After more than a year of discussions and planning, Andalusia City Schools will open bids on a new physical education facility at Andalusia High School in the coming weeks.

ACS Superintendent Ted Watson said sealed bids will be received on July 12 at 2 p.m. and will be read aloud.

Watson said the plans for the new facility, which have been developed by Donofro & Asso-ciates, will include a new 26,174-square foot physical education facility, a new 6,818-square foot boys’ PE facility, renovations to a5,949-square foot the girls’ PE facility, renovations to the 630-square foot shop building and miscellaneous site work on the AHS campus.

Plans are on file in the architect’s office and the City of Andalusia’s engineer’s office, officials said.

Watson said a mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for July 5 at 10 a.m. at AHS.

“This is pretty standard practice,” he said. “No matter what, you want the builders to know what the lay of the land is.”

The board was notified in late August that it would receive $2.5 million in Qualified School Construction Bonds for the project, and the Andalusia Bulldog Football Foundation agreed to give the board $8,000 to pay the closing costs for the project, as well as bridge any loans that may be necessary.

“It’s taken a little longer than we wanted, but naturally we’re excited,” Watson said. “Anytime you get the opportunity to add to your existing facilities, it’s a good thing. We believe this facility will see as much or even more, as far as kid-usage than anything. It’s pretty multi-functional.”