Story by ELLEN BECKER (Managing Editor)

The Board of Governors approved the issuance of a contract to Gould Evans for   bridging designer and owner’s representative professional services for the relocation of  the General Services Building, stadium upgrades and mixed- use projects at its meeting Aug. 23.

In  June, the Board approved the “design build” project delivery method for the residence hall and retail facility (mixed use)  project, which involves several steps including the relocation of the General Services Building and the football locker room,  and replacement of  stadium seating at the current “horseshoe” of Walton Stadium. The Board also approved the use of Gould Evans  as  the  bridging  designer and owner’s representative.

The project steering committee has recommended that Gould Evans begin programming, schematic design and design development for the General Services Building relocation and stadium upgrade projects.

Each project site will require a field survey, phase 1 environmental assessment, geotech/soil survey and existing utilities survey. The final recommendation was to proceed with a market feasibility study regarding the student housing proposed in the mixed- use project.

Based on a percent of estimated construction costs, the total fee for Gould Evans’ services is $1,605,116. The portion that the Board approved is $489,161, plus $25,000 for reimbursable expenses. This amount will allow Gould Evans to complete the various site studies by the end of December 2012.

The Board also approved the award of a multi-year lease agreement for the grounds maintenance equipment utilized at Keth Memorial Golf Course.

The current lease expires in October. The new four-year lease is proposed to ensure the golf course is maintained in a professional manner.

The annual cumulative lease payment is $60,654 for equipment including mowers, an aerator, turf sprayer and flatbed utility vehicle. The lease term of four years combines for a cumulative amount of $242,616. The University has the option of purchasing the equipment at the end of the lease, or returning it.

The previous lease for golf course grounds maintenance was $49,720 annually. The  added cost between the 2008 lease and the current lease is due to a Toro tur f sprayer that will replace a 14-year-old UCM-owned turf sprayer.

The increase is also caused by inflation costs and  the  desire  of  UCM’s Pertle Springs  and Facilities management to upgrade the reliability and quality of golf course grounds equipment.

The new equipment will be operated and maintained by UCM Facilities with funding from the Pertle Spring’s budget. The Board approved the award of a three-year contract for aviation fuel with Avfuel  Corporation  to  suppor t  UCM’s aviation program.

A request for proposal was sent to seven fuel distributors, and two responded. The Avfuel Corporation was chosen based on an accumulation of evaluation points awarded  by a three-member committee and points awarded for fuel and delivery cost.

In the most recent fiscal year, approximately 40,823 gallons of 100 octane low-lead (100LL) fuel were used by the UCM fleet. The fleet’s  flight hours are expected to be 6,000 in FY13, requiring approximately 41,000 gallons of 100LL. The total cost for fuel from Avfuel Corporation is $6,677.

The Board also approved the award of a contract to Johnson Controls to upgrade the building automation system at the Elliott Union.

The existing system is more than 20 years old, and the supervisory controllers and  components are failing. There is very limited ability to control the building’s 12 air  handler units and variable air volume boxes. Maintaining comfortable temperatures throughout the building is difficult, reliability is poor, equipment is  operated inefficiently and excessive energy is used.

Johnson Controls will be replacing the existing system with web-based software. There will also be  control upgrades to the air handler units and variable air volume boxes, control valves, direct digital control actuators, new variable frequency drives on several air handler units, remote monitoring and programming capability, loop piping modifications and final start-up, commissioning and tech training.

The proposed cost of the upgrade is $272,470, and funding will come from the Elliott Union Auxiliary.

Preliminary energy savings with the new system are estimated to be around $26,000 per year.