LOWER MERION — The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners voted to reject bids for the planned photovoltaic system on the roof of the Penn Wynne Library and a carport system at the adjacent Manoa municipal parking lot.

During the January finance committee meeting, Adam Szumski, chief financial officer for Lower Merion Township, said the project would include the replacement of the roof as well as reinforcement of the roof to support that solar array.

The project is part of Lower Merion’s plan to convert the township’s buildings and facilities to electricity generated from non-fossil fuel sources by 2035.

“The bids came back double the estimate developed by our engineers,” Szumski said. “We owe that to the fact that it was not responded to by many. We received two general contractor responses and one electrical response. Even those that did respond highlight to us the difficulty in lining up subs. Particularly, it seems electrical work is in high demand right now, particularly with data center work coming through the pipeline in the tri-state area.”

According to township officials, rejecting and rebidding the project would enable Lower Merion staff to revise bid specifications, potentially resulting in more competitive bids and greater budget flexibility.

The township staff plans to restructure the bid so that the carport system is the base bid, and the roof replacement and rooftop project are add-alternates.

“We do plan to rebid this quickly … and structuring it in a way to provide a little bit more flexibility to the board when we bring it back to the board in a few months to consider, as a base, the carport PV with roof repairs and add alternates to contemplate those replacement and reinforcement of the roof and the solar roof itself on the library,” Szumski said.

According to township officials, the grant funding for the project is not expected to be affected by the rebidding delay.

“Beginning construction prior to July 4, 2026, is required so that an estimated $256,000 in federal Clean Energy Tax credits can be claimed by the Township without significant additional requirements,” according to the staff memo on the project. “Project funds must be expended by December 27, 2026 to retain the $126,000 federal Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant funds, and must be completed by June 30, 2027 to retain a $250,000 Montco2040 grant.”