
The cost of the project has been estimated at $775,000, which includes exterior and interior work, according to the city.
“If we could start (construction) in mid-September or October, that would be a good scenario,” Compton said.
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The city will advertise bids for 14 days and expects to award a contract sometime in August for the interior work of the fire department’s new training facility.
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