Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Center Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustees select Frank Rewald & Sons as construction manager and Newman Smith as architect for Waterford community center project
Summary
After a quality‑based selection process and interviews, the Waterford Township Board approved Frank Rewald & Sons as construction manager and Newman Smith as architect/engineer for the community center renovation at the Oakland Community College Highland Lakes campus.
The Waterford Township Board of Trustees voted April 14 to retain Frank Rewald & Sons as construction manager and Newman Smith as architect/engineer for the community center project at the Oakland Community College Highland Lakes campus.
The selections follow a multi‑step, quality‑based procurement led by the township’s owner representative and Plante Moran Realpoint. The township issued a request for proposals on March 5, 2025; 11 firms attended the mandatory pre‑proposal meeting on March 12 and 10 firms submitted responses by the March 21 deadline. An advisory group used weighted criteria—municipal and recreation experience, proposed staff, hours dedicated to the project and cost—to shortlist respondents, conducted interviews, and recommended finalists for board review.
Robert Stepien, owner’s representative, described the process to trustees as extensive: RFP issuance, mandatory site visit, written Q&A, evaluation, interviews, and post‑interview reference checks. "Both Clark and Rewald are very top‑notch firms," Stepien said, adding that the advisory group narrowed the field through quantitative scoring and interviews.
Trustees discussed attributes of the recommended firms. Supporters said Frank Rewald & Sons has substantial municipal experience in southeastern Michigan, frequent repeat municipal clients and an emphasis on bidder solicitation that could deliver competitive subcontractor pricing. Rewald’s use of Basso & Associates (mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers) and on‑site leadership by the company’s CEO were highlighted as differentiators.
Allison Swanson, Waterford Parks and Recreation director, told the board both finalist firms had strong experience in community‑center remodels and that Rewald’s procurement approach and tariff‑tracking practices were attractive. The board approved a motion to retain Frank Rewald & Sons; authorization is subject to the township supervisor and township attorney finalizing contract terms. The resolution directs the supervisor to sign the contract when terms are finalized and names Clark as a backup if contract negotiations with Rewald fail.
On architecture and engineering, trustees approved Newman Smith after a similar shortlisting and interview process. Jeff (Jeffrey Palkowski) summarized that Newman Smith’s renovation focus, local knowledge and the presence of Lindsay at Basso—who has relevant experience with underground site utilities—helped the firm stand out. The approval likewise authorizes the supervisor to finalize contract terms with Newman Smith, with IDS named as the alternative if negotiations do not finalize.
Why it matters: the approvals move the community center project into preconstruction and design phases with firms chosen for renovation experience, local knowledge and procurement plans intended to control costs and schedule. Procurement documents in the record include the RFP (03/05/2025), mandatory pre‑proposal attendance (03/12/2025) and the interview and selection schedule.
