Medford committee approves Left Field OPM contract; independent cost estimates will be additional

The Medford Conference of High School Building Committee voted to approve a contract with Left Field to serve as the Owner’s Project Manager for the district’s high school project and authorized next steps contingent on a confirming letter from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

The vote came after the committee told MSBA representatives that Medford intended to move “as quickly as we possibly can” through the next project gate; committee members unanimously approved the Left Field contract, 13 in favor, two absent.

The approval matters because MSBA must confirm the committee’s OPM selection before the district can proceed to retain a designer and advance the feasibility study and subsequent design phases. Jenny Graham, a member of the committee who ran the remote roll call, said the committee had provided MSBA with the deliverables needed for the next gate and expected a timeline update from MSBA within about a week.

Committee members discussed cost-estimating practice and potential additional fees. Jen Carlson, a presenter on the call, said the $525,000 fee covers the base scope but that independent cost estimates are “on top of the fee of $525,000.” She described the typical sequence: a designer produces a required estimate at the PSR (Project Scope and Requirements) phase, and the PDP (Preliminary Design Package) phase normally includes two estimators (the designer’s estimator plus an independent estimator) to reconcile estimates; a construction manager at-risk could provide a third estimate later if the project chooses that route.

During the meeting, a committee member asked whether the independent estimators would be included in Left Field’s flat fee or charged separately; Carlson confirmed those estimates would be additional charges and said the committee would decide whether to schedule some estimating work earlier or later in the milestone sequence.

There was no substantive debate recorded about alternatives to Left Field; the committee chair called for a motion to approve, Dr. Galusi moved to approve the contract for Left Field and Dr. Cushing seconded. The roll call showed 13 affirmative votes, with Emily Lazaro and Nicole Morel absent; no votes against and no abstentions were recorded.

Members also reviewed next steps for scheduling. The committee said it will hold an in-person meeting next week to begin the designer selection phase in more detail and expected to receive MSBA’s written confirmation before finalizing the signing of the MSBA letter and contract documents. Lisa Malone from the superintendent’s office was named as working with staff on a standing monthly schedule so committee members can plan future meetings.

The committee adjourned after the vote and scheduling remarks; staff indicated they will return with more information on the MSBA timeline and on how the committee wants to structure independent estimating during the upcoming designer selection process.