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District recommends hiring owner's representative to manage major construction; Connect Advisors to present scope
Summary
Fayetteville Public Schools staff recommended engaging an owner's representative to oversee the upcoming multi-project facilities program and introduced Connect Advisors as the recommended firm; the board was briefed on roles and next steps in contract scoping.
Fayetteville Public Schools administrators told the board Jan. 23 they plan to retain an owner's representative to support program and project management across an anticipated multi-year, multi-hundred-million-dollar facilities program and presented Connect Advisors as the recommended firm.
Superintendent Dr. Mulford said the district will spend more than $200 million on facilities projects over the next several years and that an owner's representative can help the district deliver those projects on time and on budget. District staff ran a request-for-proposals process and interviewed firms, the district said, and recommended Connect Advisors based in Tulsa with local staff in Northwest Arkansas.
Representatives from Connect Advisors (Kelly Freeman and Andy Blush) outlined typical owner's-rep services: preconstruction oversight, design and permitting coordination, cost-estimate and guaranteed-maximum-price (GMP) verification, construction schedule monitoring, invoice review and project closeout with warranty follow-up. The presenters emphasized the owner's-rep role as the district's advocate and integrator: they will coordinate architects, contractors, city permitting, utilities and district staff and provide regular reports to the board.
Connect Advisors said its proposed Fayetteville team would include six dedicated staff plus additional project managers and that the company has experience with K-12 construction, parking structures, storm shelters and athletic facilities. The firm plans to provide a SharePoint-based project-document repository, cost tracking, inspection coordination and a warranty walkthrough before final closeout.
District staff said they were finalizing the scope and fee and expected to return to the board with a recommended contract. No contract vote occurred Jan. 23.
Board members asked about the firm's local market knowledge and its plan to coordinate with the district's architects and contractors. Connect Advisors said team members have prior working relationships in the region and would act as the district's single point-of-contact to streamline permitting, scheduling and cost control.
Administration indicated a proposed scope and cost estimate would be provided for board review before any contract was signed.
