Nearly two months since the bid proposals were opened, the primary construction contract for the new state museum in the Cultural Center remains in limbo - but a state Division of Culture and History spokeswoman said Wednesday the process is nearing completion.

"They're taking their time to make the right decision," said Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner of Culture and History. "We're trying to be very careful."

On March 28, the state Purchasing Division received three bid packages for the museum specialty contractor contract. That contractor will fabricate and install all exhibits in the multi-media museum that will take visitors on a "show-path" tracing key events in state history.

On April 22, Purchasing officials took the next step and opened cost proposals from the bidders - but only for two of the three companies.

Design and Production Inc. of Lorton, Va., bid $6,070,841 for the contract, while Creative Environs of Jacksonville, Fla., submitted a cost proposal of $8,279,947.

No explanation has been given why the cost proposal from the third bidder, Design Craftsmen of Midland, Mich., was not opened. A company official said at the time the firm had not withdrawn its bid.

Normally, the cost proposals aren't opened until an evaluation committee for the agency requesting bids has completed technical evaluations of each of the bid packages.

Under state purchasing regulations, the technical evaluation counts for a maximum of 70 points in scoring the bids.

Cost accounts for 30 points, with the low-bidder getting the full 30 points, and with higher bidders getting pro-rated amounts, using a formula that measures those bids against the low bid.

Nearly two months since the bid proposals were opened, the primary construction contract for the new state museum in the Cultural Center remains in limbo - but a state Division of Culture and History spokeswoman said Wednesday the process is nearing completion.

"They're taking their time to make the right decision," said Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner of Culture and History. "We're trying to be very careful."

On March 28, the state Purchasing Division received three bid packages for the museum specialty contractor contract. That contractor will fabricate and install all exhibits in the multi-media museum that will take visitors on a "show-path" tracing key events in state history.

On April 22, Purchasing officials took the next step and opened cost proposals from the bidders - but only for two of the three companies.

Design and Production Inc. of Lorton, Va., bid $6,070,841 for the contract, while Creative Environs of Jacksonville, Fla., submitted a cost proposal of $8,279,947.

No explanation has been given why the cost proposal from the third bidder, Design Craftsmen of Midland, Mich., was not opened. A company official said at the time the firm had not withdrawn its bid.

Normally, the cost proposals aren't opened until an evaluation committee for the agency requesting bids has completed technical evaluations of each of the bid packages.

Under state purchasing regulations, the technical evaluation counts for a maximum of 70 points in scoring the bids.

Cost accounts for 30 points, with the low-bidder getting the full 30 points, and with higher bidders getting pro-rated amounts, using a formula that measures those bids against the low bid.

Compared to the often-lengthy process of completing technical evaluations, the cost scoring usually takes little time - at which point Purchasing is notified to prepare a draft contract for the winning bidder, a contract that first must go to the attorney general's office for its approval.

Administration spokeswoman Diane Holley said Wednesday that the Purchasing Division is still awaiting notice from Culture and History.

Proctor, noting that state purchasing regulations impose a blackout rule prohibiting comments on state bids before the contract is awarded, said the delay does not mean there are problems with the bid process.

"It's just to make sure all the i's are dotted," she said. "It's a work in progress, but it's looking good."

West Virginia has been without a state museum for nearly 41/2 years, after the old museum, occupying 24,000 square feet on the ground level of the Cultural Center, was gutted to make way for the new facility. At the time, the new museum was projected to open in the fall of 2005.

However, high bids and a lack of anticipated private funding kept the project on hold.

During an August 2007 special session, the Legislature appropriated $6.1 million of budget surplus to the museum - intended to be the last piece of funding for the now $17.6 million project.

The state awarded a $3,927,000 contract for the project's general contractor in November. That firm, Maynard C. Smith Contracting of Charleston, has been on site since January.

To contact staff writer Phil Kabler, use e-mail or call 348-1220.