Committee approves technical review committee as school building project moves to bid

The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee on April 21 approved a technical review committee (TRC) to handle time‑sensitive construction decisions as the district's high‑school replacement project moves toward contractor selection.

Chad Critton of PMA Consultants, the district's owner's project manager, told the committee the project had received 60% design approval from "bridal" (as transcribed) and that the design and construction documents (CD/60) were complete. Critton said the team had prequalified five general contractors and was accepting bids, with a bid due date tracking toward May 30 and a recommendation to award at the June meeting.

"We are all in the clear as far as that goes, and, we are out on the street right now to bidders," Critton said. He outlined the two‑phase procurement: prequalification followed by a price proposal from the prequalified firms.

Lisa Cora of Perkins Eastman said the design team had submitted documents to permitting agencies and had secured review by the Governor's Commission on Disabilities for all five schools; historic preservation sign‑off and Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) feedback remained pending.

PMA described the proposed TRC authority and change thresholds. The committee approved a three‑tier authorization structure intended to avoid costly construction delays:

- Necessary changes (safety, unforeseen conditions) may be authorized by the TRC without a dollar limit so work can proceed immediately; - Discretionary changes up to $50,000 may be approved by the TRC without convening the full building committee; - Discretionary changes between $50,000 and $250,000 require the School Building Committee; and - Changes above $250,000 require School Committee involvement.

PMA said this approach is intended to prevent work stoppages when crews are on site and to balance oversight on larger discretionary items.

During discussion, committee members raised whether the $250,000 threshold was appropriate for a regional district; PMA described past projects where sudden site discoveries had produced high daily costs, and said the $250,000 level accounted for worst‑case shutdown scenarios. Several members asked that emails summarizing responses to outside groups (for example, the Warren Tree Commission) be shared with the full committee.

The TRC membership described in committee materials included the district chief, the owner's project manager and the building committee chair; the committee approved the TRC as recommended by the School Building Committee. The motion passed with committee voice vote.

PMA provided schedule notes: if a contract award occurs in June and permits clear on schedule, construction could appear on site in July; new building construction was estimated at just under two years, with substantial completion targeted in 2027. PMA said PAYGo reimbursements were flowing and the project remained within an $18,000,000 PAYGo authorization. Contractors will submit critical shop drawings after award and mobilize with temporary erosion controls and fencing, with some work possibly starting while other approvals clear.

The committee approved the TRC after discussion.