Clay County board awards grant-funded Ag/CTE building bid to Midstate, declines metal-roof alternate

The Clay County Board of Education voted on Dec. 12, 2024, to award the construction contract for a grant-funded Agricultural/CTE building at Clay County High School to Midstate, approving the project as originally designed and declining the $20,000 metal-roof alternate.

The decision followed staff remarks that the district had solicited three bids for the project and received addenda that included an alternate metal roof. The chair said the project is time-sensitive because it is grant-funded and that the district has ‘‘roughly 18 months, to have everything completely finished.’’ Staff also noted the district has worked with Midstate on previous grant-funded contracts and had satisfactory experiences with that contractor and some of its subcontractors.

Architect John Clark was identified as the project architect; two bids were described as comparable in scope and cost and one as an outlier. The board discussed the alternate metal roof, which a board member noted ‘‘would be an extra $20,000, and there were concerns, of the durability and the fact that it might leak, before the roof that, in the original plans.’’ That language and the district’s familiarity with Midstate formed the basis for a motion to award the contract to Midstate "as originally designed" (shingle roof). The motion, made by Mister Melton and seconded by Mister Ashlock, passed.

The board’s action forwards the contract to Midstate and preserves the original roofing plan. Staff emphasized the work is on a grant timeline and must be completed within the grant’s scheduling window.

Next steps: the district will finalize contract paperwork with Midstate and proceed with procurement and scheduling to meet the grant deadline.