Bids to renovate old post office due Oct. 22

The clock is ticking on the five contractors who are still in the running to renovate the former downtown post office building.

It was announced in August that SYS Contractors, Sossamon Construction, M.B. Kahn/Argo Division, Hoke Enterprises and Triangle Construction cleared the pre-qualification stage of the process and are the only contractors eligible to bid on the project.

Those contractors have until Oct. 22 to submit bids.

SYS, Kahn and Triangle are based in Greenville. Hoke’s offices are in Earl, N.C., while Sossomon is the only local contractor.

The purpose of prequalifying contractors was to ensure the contractors are up to the project. To that end, the contractors submitted their credentials, current workload, staffing and familiarity with similar projects.

The contractor will be responsible for Phase III of the post office project, which includes the general renovation of the building.

Phase I of the project — asbestos removal — has been completed while work on the second phase to replace the old roof is ongoing.

The city will use Hospitality Tax revenue and a remaining portion of a state grant to pay for the renovations. Most of the $400,000 state grant was used to purchase the building from a North Carolina businessman.