Winnemucca News

Winnemucca News

HGH Board accepts construction bid - 06-29-2010

WINNEMUCCA — Phase I of Humboldt General Hospital’s expansion moved closer to realization last week when the Board of Trustees accepted a construction bid.

The low bid was submitted by R&O Construction at $9.4 million. Based out of Las Vegas, the company has extensive experience on large construction projects throughout the west – though they have worked primarily in Nevada.

After years of discussion the process should now move forward rapidly. CEO Jim Parrish said once the contracts are signed the company will be ready to break ground – perhaps as early as the second week of July. The plan is to complete the outside work during the warm weather and the inside once cooler temperatures set in. Parrish said the project is good for the hospital and the community. He commented, “This is a very exciting project. It will be a challenge, but it will be very nice when we get it done.”

Phase I of the hospital expansion will add 30,000 feet of space to the existing structure and will include physician office space, a walk-in clinic next to ER, conference rooms, and will remodel existing space to allow the expansion of material management, which includes warehousing. The new physician office space will accommodate both full-time and visiting doctors.

The architect’s estimate for the project was 11.8 million and the hospital budgeted 12 million for the project. Five construction companies bid on the project with the highest bid being $10.4 million – way below estimate.

There has been some thought that because of the poor economy construction companies have become very competitive in their bidding, which leads to more affordable pricing.

Michael Clay Construction has been hired to represent the hospital during the construction phase. Parrish explained the local company will oversee the process on behalf of the hospital to ensure what’s supposed to be done is done every day of construction. For example, if something is required to have a 4-inch slab of concrete with reinforcements, there will be someone on hand to make sure there’s no shortcuts.

Parrish said the hospital plans to conduct extensive public outreach during construction to keep the public informed on access to hospital facilities.

Written by Dee Holzel - Silver Pinyon Journal - 6/29/10

• Winnemucca News