Greenhouse Assembled During Summer Break with ezIQC®
Challenge
A grant is a great way for schools to fund renovations and construction projects. The Erie School District in Pennsylvania planned to use a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to purchase a greenhouse for a garden that serves as a creative learning space for its “farm-to-school” initiative. Students from around the district— elementary students to high schoolers enrolled in the district’s popular horticulture program—would use the greenhouse to continue their education about plant science and nutrition. Students would use this education to work with the district’s food service provider to incorporate student-grown vegetables into their recipes. The plan was as popular as it was inventive. Once funding was secured, Erie School District set an ambitious construction timeline: The 30 feet by 60 feet Winandy Greenhouse was to be assembled over summer break.
Solution
The school district chose ezIQC from Gordian, available through cooperative purchasing networks, to expedite the procurement process and get the project completed quickly while students were out of school for the summer. ezIQC allows schools and public agencies to complete multiple projects using one, competitively-bid contract instead of sending every project out to bid individually. Such a time savings was imperative for a project on a tight timeline, who found a contractor through the Keystone Purchasing Network.
At a joint scope meeting before the end of the school year, a representative from the school district, the architect, contractors from Eriez Construction, Inc. and the ezIQC representative walked the job site and discussed the scope of work. A detailed price proposal, planned construction schedule and potential list of subcontractors was provided to the school district. The school requested additional concrete and site work, the schedule was verified by the contractor and the assembly project began in June.
Result
“In the end, the project was completed to the specifications and delivered on time and on budget,” said David Haft, Supervisor of Maintenance for the Erie School District. “The project went smoothly and Gordian’s involvement really helped move it forward,” Haft said. “From the beginning they helped streamline the process and eliminate any potential surprises down the line.”
The ezIQC process was fast and flexible to rapidly accomplish the task in August, before students returned for the new school year. Now, students are able to use the greenhouse for unique learning experiences that span multiple subjects.
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