JACKSON – The Northampton County Board of Commissioners have selected a contractor for the construction of the new Department of Social Services (DSS) building.

On Wednesday, the board approved the selection of Bordeaux Construction Company, Inc. of Durham with a negotiated low bid of $5,998,844.

County Manager Wayne Jenkins said the company offered the lowest bid of the nine bids submitted.

Bordeaux originally set their bid at $6,071,110.

“That low bid was $72,226 over budget,” Jenkins said. “In accordance with USDA rules and regulations the county had to authorize the county architect, Surapon Sujjavanich, to negotiate with the low bidder to reduce the low bid from their original bid to the amount available in the budget, which is $5,998,844 and that number includes all five alternates.”

Bordeaux agreed to reduce their bid to fit the budget.

The project is funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds in the amount of $7.4 million of which $500,000 is a grant and $6.96 million is a loan.

“When the architect negotiated was there anything cut out of the contract,” asked Commissioner Joseph Barrett.

Jenkins responded there was nothing removed from the contract.

“USDA requires the county, the architect, the contractors and USDA to be very specific by way of memorandum of negotiation that will identify any areas where by the project is reduced, or in this case value of engineering,” he said. “That $72,000 will be met through value engineering as the project is built.”

Commissioner Fannie Greene questioned when the project would begin.

Jenkins said that date has not been established yet, but would be following the board’s decision, USDA signing off on documents and a pre-construction conference being held.

He estimates approximately 30 to 45 days for the county to get notice to proceed.

Commissioner Chester Deloatch moved to approve awarding Bordeaux Construction Company with the negotiated low bid. Greene offered a second and the motion passed 3-1 with Barrett voicing objection. Chairperson Virginia Spruill was absent from the meeting.