Broward school board delays vote on 6-month AECOM extension, orders workshop on RFQ and staffing

The School Board of Broward County on Monday tabled action on the fourth amendment to the agreement with AECOM Technical Services that would extend program-management services to Jan. 17, 2026, and directed staff to hold a May 6 workshop on the solicitation for the next program manager and to bring an org chart to the May 13 board meeting.

Board members said the extension and the district’s plan to advertise a request for qualifications (RFQ) raised legal and operational questions and concerns about continuity if a new program manager is not in place by January.

The amendment under consideration would restore the contract’s original Jan. 17, 2026 end date and give the district roughly 90 additional days of coverage beyond the latest expiration date. Mike McIntyre, an AECOM representative, told the board the firm projects roughly 156 active projects and about 54 projects in formal closeout; he said the district should expect about 100 projects to remain unfinished by Jan. 17, 2026. “We anticipate 100 will remain,” McIntyre said.

Legal counsel told the board the contract language limits how long the district can extend the existing agreement without a new competitive solicitation. “The contract…has a certain provision that states that it can only be extended for a certain period of time, which is the 6 months that we’re extending it to now. And it cannot go beyond that period of time,” said Miss Batista (legal counsel).

Board members debated whether the district could lawfully extend beyond Jan. 17, 2026 or instead use short-term contracts to bridge any gap. Several members urged faster publication of the RFQ and stronger in-house staffing to oversee contractors. “We are dramatically understaffed inside the government,” said Dr. Zeman (board member), who proposed conditions tying the extension to an accelerated RFQ schedule and a preview of an internal org chart for construction oversight.

District staff said they plan to advertise an RFQ in roughly three to four months and are prepared to publish as early as June; Jennifer Andrea, executive director of operations (on the phone), said the plan was to advertise in June and aim for an award in August, while acknowledging that any bid protest could delay the schedule. “Our plan is to get this solicitation advertised in June and hopefully be able to bring an award to the board in approximately August,” Andrea said.

Board member Donna Thompson moved to table the item to the May 6 workshop and bring it back for a May 13 vote; the motion passed 7-1. An earlier amendment proposed by Mrs. Alhadeff to approve the amendment while also ordering a May workshop and RFQ timetable failed by voice/roll-call vote (approximately 2-6).

Board members and staff said the extension is intended to provide overlap for a transition to a new program manager if needed and to preserve continuity for subcontractors. AECOM’s representatives and staff said subcontractors currently do most on-the-ground work: McIntyre said AECOM’s subcontractors perform about 78% of work overall (45% MBE subcontractor participation now; expected to rise during the extension to roughly 80% overall and MBE to about 48%).

The board also directed staff to bring an organizational chart for construction oversight to the May 6 workshop and to provide the RFQ draft for board consideration so the solicitation can be published promptly if the board approves.

The item was not approved at the special meeting and was tabled for the May 6 workshop and return to the May 13 regular meeting for a vote.