Mohave County is going out for bids to repair a Mohave Valley building for use as a homeless veterans service center.
The county is looking for a construction firm to repair WestCare Arizona 1 Inc.'s building at 9575 Evans Lane Road.
In October, the county supervisors approved a $371,433 contract to repair the building. The board approved the facility with the stipulation that it is used only for a homeless veterans center, that a maximum of 20 veterans are housed there, and a fence is repaired.
The project is expected to cost between $200,000 to $300,000 and take four months to complete. The project will be helped by $300,000 in federal funding through Community Development Block Grants, which would go to add a new roof and repair the kitchen.
The project would also include adding a fire sprinkler system, replacing the heating and air conditioning unit and drywall repair. Other repairs include a new floor, bathrooms, a security system, lighting, painting the exterior and handicap parking.
WestCare of Bullhead City operated the Colorado River Regional Youth Shelter from 1993 until it
closed in 2009. The service center would be for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, physical injuries or other disorders from multiple military deployments.
The WestCare chairman previously told the board of supervisors that veterans often feel more comfortable being around other veterans as they transition to civilian life. He said there would be a controlled environment with video cameras and security and the facility would be staffed 24 hours a day.
Interested contractors have until March 16 to submit bids to the county procurement department. A pre-bid conference will be held at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 28 at the WestCare administrative office at 821 Hancock Road, Suite 2 in Bullhead City. Bidders can walk through the site at 8 a.m. Feb. 28 at 9575 Evans Lane Road.—AP
