SACO — The city of Saco is requesting bids for a design build team for a new public works building, with the goal of completing the new building in 2020.

On Nov. 7, 2017, residents voted to approve the $7.25 million for the construction of a new public works building in the city’s industrial park.

The current public works building is at 351 North St., and city officials say relocating the facility to the industrial park would give the city the opportunity to promote the North Street property, which has footage along the highway, for commercial redevelopment.

The current public works facility was constructed in 1973 for use as a truck depot, according to city documents. The Public Works Department moved into the building in 1985.

The building was found in the 1990s to be deficient in keeping up with the growth of the community, which included the expansion of city services and changes to the city’s fleet of vehicles, according to city officials.

The city put out a call for bids on Dec. 5 and will receive bids until Dec. 21.

According to the specifications of the city’s request for proposals, the suggested project would include a 23,000-square-foot public works building which would consist of 8,000-square-feet of administration space, 8,100-square-feet of vehicle maintenance garage space, 6,600-square-feet of vehicle storage space and about 3,700-square-feet of canopied area for exterior vehicle storage.

The project would also include a fuel island for city vehicles, materials yard storage area, and on-site parking for the vehicles of about 45 public works staff and visitors, 30 school department transportation staff, 45 operations vehicle and 30 buses.

The new Public Works Department facility will also include items not listed in the bid such as a 1,200-square-foot school department transportation building, a 7,000-square-foot salt storage shed that will be relocated from the existing facility and an equipment storage building.

According to the terms of the request for proposals, the city anticipates awarding the project to a bidder on Feb. 4.

The city anticipates beginning construction in June 2019 and having the building ready for occupancy by August 2020.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 780-9015 or mail to:[email protected].