Brookfield trustees on April 26 awarded a $64,500 contract to replace the roof and make façade improvements to a public works storage building after Public Works Director Carl Muell assured them that the company submitting the surprisingly low bid was capable of pulling off the job.
Chicago-based YAD Construction LLC submitted the lowest of five bids for the work at the former EDSA building at 4523 Eberly Ave. with its $65,400 price less than half of the next lowest bidder, Red Feather Group, which submitted a bid of $146,210. The highest bidder, TORI Construction, bid $319,600 for the work.
The Brookfield job is not a simple roof replacement. YAD Construction will be required to replace decayed fascia, roof sheathing and roof joists from the northeast corner of the building, install a new waterproof membrane over the entire flat roof, replace gutters and downspouts, and do masonry improvements on all four walls. Work will include tuck pointing as well as replacing bricks and stone where needed. The entire brick portion of the building must also be painted.
Inside, the company must remove and replace water-damaged drywall, renovate an existing restroom and prepare the space so it can be used as additional office space as well as a storage area.
The village had estimated that it would cost $170,000 to do all of the work, and YAD Construction’s bid initially raised some eyebrows, according to Muell.
“We were kind of concerned about the low price, but after speaking with them, the village of Brookfield is going to benefit from YAD Construction coming in,” Muell said.
Muell told trustees at their April 26 meeting that he invited representatives from YAD Construction to Brookfield after the bid opening to confirm they could do the work for the amount they bid.
“We were all on the same page,” said Muell. “They understood the scope around the entire exterior and interior of the building. They were very comfortable with their pricing.”
Muell said YAD Construction’s references also came back positive. Large budget projects are not foreign to YAD Construction, Muell said, citing work the company has done for the Chicago Housing Authority.
The company’s legal and financial history also didn’t raise any red flags, Muell said.
Brookfield was getting such a good price, he indicated, because YAD Construction has not won a municipal contract previously, and they saw this job as their way in.
“This project really fit into their wheelhouse, their specialty,” Muell said. “They’re trying to get their foot into municipal work, and this job worked out perfect.”
Muell said the village had a similarly good experience with the company that submitted the low bid for the Public Works Department roof replacement last year, Red Feather group, which submitted the second-lowest bid, also under the village’s estimated budget.
“We believe YAD Construction will also work out,” Muell said.
Work is expected to begin in May or June and take three to four weeks to complete.
