FROM:
£2" oy QBL/7S
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY
1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, N.Y. 12222
5 February 1974
Vice President John W. Hartley
Administration Building = Room 326
Mr. Walter M. Tisdale
Service Building "A" ~ Room 326-103
SUBJECT: Campus Progress Report No. 234
Air Pollution Control] - Central Heating Plant
Project No. 01-393
Today | attended a bid opening at the Construction Fund for this
project. Four bids ranging from $428,000 to $525,000 were received. Bids
were
$300,
wel] above the allocated amount that was approved for the project, I.e.,
000. In view of the fact that atl blds were high, it is not possible
to award any of these bids and additional action will be required.
The Construction Fund is now of the opinion that the recent rise
in steel prices is the major cause why all of these steel components have
so far exceeded the estimated amounts used last year. This is true even
though -ah:allowance had been made for escalation of prices. There js also
the possibility that some portions were misunderstood. by those that submitted
bids and this will have to be clarifled. Consequently, the Fund Is re-studying
the project with a view to clarifying any obvious misunderstandings. It will
also attempt to get more funds cleared through the Division of the Budget for
a second bidding. I+ is estimated now that about 60 days will be required
to review the project in tight of these developments and hopefully to secure
approval for additional funds.
The disposition on the part of the Construction Fund is to do the
above study and’ then move forward with the project as soon as possible in
order to’ comply with the air purification regulations now in effect with
this
state. There seems to be a willingness to pay whatever we must to bring
state institutions up to these standards. When our project is completed it
will
comply with those standards. It is regrettable that this first attempt
did not succeed, but, with the rate of inflation it has been virtually
impossible to keep pace. + would seem now that the project still has a
good
chance of going forward, but with the additional delay of at least two
months. "| will continue to keep persons Informed of the status.
Bioce;
WMT
President Benezet
Mr. Buckhof f
Mr. Allen
Prof. Scott
518 * 457-3300 * — Cable Address SUALB
