Seven firms seek to complete feasibility study for hospital

    Seven different parties responded to a request for proposals (RFP) to complete a fiscal feasibility study for a new hospital in Chase County.
    The RFP went out Aug. 1 and 23 entities expressed interest in the project, according to Chase County Community Hospital Administrator Steve Lewis.
    Thursday, Aug. 31, was the submission deadline. Of the 23 interested, seven design-build entities submitted formal proposals.
    Lewis said they will begin reviewing the seven proposals and will forward recommendations to the hospital board for consideration. The board’s next meeting is set for Sept. 21.
    The RFP included specific guidelines the hospital will use to evaluate each of the proposals.  
    The ERDMAN Company, with headquarters in Madison, Wisc., and a satellite office in Denver, Colo., recently completed a study comparing the cost of remodeling and enlarging the present structure versus.
    Their report included costs and preliminary designs for each option. These designs were available to each of the bidders.
    In the RFP, the hospital noted EDRMAN had completed preliminary work but clarified ERDMAN had no further agreements with the hospital.
    The hospital also specified ERDMAN would have the opportunity to submit a proposal if the company chose to.  They were among the seven companies submitting proposals.
Necessary for USDA funding
    Lewis noted the RPF process was necessary if the hospital wanted to seek USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture) funding for a new or remodeled facility.
    The hospital board discussed proceeding with ERDMAN after the company delivering their  report April 27.
    If the board had decided to go with ERDMAN at that point, the project would have no longer been eligible for USDA funding.   
    Lewis noted the USDA presently offers the best financing option for a design-build project.
    As a result, he said they backed the process up in order to complete the RFP process.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. https://etypeservices.com/Imperial%20RepublicanID359/