COST REALITIES BEDEVIL BIDS FOR STATION : SIMI POLICE PROJECT HITS SNAG.

Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer

Building a new police station within the $10.6 million budget will require significant cost-cutting; otherwise, the City Council could throw out all the bids, as it did during the initial selection process, officials said.

With that in mind, the council voted unanimously Monday to reject the seven bids to build the 101,000-square-foot station on a 6-acre site at Tapo Canyon Road and Alamo Street. When completed, it will replace the 25,100-square-foot station at 3200 Cochran St.

The lowest bid was more than $500,000 over the city's budget.

The second-lowest bidder protested the move, citing irregularities in the low bid. But council members said the protest had nothing to do with the council's decision.

``You can say anything you want, but you look at the bid and it's considerably higher than anticipated,'' Councilman Bill Davis said. ``By far, it's wiser to go out to bid (again).''

New bids are due to be submitted by March 6 and the council is expected to take action at its March 17 meeting, said Assistant City Manager Don Penman.

Construction has been delayed about a month as a result of the need to seek new bids. But the winter rains would have delayed any work, Penman explained.

``We don't really think it will affect it at all, with the weather the way it's been,'' he said. ``It's a minor delay.''

Simi Valley had received seven bids Jan. 13. The bid amounts ranged from Eagle Rock-based C.W. Driver's $10.4 million to Los Angeles-based Pozzo Construction Company's $11.5 million.

The council on Nov. 20 approved a total construction budget of $10,612,501, which included a 5 percent contingency and $126,700 to relocate utilities.

By accepting the C.W. Driver bid, the total cost would have climbed to $11,143,370, including the 5 percent contingency and utility relocation cost - or $530,869 over budget.

The protest was lodged by the second-lowest bidder, San Fernando-based Bernards Bros. Construction.

``It's not unusual to have a protest and you take it seriously, but the fact that the bid was a half-million off made us believe we should rebid this,'' Penman said.

The city is looking at several cost-cutting options to help keep the project within budget. Penman said options include:

Substituting vinyl and carpeting for tile for a $20,000 savings.

Replacing trellises with landscaping for a $120,000 savings.

Penman said contractors also are expected to use the C.W. Driver bid as their base, which should further help ensure that costs stay within budget. ``They know if they want the job, that's going to be their starting point.''

Simi Valley Police Chief Randy Adams said he was not seriously concerned with the council decision to rebid the project.

``As long as we can get in there in 1998 we'll be happy.''