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School bond committee narrows OPM and architect finalists; some bond costs non-reimbursable
Summary
The School Department Building Advisory Committee advanced to finalist interviews for owner’s project manager and architects; committee members noted some bond costs — such as athletic-field replacements — are not reimbursable by the state.
Councilmember Kim Page and Town Manager Ralph Malas, both members of the School Department Building Advisory Committee, reported on May 12 that the committee ranked and narrowed finalists for owner’s project-management (OPM) services and architects for projects in the school bond package (excluding Wickford Middle School, which has its own OPM).
The committee selected top three finalists for OPM services and top three for architecture and scheduled interviews and pitches for the upcoming week. Page said the selection process required extensive review of submissions.
Committee members also discussed reimbursement limits: some project elements — for example, replacement of athletic fields — are not eligible for state reimbursement under the grant rules noted by presenters. Page said she would provide a fuller update at the council’s next meeting, including which project elements are reimbursable.
Why it matters: Selection of OPM and architect firms moves bond projects toward design and construction. Clarifying which elements qualify for state reimbursement matters for budgeting and scope decisions; the committee flagged athletic fields as a likely non-reimbursable component and said those costs are borne locally.
The committee is proceeding to final interviews and anticipates reporting back to the council with firm selections and reimbursement details.
