Otisfield garage bid awarded

OTISFIELD — A $371,797 bid to construct a new town garage was awarded by selectmen at their August 1 meeting. 

The board voted unanimously to grant Building Solutions, LLC of Oxford the construction job. Company representatives Brian O'Donnell and Joe Casalinova were both present at the meeting. 

During the town meeting in June, voters approved a capital project consisting of the construction of a town garage not to exceed $400,000. 

The town has been planning to build a garage for nearly two years – after last week's selectboard meeting, that plan is finally unfolding. 

For a handful of reasons the selectmen agreed Building Solutions was the best option, even though P.M. Construction placed a lower bid of $313,240.

"For me, it came down to multiple things," said Selectman Rick Micklon. First, he said he likes that Building Solutions is an Oxford-based company. 

Building Solutions is also purchasing steel from Massachusetts, said Micklon. "The competitor got theirs from Pennsylvania," he said. "I like knowing we got our steel from a closer source than Pennsylvania." 

Selectman Lenny Adler agreed. "I like doing business as local as possible," he said. Adler was also impressed by the comprehensiveness of Building Solutions' bid. "They've done well answering questions and giving information," he said. 

"The other company does not," Adler stated, "and that to me would mean a lot. To some extent, although there's a contract, it's a matter of trust." 

In addition, Building Solutions kept the project local by purchasing its materials from Oxford-based Record Lumber, which Micklon said was also a deal-breaker. 

Micklon said Ben Pratt from Off-Road Construction in Minot will be excavating the property, another company Micklon said he's confident in. He is also impressed by the engineer's willingness to review both submittals with him and give "valuable input." 

"He felt the most comfortable with the details presented by Building Solutions," Micklon told the board. 

P.M. Construction, however, did not provide all the details expected of them, said Micklon – making the overall decision easy – though leading up to the decision "was not an easy process," he said. 

Selectmen and members of the town's Road Study Review Committee sat down with both companies last week to discuss each bid thoroughly – they agreed Building Solutions is best fit for the project. 

"I think it's a good match," said Chairman Hal Ferguson. 

"I can't tell you how many hours we've spent," said Micklon of the selectboard and committee. "No one can accuse us of not doing our homework." 

Casalinova and O'Donnell confirmed with the board that the work would be capped at $372,000.

"We will negotiate so there's nothing left up in the air," Casalinova told the board. 

"We will work hard to make that happen and not to disappoint you," he said.