Board approves $23M construction amendment for animal shelter, places liens and renews several contracts

The Indianapolis Board of Business and Neighborhood Services on Jan. 23 approved a $23,001,545 amendment to its construction-manager contract for the new Animal Care Services (ACS) shelter and authorized property liens and several professional-service agreements.

Board members voted to increase the guaranteed maximum price for FA Wilhelm Construction Company Inc. by $23,001,545, bringing the contract’s not-to-exceed amount to $31,437,092, a staff presentation said.

The amendment drew discussion on the project’s outreach to minority- and women-owned firms. A staff member said the project has yielded commitments of more than $2,000,000 with minority-owned business enterprises (MBE), more than $1,000,000 with women-owned business enterprises (WBE) and “over half a $1,000,000” with a disadvantaged business enterprise (DOBE), yielding a total XBE commitment of about $3,800,000 or 9.7% for construction and related soft costs. The staff member provided a breakdown of the 9.7% as 5.14% MBE, 3% WBE, 0.17% veteran-owned (VBE) and 1.34% DOBE and said the department and contractor will continue outreach to raise that share as construction proceeds.

Earlier on the agenda the board certified liens under city code for unpaid abatement costs. For resolution 2025-C10001, staff recommended placing liens for unpaid high-weed-and-grass mowing and abatement costs covering 1,054 mowing cases with a total amount owed of $745,109. For resolution 2025-C10002, the board certified 301 trash, junk and debris abatement cases with a total amount owed of $162,579.34. Staff said the listed cases reflected fees 30 days past due as of Jan. 23, 2025, and that some items had been held during tax season.

The board also approved a professional-services agreement to provide third-party commissioning of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for the ACS project with Midwest Associates of Indianapolis LLC (doing business as Reliance). Staff said Reliance is WBE-certified by the Office of Minority and Women Business Development and recommended a contract term from Feb. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, with a not-to-exceed compensation of $70,000 to cover testing, documentation and operator manuals.

Other contract actions included renewing a language-translation and interpretation agreement with Globo Language Solutions LLC (also known as Globo Holdings 1 LLC) for one year through Feb. 28, 2026, under the previously established $50,000 not-to-exceed limit; and authorizing a one-year professional-services agreement with Indianapolis Economic Development Inc. to continue permitting-ombudsman and OpenCounter subscription work previously managed under DevelopMD.

Board Chair Abby Brands presided over the meeting and called for the approvals after staff presentations and brief board discussion. All listed resolutions were approved by voice votes; the transcript records ayes but does not list roll-call tallies.

Votes at a glance

• Resolution 2025-C10001 — High weeds/grass liens: certified 1,054 mowing cases; total amount owed $745,109; outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Resolution 2025-C10002 — Trash/junk/debris liens: certified 301 cases; total amount owed $162,579.34; outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Resolution 2025-C10003 — Amend agreement with FA Wilhelm Construction Co. Inc. (construction manager for ACS shelter): increase compensation by $23,001,545 to a new not-to-exceed $31,437,092; outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Professional services agreement — Midwest Associates of Indianapolis LLC (Reliance) for MEP commissioning: term Feb. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026; compensation not to exceed $70,000; outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Resolution (renewal) — Globo Language Solutions LLC (Globo Holdings 1 LLC): renew one year through Feb. 28, 2026; not-to-exceed $50,000; outcome: approved (voice vote).

• Resolution 2025-C10006 — Indianapolis Economic Development Inc.: one-year professional services agreement (lift-and-shift from DevelopMD) to continue permitting-ombudsman and OpenCounter services; outcome: approved (voice vote).

Why it matters

The construction amendment for the ACS shelter represents the meeting’s largest financial action and will increase the city’s committed construction sum for that facility. The lien certifications allow the city to recover abatement and enforcement costs from properties with unresolved code violations. The contracting actions preserve language-access services and commissioning oversight for the new shelter and continue a city partnership intended to assist permitting and economic development projects.

Meeting context and next steps

Board members asked staff to continue outreach to XBEs and to report back on opportunities to increase participation in remaining work packages. Staff said some alternates and allowances are included in the GMP to reduce the need for future change orders. The board set its next meeting for Feb. 27 in room T260 of the City-County Building at 3 p.m.