MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — The Middletown School Building Committee on Oct. 15 introduced Ryan Healy as the project owner’s representative from Colliers and reviewed draft guaranteed maximum price (GMP) amendments and pending construction alternates for the elementary complex and the combined middle–high school ahead of a planned Oct. 29 vote.

The committee received an update on two draft GMP amendments: the elementary complex draft (original draft received Sept. 4 and under revision) and the middle–high school draft (received Sept. 30). Committee members were told the town attorney completed a contract-language review of the proposed amendments and had no comments. The building committee plans to review final GMP amendments, alternates and allowances and either approve or reject the packages at the next meeting or, if needed, at an early November meeting.

Why it matters: approving a GMP locks many project costs and determines which alternates — optional work items that had been value-engineered out earlier — will be funded. Committee members repeatedly stressed the need to understand allowances, clarifications and trade dates before recommending GMP approval to the school committee and town council.

Ryan Healy, introduced as Colliers’ full-time on-site construction representative, described his role as managing the construction manager and third-party consultants for the project. “Excited to be part of this team over here in Middletown. Looking to successfully bring this to a a close for the students with smiling faces in 2 years,” Healy said.

Elementary-complex status: Committee members were told the elementary GMP draft is being tweaked, largely because of a recent roof-alternate meeting and related design revisions. The committee was told the intent is to include add alternates with the GMP package and to let the committee review alternates at the time the GMP is considered rather than approving them separately in advance.

Middle–high school status and alternates: The middle–high school GMP draft has an updated alternate list. Several alternates have supplier or subcontractor due dates that fall before the committee’s next meeting, which could allow subcontractors to renegotiate prices if their suppliers will not hold prices past their quote dates. Alternate 17 (a voluntary vendor proposal to increase steel thickness on a feature stair riser) can be rejected because subsequent submittals showed the original gauge meets design requirements, the committee was told. Alternate 16 (a proposed substitution for kitchen equipment) remains under review by the design team pending submitted submittals.

Committee members discussed three near-term alternates (numbers 1, 2 and 3) where trade- or supplier-level dates fall before the committee meeting; the electrician’s portion of those alternates was noted as the most likely to require a price adjustment if supplier dates cannot be extended. Reported price ranges discussed in the meeting: alternate 1 (electrician portion) about $41,000 or under; alternate 2 just over $75,000; alternate 3 just under $51,000.

MWBE participation and allowances: The draft GMP for the middle–high school includes a premium to increase Delta Mechanical’s MWBE participation above a 15% threshold; the Colliers update stated those funds are allocated in the GMP draft. Committee members also said Bentley (the design team) has exceeded its participation target.

Site operations and testing: Committee members received a construction update covering hydroseeding, bulk excavation, structural backfill, elevator shafts and foundation work. Prime (the testing firm) and the project geotechnical engineer are performing third-party testing and documentation; Prime reported nuclear-densometer testing to verify at least 95% compaction for engineered structural fill in placed areas. The committee was shown photos of hydroseeded stockpiles, the high school elevator shaft topping off, and freshly poured isolated footings at the middle school.

Soils and disposal: The team reported the bulk stockpile that needed off-site disposal has been trucked to the Grotto Landfill in Pawtucket, and about 1,000 cubic yards remain that must go to Rhode Island Resource Recovery in Johnston because of higher impurities. The team is awaiting a check from the trustee before hauling that material. A tipping fee figure discussed in the meeting was $1.15 per ton.

Two-week look-ahead and schedule: Upcoming work identified for the next two weeks includes continued bulk excavation and soil removal, concrete formwork and foundation waterproofing, elevator work and mobilization of the structural steel erector. The committee was told a formal GMP package will include costs, a construction schedule, a logistics plan, alternates and allowances. Committee members urged decisiveness on alternates when the GMP is presented so the school committee and town council have a complete recommendation.

Reporting and outreach: The committee asked for a concise weekly status sheet. Healy and the owner’s-rep team will produce a one-page weekly report to be distributed to the building committee and project stakeholders.

Votes at a glance: During the Oct. 15 session the committee approved the Sept. 24 meeting minutes and later approved a motion to adjourn; both were adopted by voice vote with all members saying “aye.”

What’s next: The building committee expects to review the final GMP packages and alternates at its next meeting, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 29; if final drafts are not ready, the item could move to the first meeting in November. The committee will vote on any GMP recommendation before sending a recommendation to the school committee and town council.