Medford committee names Left Field apparent OPM; approves designer RFS after debate over $600M cap

Medford Comprehensive High School Building Committee on May 12 named Left Field as the apparent successful bidder to serve as the project’s owner’s project manager, while approving a designer request for services and debating but ultimately rejecting a change to the advertised project-cost range.

The announcement and the committee’s votes matter because the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) must still vet the OPM selection and convene an OPM selection panel before the city may execute a contract; the committee’s designer RFS moves the district toward an expedited designer selection process that the committee and consultant team said could hit MSBA panels in June and July.

Committee chair Jenny Graham said the selection subcommittee’s recommendation of Left Field was unanimous and emphasized the remaining MSBA steps. “The contract is not finalized,” Graham said, noting MSBA review and the OPM selection panel are required before the city can sign with Left Field. The committee was told Left Field agreed to attend the meeting at its own expense pending the MSBA process.

Left Field principals presented their team and approach. Jim Rogers, principal of Left Field, introduced Mac (Matt) Gallino as the day-to-day senior project manager and Linda Boporto as a senior project manager, and outlined their proposed staffing profile. Gallino said he would serve as the primary on-site…