Rendering courtesy of Orange County government
Key Points
- Orange County approved a $1.78 million contract with J.I.M. Property Services to replace Building E at the John H. Bridges Community Center in Apopka.
- Construction will start in December 2026 and finish by December 2027, creating classrooms and facilities for the county's Head Start program.
- The total project cost is estimated at $2.9 million, funded by the county's capital projects fund, without impacting current center operations.
The Orange County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a $1.78 million construction contract Tuesday to replace Building E at the John H. Bridges Community Center in Apopka, advancing a project that will provide new classroom and support facilities for the county’s Head Start program.
Commissioners approved awarding the contract to J.I.M. Property Services LLC, the lowest qualified bidder among 15 companies that submitted bids. The new building will replace a former prefabricated structure on the community center campus.
“Our current timeline has us beginning demolition/construction in early December 2026 and completing construction in December 2027,” Orange County’s Capital Projects Division said in an emailed response Tuesday provided by Amanda Dukes, senior public information officer for the county mayor’s office.
The project calls for construction of a reinforced concrete-block building designed to meet current building codes. It will contain two Head Start classrooms, restrooms, staff offices, storage areas and other support facilities, according to a Sept. 17 procurement memorandum submitted to county commissioners.
The project also includes connections to existing and new public access components serving the facility. The project is in Orange County Commission District 2.
Although the construction contract totals $1.78 million, the county anticipates spending about $2.9 million on the overall project, which will be funded through Orange County’s capital projects fund. The county did not provide an itemized breakdown of those additional expenses.
“This will be a new construction build so there should be no relocation of occupants or public access, parking, or community-center operation impacts,” the division said in its emailed response.
MARBEK Construction Co. submitted the second-lowest bid at $1,808,800, followed by Mulligan Constructors Inc. at $1,899,777.
Two bidders were disqualified for failing to meet submission requirements. County procurement staff determined that J.I.M. Property Services’ bid was reasonable compared with the engineer’s estimate and that the company’s references were satisfactory for the proposed work.
Under the contract recommendation, if the selected contractor fails to satisfy required pre-award conditions, including insurance, bonding and registration requirements, the county may award the project to the next-lowest qualified bidder.
The John H. Bridges Community Center hosts various activities, including community outreach events such as an annual open house connecting residents with employment, health, housing and educational resources.