The former United States Courthouse, which is just east of the Duval County Courthouse at 501 W. Adams St., was opened Wednesday for site inspections by pre-approved contractors who may wish to bid on the building’s renovation.
The project is the final element of the Unified Courthouse Facility. The building is scheduled to be occupied by the State Attorney’s Office by February 2014.
Work on the project was begun by Elkins Constructors Inc., which had agreed to complete the renovation for $28 million.
The City’s Courthouse Project Manager, Dave Schneider, told the City Council Courthouse Oversight Committee April 23 that after the contract was awarded, Elkins escalated the price to $28.5 million, based on bids for the historic windows required for the renovation.
Schneider said the City told Elkins that the cost was too high and Elkins came back to the City with a budget that had been lowered by $1.1 million.
The design-build contract with Elkins was terminated in April by Mayor Alvin Brown’s office based on the belief that the cost of the project could be lower if it was offered for bids.
At the April meeting, Public Works Director Jim Robinson told the committee the decision to cancel the contract with Elkins was made before the City received the revised project cost.
The work specified in the bid includes demolition, new construction, historical restoration, carpentry, architectural woodwork, insulation, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, security system, telephone and data installation, fire alarms, a fire sprinkler system and construction of a pedestrian bridge connecting the building to the county courthouse.
Bids are scheduled to be opened at 2 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Ed Ball Building.
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