Town committee clears Ajax Building Company to begin CMAR negotiations for Muggsy Kerr Tennis Center expansion

Town committee members voted to authorize staff to negotiate with Ajax Building Company LLC to provide construction management-at-risk (CMAR) services for the planned expansion of the Muggsy Kerr Tennis Center. The selection committee ranked Ajax first following an RFQ/RFP process and a formal interview stage.

Staff told the committee that the procurement used a two-phase approach: prequalification by qualification statements followed by a request for proposals from shortlisted firms. The town received eight RFQ responses and shortlisted five firms for the RFP/interview phase. One shortlisted firm, Monteith Construction Corp., did not advance to interviews. Four firms were interviewed; the selection committee unanimously voted to recommend Ajax Building Company as the negotiator for CMAR services. If negotiations with Ajax are unsuccessful, staff said they would move to the second-ranked firm, Trident Construction LLC.

Committee members asked whether the expansion work would be tied to a separate repair project that the Recreation Commission had requested. Staff said the expansion is a different project (expansion per the referendum) but that the town would attempt to extend the CMAR contract, if it makes sense, to incorporate separate repair work so long as the extension provides value.

During discussion, committee members thanked the Lowcountry Tennis Association and the USTA for an offer to assist repairing two courts not included in the expansion. The committee voted to proceed with the negotiations; minutes record the motion and a unanimous voice vote in favor of the recommendation to proceed to negotiations and ultimately contract should negotiations be successful.

Next steps are for staff to begin negotiations with Ajax Building Company LLC and return with a negotiated contract for committee or council review as required by procurement rules.