Reprinted with permission from The Republic newspaper, March 25, 2022

City officials are continuing the search for a contractor for the NexusParkfieldhouse.

The Columbus Board of Works has voted to release a Request for Proposal to the two companies that replied to its previous Request for Qualifications on the project. The applicants are Force Construction Co. of Columbus and Runnebohm Construction of Shelbyville.

“They both met the minimum requirements that we were seeking for the RFQ,” said CityDirector of Finance, Operations and Risk Jamie Brinegar. “… It (the RFP) will only go toRunnebohm and Force, since they were the two who were approved by the Technical Review Committee.”

The deadline for these companies to respond is 10 a.m. April 12. The Columbus Board of Works will then open the bids.

According to Brinegar, the project includes design/build construction of the fieldhouse, demolition of the former Goody’s, site preparation, moving underground utilities, and constructing a connector to the NexusPark building. Bids will include quotes and work schedules from both companies.

Director of Administration and Community Development Mary Ferdon said that the city engaged architecture firm Perkins & Will for design of the parks department administrative space at NexusPark and initial design of the fieldhouse. However, the actual design-build of the fieldhouse will be completed by whichever contractor the city chooses.

“The design we’ve received from Perkins & Will, it gives a basic outline of what we’re looking for, the $150,000 square foot (fieldhouse),” said Brinegar. “We have a couple of alternates we’re looking at — whether it’s a 5-inch concrete base or a 7-inch concrete base. The turf flooring is an alternate bid, as well as screens and a few other items. But the basic design is pretty standard.”

He said that fieldhouse construction is estimated to take nine to 12 months, due to delays in obtaining steel.

The city expects to have the project under contract by May 1, Ferdon told the ColumbusRedevelopment Commission Monday. The goal is to begin construction by the third or fourth quarter of 2022 and reach “substantial completion” by the fourth quarter of 2023. However, she said at a previous city meeting that this is an aggressive estimate for completion, with the process likely to take longer because of supply chain issues.