The lowest apparent bid for Gilroy’s library came in today at
three-quarters of what was initially anticipated, leading city
officials to rejoice.
The lowest apparent bid for Gilroy’s library came in today at three-quarters of what was initially anticipated, leading city officials to rejoice.

Milipitas-based Devcon Construction placed a low bid of $17.26 million on the library project, more than 27 percent less than what engineers initially anticipated. The company also presented various alternatives that the city could approve, such as photovoltaic panels and maintenance costs, that add up to as much as $18.1 million.

“I’m happy as a clam,” Councilman Bob Dillon said Wednesday following the bidding process at Gilroy City Council chambers.

Devcon’s projects include the San Jose Civic Center and corporate campuses for Cisco Systems and Yahoo!.

Its library projects include a 185,000-square-foot facility at Santa Clara University and a renovation and expansion project at the McHenry Library at the University of California Santa Cruz. The Santa Clara University Library project is built up to top-notch “LEED” environmental standards, which the city plans to use for its own library.

Five companies showed up to the council chambers Wednesday afternoon, although only four of them placed bids.

“They all have impeccable reputations,” Councilman Dion Bracco said.

Daisy Pereira, a project executive for Devcon, said the company was happy to place the lowest bid.

“We’re excited about being the successful bidder,” she said. “It should be a fun job.”

Both Pereira and City Administrator Tom Haglund noted that the company has not been selected yet.

Haglund stressed that Devcon is the lowest “apparent” bidder, adding that all the company’s paper work must be in order before the City Council can decide on the matter.

Still, he said he was happy to see all the bids come well under the $23 million anticipated cost of the project.

The council is expected to vote on the matter during its June 14 meeting, Haglund said.

“I think we’re very excited to get started, to get the library under way,” Haglund said.

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