Bids for a 960-foot-long wrought iron and brick fence around the Governor's Mansion and the Holly Grove mansion won't be opened for another week, as would-be bidders have raised a number of questions about the project.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Bids for a 960-foot-long wrought iron and brick fence around the Governor's Mansion and the Holly Grove mansion won't be opened for another week, as would-be bidders have raised a number of questions about the project.
The state General Services Division filed an addendum to its request for bids, answering those questions and providing more details on design specifications.
Among the new specifications are details for 10-inch diameter solid brass state seals that are to be attached to entry gates on the fence.
According to the document, General Services "has acquired approval from the West Virginia secretary of state -- the 'Keeper of the Seal' -- to use the symbol on the project."
The project features two entry gates, both on Kanawha Boulevard, at the entrance to the Governor's Mansion and to Holly Grove.
Department of Administration spokeswoman Diane Holley said Wednesday it is not unusual for bid openings to be delayed to answer questions from prospective bidders.
"General Services received about 25 questions related to the project," she said. "That's what delayed the bid process."
Bids are now to be opened July 22.
Several questions dealt with the proposed fence design, which is to have a 6-foot-high wrought iron fence in 15-foot sections, supported by 7-foot brick columns.
Contractors noted that the sections are unusually wide. One stated that without a support in the center, the weight of the 15-foot section would cause each panel to bow in the middle.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Bids for a 960-foot-long wrought iron and brick fence around the Governor's Mansion and the Holly Grove mansion won't be opened for another week, as would-be bidders have raised a number of questions about the project.
The state General Services Division filed an addendum to its request for bids, answering those questions and providing more details on design specifications.
Among the new specifications are details for 10-inch diameter solid brass state seals that are to be attached to entry gates on the fence.
According to the document, General Services "has acquired approval from the West Virginia secretary of state -- the 'Keeper of the Seal' -- to use the symbol on the project."
The project features two entry gates, both on Kanawha Boulevard, at the entrance to the Governor's Mansion and to Holly Grove.
Department of Administration spokeswoman Diane Holley said Wednesday it is not unusual for bid openings to be delayed to answer questions from prospective bidders.
"General Services received about 25 questions related to the project," she said. "That's what delayed the bid process."
Bids are now to be opened July 22.
Several questions dealt with the proposed fence design, which is to have a 6-foot-high wrought iron fence in 15-foot sections, supported by 7-foot brick columns.
Contractors noted that the sections are unusually wide. One stated that without a support in the center, the weight of the 15-foot section would cause each panel to bow in the middle.
One would-be bidder proposed locating columns every 7 1/2 feet -- which would have doubled the number of columns in the project from 66 to 132.
Instead, General Services revised the design to add a support post, to be embedded in concrete, at the center of each 15-foot section.
Other clarifications include specifying that each picket is to be 5/8-inch-by5/8-inch and made of solid wrought iron.
Another response ruled out using any substitute fencing material, including steel.
The fence is to semi-encircle the Governor's Mansion and Holly Grove, stretching from the rear of the east side of the Governor's Mansion, south to Kanawha Boulevard, west to Greenbrier Street, and then north to the governor's drive entrance.
Six contractors attended a mandatory pre-bid conference on the project last month, and are eligible to submit bids: Oval Construction, McNeil Fence Co., RCA Corp., and Wiseman Construction, all of Charleston; and Danhill Construction of Gauley Bridge and Nationwide Construction Group of Chesterfield, Mich.
Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.
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