The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District on Monday rejected the two bids it received last week for the main construction work on its South Shore Line Double Track project in hopes of bringing the cost closer to engineers' estimates. After a five-month procurement process, during which 66 informational packets were requested, NICTD received bids from F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates at about $399.7 million, and from a Walsh/Herzog joint venture at about $424.5 million. The bids were substantially higher than anticipated, with the low bid 75% higher than the estimate of approximately $228.6 million. South Shore President and General Manager Michael Noland said the railroad will talk to the two bidders and others to try to "find ways to streamline the project."