Western Heights Middle School roof replacement project back on track

The roof replacement at Western Heights Middle School is back on track after a delay due in part to the availability of materials as a result of the pandemic.

But the contractor who originally won the bid for the project in April 2021 is upset because it had wanted to work with Washington County Public Schools to complete the project.

"(Washington County Public Schools) has since re-bid the project, as was the plan," Erin Anderson, communications officer for WCPS stated in an email. "Due to supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, it was understood that the cost of the project was going to exceed the $1.33 million bid submitted by the original contractor."

The Washington County Board of Education awarded a contract to DProject Inc. for the replacement of the roof at Western Heights Middle School on April 6, 2021, for $1.33 million.

The company notified the school system on May 3, 2021, of the supply chain issues and asked for relief from the contracted completion date.

Washington County Public Schools canceled its contract with DProject in August to replace the roof on the school. The contract was canceled after the company advised the school system that there were issues with the supply chain due to the pandemic, Jeffrey Proulx, the school system's chief operating officer said at the time.

DProject told WCPS staff that it was seeing "significant overruns" in the project and wanted to pass those costs onto the school system, Proulx said.

"At the time the original contract was terminated, WCPS informed the original contractor that the roofing project would be re-bid and that the contractor was welcome to submit an updated proposal," Anderson said. "The contractor chose to not do so."

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Anderson said the new submitted bids were opened on May 4, but the Washington County Board of Education has yet to award the contract.

Meanwhile, Bill Tziamouranis with DProject, confirmed in an email that his company informed WCPS of delays receiving materials due to shortages and the market situation.

"Additionally, we did inform (WCPS) of potential price increase that we were informed of from our suppliers and manufacturers as this was the case of all materials from all suppliers," he stated.

The increase ranged between 3% and 4% for materials only, he said.

Tziamouranis said his company wanted to work with school system to complete the project.

Materials would be stored on site, and the company was willing to work and complete the project through the summer, while the school was closed, and through the school year, after hours and during weekends, he said.

"… The project would have been completed by now, with a 3% to 4% potential price increase only on materials," he said. "This increase was an estimation and the county could (have) not accepted the increase and we would still have to complete the project."

DProject had already started receiving materials and had completed plumbing work.

Tziamouranis did not answer as why his company did not submit a new bid.

Sherry Greenfield is the Education Reporter, covering Washington County Public Schools and the Washington County Board of Education.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: WCPS roof replacement project back on track after COVID-19 delays