$4.48 million bid awarded for life sciences center

By James Boyd 331-4370 | jboyd@heraldt.com
July 23, 2007

The Indiana Center for the Life Sciences is one step closer to becoming a reality after the Monroe County Redevelopment Commission awarded the contract Monday to have it built. Garmong Construction Services, based in Terre Haute, will construct the facility.

Garmong’s bid was for $4.48 million, which is more than the original $4.135 million estimate for the building.

The facility will be paid for through a $5 million bond, raised through the west side TIF district.

When the tab for the entire project is totaled, the county will end up with about a $6.3 million investment in the life sciences. That includes things such as architechtural fees, bond counsel, technology and equipment.

Officials hope to break ground by early fall on the 20,000 square foot building that will serve as a training ground for both college students and those already in the work force. It will be located next to Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus.

“This project is important for our community,” commission president Barry Lessow said. “I’m disappointed we weren’t able to get our bids within our original budget, but this building will get built because of its importance to the community and to Ivy Tech.”

Clint Merkel, the county’s outgoing community development director, called the project the “crowning jewel” of his tenure. Merkel has helped navigate the county through the bond process, and has seen the project develop from an idea to an actual building. Lessow said it was fitting that Merkel’s final redevelopment commission meeting would include the awarding of the bid.

“This is something that is just so important to the community,” Merkel said. “I believe in this project.”

Ivy Tech-Bloomington Chancellor John Whikehart said the college was going to pick up the cost of technology equipment to the tune of about $370,000.

The redevelopment commission will borrow $400,000 from its Vernal Pike project, but repay it once the county council repays its $1.2 million loan to cover the cost of a general obligation bond payment.

“The success of this project, and what it means to our work force, it’s far too important for us to delay this any longer,” Whikehart said.

The commission rejected bids last month in order to allow contractors to see if they could slim down the budget of the project.

Garmong shaved about $400,000 off its estimate last month to the $4.48 it submitted last Friday.