Public Building Commission reviews $67.7 million GMP amendment and $3.07 million project increase for Johnson County Health Services Center

Commissioners with the Johnson County Public Building Commission reviewed a proposed guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contract amendment and a requested increase to the Health Services Center project authorization during an agenda-review meeting.

The item for consideration included a GMP number 1 amendment with McCow and Gordon Construction Company for $67,727,663, and a stated total contract amount not to exceed $67,907,663. Commissioners were also told the county will seek a $3,070,000 increase in project authorization to add enhanced sustainability features, bringing the project total to $116,524,000 from a previously authorized $113,454,000.

The project update was presented by Tony Baron, Director of Facilities. Baron told commissioners the GMP 1 package covers early trades and procurement categories that staff wants to lock in now — “trades in concrete, steel, glass and glazing, bridal and ceilings, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, communications, earthwork, and site utilities”—so trade partners can be onboarded and prefabrication and coordination started. He said early procurement and electrical items remain challenging in the local market and that early procurement should mitigate escalation and schedule risk.

Baron also emphasized that the requested increase in project authorization is not contingent on approval of the GMP amendment, telling commissioners, “I just wanna make it clear that the request for authorization increase is not contingent upon this. And so, whether that gets approved or not, we will still have to move forward with this item.”

Commission staff explained the $3,070,000 increase is intended to fund “enhanced water reclamation and solar panels” as part of sustainability enhancements. Commissioners were told the GMP 1 approach could produce time and financial efficiencies by involving trade partners earlier in final design and procurement.

No formal votes were taken during the agenda-review discussion. Staff explained the procedural sequence: the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) must approve the increase at its Feb. 6 meeting before the item would be scheduled for action at the Public Building Commission meeting. If BOCC does not approve the increase, the item would not move into the PBC for final action.

The presentation noted prior PBC actions: on Feb. 1 the PBC approved a resolution to move forward with the Health Services Center with a project authorization of $113,454,000, and on May 9, 2024 the PBC authorized preconstruction services with McCow and Gordon for $150,000. Staff said GMP 1 is intended to procure high‑demand trade partners quickly while the area finishes other large projects, including the nearby Panasonic plant, which has increased local demand for construction resources.

The meeting closed the agenda-review discussion with staff saying the items would be presented at the BOCC meeting for action and, if approved there, would return to the PBC for contract authorization. No staff or commissioner opposed the procedural plan during the recorded discussion.