Construction Archives - Western Construction Resources

Why We Ask for Bid Results and Award Information: Building Trust Through Transparency

At WCR, we regularly reach out to public agencies and project owners to request bid results and award details following bid openings. You may have received one of these requests from us — and we want to take a moment to explain why we ask, and why sharing this information benefits the entire construction community.

When contractors bid on public projects, they invest a great deal of time, effort, and resources preparing their proposals. Each bid represents not only a financial calculation, but also a commitment of energy from estimators, project managers, and support staff. With so much at stake, transparency in the bidding and award process is essential.

Publishing bid results — including all bidders and their amounts — serves several important purposes:

✅ It promotes trust and fairness. When bid results are made public, contractors know the process was open and above-board. This builds confidence in future opportunities and encourages healthy competition.

✅ It protects the integrity of the process. Transparency deters disputes, reduces the potential for misunderstandings, and strengthens the credibility of the bidding process.

✅ It helps the industry plan and improve. Contractors can better assess market conditions, refine their estimating strategies, and make informed decisions about where to focus their efforts.

✅ It keeps stakeholders informed. From subcontractors to suppliers, many rely on accurate and timely information about who won the work and at what price.

We understand that compiling and sharing this information takes time. But timely communication of bid results and award details is not just a courtesy — it’s part of doing business in a professional and accountable manner.

We appreciate the cooperation of owners and agencies who help us keep the industry informed. Together, we can support a construction marketplace built on integrity, fairness, and mutual respect.

Respectfully,
Dawn Harju,
President WCR Publications INC

By DawnWCR|June 20, 2025|Construction|

Why an Official Plan Holders List is Important

For public municipalities and project consultants, ensuring a fair, competitive, and efficient bidding process is essential. One of the simplest — yet most critical — tools to support this is maintaining an official plan holders list.

What Is an Official Plan Holders List?

An official plan holders list is a record of all contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and consultants who have obtained the official project plans and documents from a designated source.

In short:
➡ The bid documents clearly state which agency or location bidders must contact to be added to the plan holders list.
➡ Those on the list are notified of any project changes, addenda, or updates.

This ensures that everyone knows where to get the official, most up-to-date information for a project — eliminating confusion and miscommunication.

Why Does This Matter?

Bidding on public works projects takes significant time, effort, and resources. Without an official plan holders list, several problems can arise:

Lack of coordination — Contractors, suppliers, and subcontractors may not know who is bidding as a prime or sub, leading to missed opportunities for collaboration.
Wasted time and effort — Bids can become fragmented, redundant, or incomplete, wasting valuable time for both bidders and the municipality.
Higher costs — Inefficiencies and uncertainty can discourage participation or lead to inflated bid prices.
Reduced transparency — Without an official source of truth, it’s harder to ensure that the process is fair and competitive.

The Benefits of an Official Plan Holders List

By maintaining and sharing an official plan holders list, municipalities and consultants can:

✅ Promote collaboration between contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers
✅ Encourage more complete, competitive bids
✅ Save time and reduce unnecessary costs for all parties
✅ Support the integrity and transparency of the public bidding process

Final Thoughts

An official plan holders list is a small administrative step that delivers big value. It ensures that everyone — from the owner to the bidders — starts from the same set of information, creating a smoother, fairer, and more efficient project delivery process.

