TO: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John Tikanich, Jr., County Administrator
Michael Zito, Deputy County Administrator
FROM: Bela Nagy, Director of Golf
DATE: March 27, 2025
SUBJECT: Award of Bid 2025026 for Sandridge Golf Club New Clubhouse
_________________________________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND
Sandridge Golf Club, owned by Indian River County, operates a 36-hole public golf course through an Enterprise Fund, and is recognized as one of the finest golf facilities open to the public in the state of Florida. It has maintained a four-and-a-half star rating by Golf Digest for the past fifteen years on their annual “Places to Play” listing and recently received a #10 ranking in the state of Florida for Best Public Courses. The Dunes and The Lakes Courses, both designed by Ron Garl, offer Championship golf to all levels of play with six sets of tees to make golf fun for all skill levels. The Dunes Course, which opened up for play in 1987, is a Par 72 Golf course that measures up to 7,100 yards. The Lakes Course opened up for play in 1992 and is also a Par 72 Golf Course measuring just over 6,200 yards.
The golf complex includes a 7,000 square-foot clubhouse, golf cart building and maintenance building. The organization of the Enterprise Fund is divided into two areas: maintenance (operations) and clubhouse services. Sandridge Golf Club continues to be recognized as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” status and was the 26th course in Florida and 191st in the world to receive this honor with about 900 courses currently worldwide holding this distinction.
Sandridge Golf Club has many amenities including an award-winning Pro Shop, full-service snack bar operation, driving range and a Short Game Learning area. The level of service experienced at Sandridge Golf Club is parallel to that of a private golf club, and golfers who visit Sandridge Golf Club can play it at an affordable public price. Sandridge Golf Club hosts over 40 outside competitive and charitable fundraising golf events each year. They also have successfully attracted larger events over the past couple of years including the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), Florida State Golf Association Public Links Championship, and most recently a Division I Ladies College Event. Additionally, Sandridge Golf Club has many organized leagues on various days of the week including a Men’s League, Ladies League, and Couples League plus many other groups and leagues throughout the year supported by different organizations. All of the success over the years has resulted in a need for an improvement and expansion to the current facilities at Sandridge Golf Club.
Sandridge Golf Club endeavors to replace its existing clubhouse, built in 1992. A prior bid for construction was far above budget, leading to the following primary modifications to the original design:
1) Removal of the port cochere at the entrance to the building, estimated to save $600,000
2) Removal of a ¾ mile stretch of 12” water pipe for a fire hydrant, instead allowing a dry fire hydrant, estimated to save $700,000
3) Lowered the building three feet to putting green level, eliminating the need for a retaining wall, railings and stairs, estimated to save $500,000
After completion of updated plans, bid 2025026 was advertised on January 29, 2025, and six bids submitted by the March 19, 2025, deadline for submittals. The scope of work includes construction of site improvements, the clubhouse, a turn building, parking lot improvements, installation of a standby generator, and demolition of the existing clubhouse.
|
Bidder's Name |
Location |
Total Base Bid |
|
Quest Contracting, LLC |
West Palm Beach |
$11,200,984 |
|
Ahrens Companies |
Lake Park |
$12,369,394* |
|
Persons Services Corp |
Fort Lauderdale |
$12,915,566 |
|
Proctor Construction Company, LLC |
Vero Beach |
$13,166,508 |
|
Gulf Building, LLC |
Fort Lauderdale |
$14,315,650 |
|
West Construction |
Lantana |
$14,465,067 |
*Ahrens Companies bid was disqualified for failure to provide the mandatory Sworn Statement Under the Florida Trench Safety Act, due at time of bid, per Section 553.60, Florida Statute
ANALYSIS
The Building and Facilities Services Department has reviewed the bids received and has identified Quest Contracting, LLC, as the lowest, responsive, and responsible bidder. Thus, they have recommended the award of the bid to them.
The anticipated schedule proposes a May 1, 2025, notice to proceed with the anticipated project completion occurring in August 2026, if the anticipated start of the project can be accomplished considering the need to finalize and approval of the funding strategy/plan for the project. It should be noted National Golf Foundation Consulting was issued a purchase order on February 24, 2025, to complete a Sandridge Golf Club New Clubhouse Market and Financial Analysis, that will include a market analysis, analysis of operating structure alternatives, and financial analysis. The findings will help inform the Board on future decisions concerning this project and a funding strategy/plan
BUDGETARY IMPACT
The line-item bid did not include a force account for unforeseen circumstances, so staff recommends the Board also authorize an additional 10% contingency be added to the base bid, to facilitate quick response to any unforeseen circumstances. Any changes within the County Administrator's spending authority would be subsequently presented to the Board with a full accounting for the project. Changes that exceed the County Administrator's spending authority would be required to be presented to the Board for approval. For budgetary purposes, including this contingency would increase the total award amount to $12,321,082.40. Additional funding for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) is estimated at $1,500,000, bringing the total project budget to $13,821,082.40. Funding, in the amount of $6,500,000, is budgeted (through outside borrowing) in the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Capital Improvements Element. Expenses will be recorded in the Sandridge Golf Club/Work in Progress/Sandridge Clubhouse/Event Space account, number 418-169000-21018. To fully fund this project funding may be required to come from a combination of fund balance (cash) and the issuance of debt. The final funding strategy/plan will be brought back before the Board for approval.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
On October 1, 2021, the Board approved an agreement with Sun Patric Architecture, Inc., DBA Sparcdesign, as a result of RFQ 2021020, to execute the architectural and engineering design of the new clubhouse. The original design, issued as bid 2024029, was for an 18,000 square-foot facility. Bids were opened on February 8, 2024, with the low bid of $14,670,444.26 exceeding available and anticipated funding. The Board rejected the bids associated with 2024029 at its February 20, 2024, meeting, and authorized staff to work with the architect to refine the design to reduce scope and cost. Additional modifications to the agreement with Sparcdesign were approved by the Board throughout design. The Board approved
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
Approval of the final funding strategy/plan, and adopting a Bond Resolution authorizing the County to issue debt in the form of bonds (amount to be determined and approved by the Board). A business plan that contemplates internal versus external operations will also need to be reviewed and approved by the Board.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Quality of Life
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Board award bid 2025026 to Quest Contracting, LLC, approve the sample agreement, and authorize the Chairman to execute it, after review and approval of the agreement and required public construction bond by the County Attorney as to form and legal sufficiency, and after the contractor has reactivated its registration with the Building Division. It is further recommended that staff be directed to secure sufficient construction bond financing to complete the project upon approval by the Board of County Commissioners of the appropriate bond resolution.