Bid Protest Denied, Kehler Stadium Project To Finally Begin

WESTFIELD, NJ — Work on Kehler Stadium can finally begin after a bid protest was denied by the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey for the second time setting the renovation project back two months.

As a result, work will not be completed by the start of the new school year creating an impact on fall sports and other district activities.

The protest was filed by H & S Construction and Mechanical Inc. of Elizabeth, one of the vendors who bid on the contract, after the Westfield Board of Education awarded the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Your Way Construction Inc. of Irvington on March 19.

H & S Construction was the third lowest bidder in the process. However, their protest was denied on April 13 in Union County Superior Court.

On April 16, H & S Construction and Mechanical filed an appeal, which will be heard on June 7.

The appeals court affirmed the previous decision by a lower court on July 5.

“We are pleased with the appeals court decision and eager to get started on the Kehler Stadium renovations,” stated Westfield Public Schools Business Administrator Dana Sullivan. “While we remained confident that the appeal lacked merit and would be denied, we are frustrated that this unwarranted bid protest has set the project back by two months.”

Work on Kehler Stadium will include replacing the turf field, track, blacktop, bleachers and renovating the bathrooms. Work had been scheduled to begin in early May.

Sullivan said the district is working with Your Way Construction Inc. to develop a revised work schedule to minimize the impact on fall sports and other district activities.

• See Related: Protest Delays Kehler Stadium Project By 6 Weeks

(Image via Google Maps: Kehler Stadium)

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