By DawnWCR|June 13, 2025|Construction, General|

Sehome High School Bid Package Awards

5/10 Sehome HS BP #31.0 – Earthwork
Ram Construction – $4,903,000.00
5/26 Sehome HS BP #3.0 – Concrete
Dawson Construction – $3,750,000.00
5/26 Sehome HS BP #5.3 – Supply Steel Joists & Metal Decking
Steel Encounters – $540,700.00
6/8 Sehome HS BP #21.0 – Fire Suppression Systems
Advanced Fire – $798,000.00
8/2 Sehome HS BP #5.1 – Structural Steel Supply Only
Advanced Welding & Steel – $1,475,420.00
8/17 Sehome HS BP #5.2 – Structural Steel Erect Only
Dawson Construction – $1,195,000.00
8/31 Sehome HS BP #4.0 – Masonry
Construction by Champion – $886,800.00
8/31 Sehome HS BP #8.2 – Storefront & Glazing
General Storefronts Inc. – $1,472,731.00
8/31 Sehome HS BP #14.0 – Conveying Equipment
Dawson Construction – $129,000.00
10/2 Sehome HS BP #6.1 – Wood Framing
Dawson Construction – $4,060,000.00
10/12 Sehome HS BP #6.3 – Casework & Countertops
Pacific Cabinets – $1,443,924.00
10/12 Sehome HS BP #8.1 – Door, Frames & Hardware
Dawson Construction – $1,324,000.00
10/12 Sehome HS BP #8.3 – Specialty Doors
Overhead Door – $150,135.00
11/2 Sehome HS BP #5.4 – Precast Concrete, Misc. Steel & Metal Stairs
Dawson Construction – $1,680,000.00
11/2 Sehome HS BP #7.1 – Roofing
Hytech Roofing Inc. – $1,193,700.00
11/2 Sehome HS BP #8.4 – Vinyl Windows Supply Only
Builders Alliance – $70,614.76
11/2 Sehome HS BP #9.1 – Metal Framing, Drywall & Insulation
Van Beek Drywall – $3,796,250.00
11/2 Sehome HS BP #11.2 – Auditorium Drapery & Equipment
Stagecraft Ind, Inc – $430,700.00
11/2 Sehome HS BP #12.0 – Auditorium Seating & Telescoping Stands
Nor-Pac Seating Co, Inc. – $250,000.00
11/14 Sehome HS BP #11.1 – Food Service Equipment
Smith & Green Company – $621,140.00
11/30 Sehome HS BP #10.1 – Priority Miscellaneous Specialties
Dawson Construction – $712,000.00
12/5 Sehome HS BP #7.2 – Weather Barriers, Siding & Vinyl Window Install
Dawson Construction – $3,098,000.00
12/14 Sehome HS BP #9.2 – Acoustical Ceilings & Walls
Forest Sound Products – $636,739.00
12/14 Sehome HS BP #9.3 – Ceramic Tile
Spectra Contract Flooring – #310,280.00
12/14 Sehome HS BP #9.5 – Painting & Wall Coverings
Dawson Construction – $1,199,000.00
12/19 Sehome HS BP #10.3 – Signage
Heath NW
12/20 Sehome HS BP #6.2 – Finish Carpentry
Dawson Construction – $891,000.00
12/20 Sehome HS BP #9.4 – Wood Flooring
T&T Contractors – $222,000.00
1/11 Sehome HS BP #2.0 – Demolition & Abatement
Ram Construction General Contractors LLC – $2,375,000.00
1/11 Sehome HS BP #32.4 – Landscaping
Over Budget – Will Rebid
1/17 Sehome HS BP #3.1 – Site Architectural Concrete
Ram Construction General Contractors LLC $1,800,000.00
1/24 Sehome HS BP #10.2 – Lockers
Vibetech Specialties – $299,384.00
1/24 Sehome HS BP #32.2 – Tennis Courts
Bid Package Cancelled

By DawnWCR|February 22, 2018|Construction, General, News|

1025-35 Hilton Avenue Project

Public Meeting: Bellingham Design Review Board Tuesday, February 20, 2018 At 3:00 Pm In The City Council Chambers, City Hall, 210 Lottie Street To Consider:
Description: Development of two commercial/industrial buildings on a 4.5 acre lot on the corner of Roeder and Hilton Avenues in the Waterfront District urban village. The building addressed 1025 Hilton Ave. is proposed to be 13,500 square feet with one story plus mezzanines, and the building at 1035 Hilton Ave. is proposed to be one-story and 6,250 square feet. The project is proposed to include landscaping, construction of a parking lot and improvements to Hilton Ave. Vehicle access to the property is proposed to be from Hilton Ave.
Staff Contact: Lindsay Kershner, Planner II – Planning and Community Development Department, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 778-8369 or lkershner@cob.org.
Comments: Anyone wishing to comment on this proposal is invited to submit written comments prior to the meeting date. Information on this topic will be available at City Hall in the Permit Center and on the web site at www.cob.org at least one week prior to the meeting.

By DawnWCR|February 9, 2018|Construction, General, Permits|

RFQ, Request for Qualifications, Page Allows You “To Be In The Know”

Have you checked out the RFQ page for Engineers and/or Architects?
We post RFQs for Engineers & Architects so that you can see what’s coming.

Check out these RFQs bidding now:
Bellingham:
Anderson Creek Basin Analysis and Restoration Alternatives
Sedro-Woolley:
SR20, Township Street to Fruitdale Road Lane Widening and Sidewalk
Solid Waste/Equipment Maintenance and Street Facility Project
Blaine:
Boblett Street Traffic Channelization And Corridor Improvements

Here are the links:
https://wcrinc.com/rfqs-rfps/architect-requests/
https://wcrinc.com/rfqs-rfps/engineering-requests/

By DawnWCR|December 22, 2017|Construction, General|