Bids for the construction of a new Hermitage Municipal Authority administration building came in "in the range" of what officials expected, said consulting engineer Joe Pacchioni.

The authority opened bids Wednesday for general construction, electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and the apparent low bids total $991,244.

The current administration building is part of the wastewater-treatment plant on Broadway Avenue, along Bobby Run. The new 7,000-square-foot building will be put up across the driveway from the present site.

Officials are working on plans to enlarge the plant.

Vendrick Construction Inc. of Brookfield submitted the apparent low general construction bid of $672,200. The other bids ranged from $690,000 to $878,000.

Of the heating, ventilation and air-conditiong bids, A&B Mechanical Inc. of New Castle tendered the apparent low proposal at $120,500. The other eight bids ranged from $123,482 to $165,000.

DJ Hannon and Sons Inc., New Castle, was the apparent low bidder for plumbing at $73,644. The other seven bids ran from $94,800 to $128,721.

The apparently unsuccessful eight electrical bids ranged from $129,000 to $171,000, and McCurley Electric Inc., Bessemer, was the lowest at $124,900.

Officials said they were pleased at the number of bids.

"It's unusual," said architect Greer Hayden of HHSDR Architects and Engineers, Sharon. "It kind of reflects what's going on the marketplace -- scarcity of work."

Authority Chairman Fred Heiges said the bids will be referred to HHSDR for review, and the board might be able to award contracts Oct. 1.

"We want to get going right away," he said. "If things work out, we'll do it at the next meeting."