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Wasco County grants contracting exemption to use CMGC process for Columbia Gorge project
Summary
The Wasco County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 2056 to exempt the county from public contracting rules for a construction manager/general contractor (CMGC) process on the first phase of a Columbia Gorge center project. Staff said early contractor involvement will improve cost certainty and constructability.
The Wasco County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2056, granting an exemption from public contracting rules so the county can use a construction manager/general contractor (CMGC) process for the first phase of a Columbia Gorge center project.
Tyler, a county staff member, introduced the request and said the county is securing a development consultant and architect. Project manager Lynn Lindgren of Housing Development Center described the CMGC approach and why the development team recommends it: bring the general contractor in early to assist with predevelopment, budget and constructability so design decisions align with realistic construction costs. “It is best to use a construction management general contractor arrangement with a general contractor as opposed to getting a low bid,” Lindgren said.
Lindgren said the county will issue an RFP to select a general contractor with contract revisions to bring the contractor into the predevelopment phase; many subcontract packages are later competitively bid. Commissioners discussed the difference between CMGC and design–bid–build and expressed support for the approach.
A motion to approve Resolution 2056 was moved, seconded and approved unanimously. Staff and the development consultant said they will proceed with an RFP for general contractors and continue design work with contractor input before formal construction bidding.
