School Air-Conditioning Work May Proceed Despite Challenge

Seeking to end delays in the installation of air conditioning at dozens of Los Angeles schools, a joint venture proposed Tuesday to go ahead despite a legal challenge to its contract.

In a letter delivered to the Board of Education, PGCH Inc. said it would start work right away if the district will pay its invoices, and would complete work at 38 schools by mid-July.

The school board voted last July to award PGCH--a joint venture of PG&E; Energy Services and the engineering and construction firm CH2MHILL--the contract for about half the 300 schools scheduled to receive air conditioning under the $2.4-billion school construction bond approved by voters in April 1997.

Work on the other half is being individually bid under the district’s construction management team for Proposition BB repairs.

No contract has yet been signed, however, partly because another firm contested the selection of PGCH without competitive bidding. The firm was selected even though its price of $155 million was higher than the district’s estimate because board members said they were willing to pay the extra in exchange for a fixed price and an 18-month completion guarantee.

A hearing on the challenge, lodged by Harvey Nichols Construction, is scheduled March 26.

PGCH executives and district administrators said they believe the contract will be concluded soon.