Council selects Sports Facilities Company as owner's representative for new multisports complex

The Odessa City Council approved the selection of Sports Facilities Company to serve as the owner's representative for the city's planned multisports complex following a competitive review. Aaron, a city staff member, said the city received 11 proposals in response to an August RFQ and that after a staff evaluation and interviews the top three firms were Dunaway, Sports Facilities Company, and KDC Associates. "Sports Facilities Company received the highest overall score and was recommended by the evaluation committee as the most qualified firm to provide owners rep services for the project," Aaron told the council. Council members asked about the firm's base and whether it would provide on-site staff. Aaron said the firm is based in Florida but has staff that work on Texas projects and that the company would assign personnel to Odessa while the project is underway. Staff cautioned council that an additional contract step and negotiation remains to define expectations, staffing levels and performance measures. Councilman Jim moved to accept the evaluation committee's recommendation and select Sports Facilities Company as the owner's representative; the motion passed unanimously after a second and a voice vote. Council members discussed the rationale for hiring an owner's representative: staff pointed to prior local construction projects where the city lacked an on-site advocate and later had to address construction defects and incomplete work. Selecting an owner's representative is intended to protect city interests, keep the project on schedule and control costs during construction. Staff said the next step is to enter contract negotiations and to include detailed expectations for an on-site representative during construction and for post-construction transition activities.