Lind to award first phase of FEMA project to WM Winkler Company

The Town of Lind took another step in the beginning stages of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) road improvement work.

During the March 27 meeting, Century West Engineering Project Manager Steve Nelson informed the Lind Town Council the company received bids from six contractors for the first phase of the FEMA road improvement project.

Out of the six proposals submitted for the project, WM Winkler Company, out of Spokane, had the lowest bid at $332,459.

Nelson’s cost estimate for the project was $464,100.

Nelson said Century West is recommending the Town award the contract to WM Winkler, following approval from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) to proceed with the project. The Council voted on Century West’s recommendation to award the bid to WM Winkler.

Nelson added said the Town will need to issue a Notice of Award to WM Winkler, as well as a contract for the work and a letter for the company to proceed with the project.

He explained said WM Winkler is a well known company in Eastern Washington.

Nelson said there is a pre-construction conference scheduled for the beginning of April. The meeting’s agenda will include details about the project and the timeline, such as when construction will begin.

He said WM Winkler could possibly begin construction on the project around the middle of April.

The scope of work for the project’s first phase will consist of repairing damaged roadway segments resulting from the frost during the 2017 winter storms.

Sections of roadway being worked on for the project include Second, Third, Fourth and Seventh streets, along with sections of Van Marter and Sprague avenues.

He added the project should be completed by the second week of June, before the Combine Demolition Derby.

He clarified there are plans to repair Sixth Street, but the work for the street will be conducted in project’s second phase, which is scheduled to begin in 2019.

While WM Winkler’s bid came in at $322,459, Nelson explained the project is a unit price job and the company will be paid based on the actual quantity of asphalt use.

He said the project cost will be different than the bid WM Winkler submitted, but the Town should not expect any change orders during the work.

Nelson noted there will be a full-time resident inspector who will be ensuring crews install the right amount of asphalt for the project.

There will also be daily construction reports generated, which will be available for the Council to view online and will include photographs, quantities and equipment used during construction. Nelson said he could also provide the Council with physical copies of the reports as least once a week.

The Town will receive all of the documentation for the project after the work is completed.