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JUNEAU - McGraw Custom Construction out of Sitka may lose an $11.4 million contract to build Juneau's Downtown Transportation Center because a notice of a last minute bid reduction got to the city 32 seconds too late.

When city officials opened the bids of four contractors Tuesday, McGraw was the apparent low bidder for the project thanks to the reduction. Contract Administrator Jennifer Mannix of the city's engineering department explained the new development in a city memo:

"A Bid Modification Form was received by fax from McGraw Custom Construction at 2:00:32 p.m. on May 12, 2009. ... This Bid Modification has been determined to be late and has not been accepted."

The deadline was 2 p.m. The lowest bidder now is local contractor Coogan Construction at $11.5 million. The contract award goes before Juneau Assembly for approval Monday.