First Steps Taken To Build New DPW Facility And South Amherst Fire Station

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DPW wide (1)

The building housing the Amherst Department of Public Works is a 100 year old former trolly barn. Photo: Stephen Braun

Source: amherstma.gov

The Town of Amherst will issue requests for proposals (RFP) at the end of March for components of projects to construct a new public works building and a new South Amherst fire station. The RFP’s were announced in a project update memo from Town Manager Paul Bockelman on March 18.  The memo, which offers a timeline and estimated cost for each project, can be viewed here.  

Public Works Building
The RFP proposes a $20 million budget for the siting and construction of a new public works building with an estimated completion date of June 2023.  The next steps and provisional time table for the project are as follows:

  1. Site Selection: Publish the RFP in March 2021. The RFP will be advertised in multiple locations for four weeks. Town staff will evaluate proposals and rank the choices in accordance with the uniform procurement law. The proposed location will be presented for review and approval by the Town Council.
    1. Estimated cost: None (performed internally)
    2. Projected end date: May 2021 (to complete evaluation)
  1. Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) Selection: OPM will represent the Town and help manage the project. An OPM is legally required for a project of this size.
    1. Estimated cost: None (performed internally)
    2. Projected end date: June 2021 (to complete evaluation)
  1. Schematic Design: Schematic design includes site-specific analysis involving existing conditions, environmental and geotechnical investigations, and a traffic impact assessment. This phase will also include preliminary design work related to the net zero bylaw. The final report will include detailed drawings showing all interior spaces, exterior spaces, and a detailed construction cost estimate.
    1. Estimated cost: Not to exceed $2 million for total design contract. ($300,000 for schematic design)
    2. Appropriation request: $2 million in June 2021
    3. Consultant selection: Weston and Sampson (existing consultant)
    4. Projected start date: July 2021
    5. Projected end date: October 2021

New Fire Station
The RFP seeks to relocate the current Central Station to a new facility at 586 South Pleasant Street, the current site of the Department of Public Works. The projected budget is $15 million and the expected completion date is June 2025. The next steps for the project are as follows.

  1. Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) Selection: 
    1. Estimated cost: None (performed internally)
    2. Projected start date: May 2021
    3. Projected end date: June 2021 (to complete evaluation)
  1. Schematic Design: Schematic Design includes site-specific analysis involving existing conditions, environmental and geotechnical investigations, and a traffic impact assessment. This phase will also include preliminary design work related to the net zero bylaw. The final report will include detailed drawings showing all interior spaces, exterior spaces, and a detailed construction cost estimate.
    1. Estimated cost: Not to exceed $1.5 million for total design contract. ($225,000 for schematic design)
    2. Appropriation request: $1.5 million in June 2021
    3. Consultant selection: Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. (existing consultant)
    4. Projected start date: July 2021
    5. Projected end date: October 2021

      Town Council Actions
      1. June 2021: Request for borrowing authorization for OPM and Design Services ($1.95 million). Schematic design could be performed immediately to help guide Town decision making. The rest of the contract would depend on the timing of the DPW project.

      2. Funding request for construction will depend on how quickly the DPW is relocated.

      Other Actions
      The Town Manager will create a charge and recruit members to serve on a Town Building Committee to oversee the design and construction of both the DPW Building and the new fire station. The public notice and recruitment for this Committee will begin in April.
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2 thoughts on “First Steps Taken To Build New DPW Facility And South Amherst Fire Station

  1. I have heard that the proposed budget caps ($15m for Fire Station; $20m for DPW) are based on comparables that the town gathered of other towns but I haven’t seen these comparables made available to the public. It would be good to be able to compare what Amherst needs with what other towns have built and see how they align.
    Also, I’m not clear on how the Town can simply choose to re-engage with the same design firms that produced the earlier (high) estimates ($24m for fire; $38m for DPW) without having to go through a bid process. Ideally I would think the Town would benefit from seeing responses from multiple firms to see what they think they can do for these budget caps, or what it they estimate it would truly cost to build what the Town needs. I am concerned that the premium for meeting the Zero Energy Town Buildings Bylaw (perhaps 10% of the cost) will be seen as an impediment when the Council realizes they cannot get what they want for the allocated caps, and they will take steps to gut the bylaw in order to push through less-efficient buildings at a lower cost. That would be a short-sighted and irreversible step that would prevent the Town from meeting its ambitious climate goals.
    It’s unfortunate that the vote committing at least $16 million of Town debt capacity to the library expansion project is coming up first as it will be too late by the time we get to the fire station to learn that we cannot afford it.

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