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Board approves CG Schmidt as construction manager for referendum projects
Summary
The West Allis-West Milwaukee School Board voted March 17 to hire CG Schmidt to manage construction tied to the district referendum, consolidating owner’s-rep work with the construction manager and citing fees, communications capacity and readiness to begin.
The West Allis-West Milwaukee School Board on March 17 approved a contract with CG Schmidt to serve as construction manager for projects included in the district’s referendum package, with the board voting to accept the recommendation after a district review of proposals.
School staff and the selection committee recommended CG Schmidt after a competitive RFP process that produced four proposals. The committee told the board the recommendation was driven by three factors: a competitive fee and warranty package, an established communications program the district can use to communicate project timing and impacts, and a short preconstruction ramp-up that would let work start sooner.
District staff said the construction-management RFP launched in mid-January and included optional site tours, written Q&A and presentations from bidders. An interview panel that included district facilities and communications staff narrowed the field to finalists and evaluated fee proposals and preconstruction plans. The panel recommended CG Schmidt both as construction manager and to perform the owner’s-representative duties the district had bid separately; staff said consolidating the roles reduced duplication and would save money and simplify communications.
Aaron Norris (staff member), who described the RFP and interview process to the board, said the district considered the cost to taxpayers and the firms’ ability to begin work quickly. Norris also told the board that a low-fee owner’s-rep bid in the district’s process came in at about $486,000, while CG Schmidt proposed to provide the owner’s-rep scope for roughly 1.25% of project costs — an amount the district presented as approximately $186,000 — and that on-site travel and oversight would not erase that gap.
Ryan Schmidt, managing director for CG Schmidt, introduced his team and said the firm has broad K–12 experience in southeastern Wisconsin and would begin immediate planning if the board approved. Bill Smith, introduced by the superintendent as the district’s referendum project manager, said CG Schmidt’s prior work with the district and its communication capacity were key to the recommendation.
Board members asked about next steps. Staff said a kickoff meeting had already occurred, and CG Schmidt and district staff planned an in-person planning day and a communications meeting the following day. Staff said they expect to return to the board in roughly a month with recommended phasing and a communication plan for individual school projects.
The board moved, seconded and approved the contract recommendation. No ordinance or statutory change was required for the award.
The vote on the CG Schmidt contract was taken by voice; the board chair declared the motion passed.
