College board considers housing bids

The Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees will hold a special board conference call today to award the contract for construction of a student housing building.

According to state bidding policy, the college is required to contract with the lowest qualified bidder on the upcoming student housing project. The lowest bid came from Swank Enterprises at $7,694,000.

Swank Enterprises was one of four bidders.

The other bids included James Talcott for $8,033,000, Oswood Construction for $8,075,000 and Martel Construction of $8,323,000. The board will review the bids at 9 a.m. in Blake Hall, Room 140, at the FVCC campus.

The college has worked with CTA Architects Engineers since February to design the buildings that will provide lodging for 124 students.

The housing complex will consist of four buildings. They will be built west of the school’s Occupational Trades building and south of Walmart in an area that currently is a field.

The buildings will have 50 double units and 24 single units. There will also be common areas and laundry facilities and each unit will have a kitchen.

The housing is set to be completed in time for the 2017 fall semester.