Committee votes to use construction-manager-at-risk procurement; selection committee nominees approved

The Salem High School Building Committee voted to pursue construction-manager-at-risk (CM-at-risk, Chapter 149A) procurement for the New Salem High School project and approved nominees to the statutory CM-at-risk selection committee.

The motion to deliver the project via CM-at-risk was made by finance working group member Anthony and passed on a roll-call vote by the full committee. Committee members cited the need for early constructor involvement on budgeting, logistics and constructability as the primary rationale. "The builder assists with the budgeting, the logistics, and constructability," Deborah, the OPM, summarized while outlining pros and cons of delivery methods.

Why it matters: CM-at-risk provides early contractor involvement in schematic design and preconstruction services, which proponents said will reduce the likelihood of costly redesigns and claims later in the project. The finance working group met earlier and "unanimously favors the construction manager at risk method," Anthony said.

Selection committee and process Committee members nominated and approved a slate of participants to serve on the construction-manager-at-risk selection committee, the statutory body that will review qualifications, score RFQs, create a shortlist and participate in interviews. Nominees discussed or named during the meeting included Anthony, Lisa, Matt and Paul as committee representatives; Brooke as the Perkins and Will representative; and Deborah as the OPM representative. The committee approved the slate unanimously.

Next steps Staff will prepare an RFQ for preconstruction services and convene the selection committee to score submissions and set an interview schedule. Staff said preconstruction fees and the two-step procurement process are part of the tradeoffs for CM-at-risk; those preconstruction costs will be carried in the schematic design budget. The selection committee will report shortlist and interview outcomes back to the full building committee for final approval of the selected construction manager.

Ending Committee members set near-term procurement steps and timetable; staff will notify nominees and circulate RFQ materials and meeting invitations for selection-committee reviews and interviews over the summer.