Committee narrows schedule for construction‑manager interviews; debate over who should sit on interview panel

The Stoughton Elementary School Building Committee on July 9 discussed next steps in selecting a construction manager at risk (CM-R) and set a timeline that would issue RFPs in mid‑July, accept proposals through Aug. 6, and hold interviews around Aug. 11. Committee members said interviews will likely be held in person and the working group recommended narrowing the prequalified list to three to five firms for interviews.

Brian Kelly, Vertex project executive, told the committee the prequalification review produced eight firms that responded to the RFQ and that the prequalifying subcommittee will meet the next day to finalize a shortlist. He said the RFP will go to the shortlisted firms and proposals will be due Aug. 6; interviews would follow in the second week of August and the committee hoped to report a recommendation by the third week of August.

Committee members debated who should participate in interviews. Several members said having the full 22‑person committee ask questions would be unwieldy and logistically difficult and could require a larger meeting space, while some members said representatives from the school department should sit on the interview panel because they will work most closely with the CM-R during construction. The group discussed a compromise used in other projects: hold interviews as a posted public meeting conducted by the prequal subcommittee and permit other committee members and the public to attend as listeners; the subcommittee would then present ranked recommendations or a finalist to the full committee for ratification.

Why it matters: the CM-R selection is a key procurement step that determines who will manage construction and schedule risks over the multi‑year build. The committee’s decision about interview format and membership affects transparency, logistical feasibility and the pace of procurement.

Details and schedule noted at the meeting: - Eight CM-R firms submitted RFQs (examples cited: Consigli, Bond, DGC, Suffolk, Commodore, Gilbane, W.T. Rich, W.T. Kennedy — list read by staff). - RFP to shortlisted firms to be issued Monday after prequal short list is finalized; proposals due Aug. 6, 2025. - Interviews anticipated Aug. 11 week (in‑person preferred); if three firms are shortlisted, committee members said one night could cover all presentations. - The prequal subcommittee will consolidate scorecards and recommend a shortlist. Committee members suggested the subcommittee present ranked candidates or a single recommended finalist for a full‑committee ratification vote.

Meeting context: members flagged logistical issues — room capacity, need for continuity if interviews are held over multiple nights and open‑meeting/public‑record considerations for recordings. Several members volunteered to join the interviewing panel if the committee asked them to do so.