Bids for the construction of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Cody Regional headquarters are in, the lowest being $8.8 million.

Five sealed bids were received by the Dec. 3 deadline in a public open bidding process. Game and Fish Deputy Director John Kennedy proposed moving forward with the low bid from BHI Construction Inc, of Rock Springs. The $8.8 million offer “is about a million under where we’re estimating this project would be,” Kennedy told the Game and Fish Commission at a meeting last week, “so that’s good news.”

BHI has certified they will use more than 80% of Wyoming subcontractor participation; the state requires a minimum 70% Wyoming subcontractor useage.

Commission Vice President Pat Crank, of Cheyenne, made a motion that a decision on accepting the bid be moved to the January commission meeting because of the large amount being spent on the project.

“We have no problem coming to you in January and making a final recommendation to the commission at that time,” Kennedy said, but noting it isn’t historical practice.

Former Commission President David Rael, of Cowley, said he worried putting off the formal approval of the bid might delay the project.

“This isn’t your guys’ first rodeo coming out and ordering contracts like this,” Rael said. “I mean, I just want to mention I don’t want to see any delays for the contractors.”

Rael was participating in his final commission meeting, with his appointment ending at the end of the year. Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik reminded the commission they have a goal of breaking ground in May — and he assured commissioners they could still keep that schedule, even if they delayed the formal approval until the January meeting.

The motion was successful and a vote will be taken at the January commission meeting. In addition to the construction costs, the department also is spending a total of $749,125 for architectural work by Cody’s Plan One/Architects. During the meeting, the commission approved a payment of $209,755 to Plan One/Architects for completed architectural work previously budgeted by the commission.

The Game and Fish paid $350,000 to buy a 21.7-acre parcel of land for the facility just north of Cody off of Wyo. Highway 120; the property was purchased in 2019 from Joe Tilden, who is a Park County commissioner.

The facility is expected to include 19,000 square feet of office space with an attached 14,500 square-foot, two-story shop and a 5,000 square-foot outbuilding. The facility will include: a large community meeting room for public hearings, hunter education courses, workshops and other non-profit events; an aquatic invasive species check station to replace the current North Cody check station near Newton Lake Road; a large parking lot for the public; and more space at the front counter to accommodate customers.

The project is being paid for entirely out of the Game and Fish’s budget, which is largely funded by hunters and anglers and federal taxes directed to the department on purchases of outdoor sports equipment.

The meeting wasn’t all business. Rael, in his typical gentlemanly manner, interrupted prior to a motion to close the meeting to wish his fellow commissioners well.

“I’d like to say Merry Christmas to everybody and all your families. This will be the last time I have the opportunity to publicly say that,” he said, “so Merry Christmas and thank you for the last six years.”

Gov. Mark Gordon’s office is currently taking applications from Park County residents interested in replacing Rael.