Middletown building committee readies GMP amendments, alternates and budget updates ahead of Nov. 12 vote
October 29, 2025 | Middletown, School Districts, Rhode Island
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The Middletown School Building Committee on Oct. 29 heard updates from the owner’s representative and construction managers and was told an updated Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) amendment package for the elementary and middle–high school projects will be circulated for review ahead of a Nov. 12 meeting at which the committee expects to consider the GMP amendments and vote on alternates.
The owner’s representative, Justin, said Bentley provided an updated GMP proposal “on the 20 fourth,” which Colliers and the design team have reviewed and returned with minor comments. Justin said the final GMP amendment will go to the town attorney for a final review; the committee was told the AIA GMP amendment language (referred to in the meeting as the “A133”/GMP amendment document) is not changing in substance. “Nothing’s changing as far as the legal language on the a 1 33, which is what he was most concerned about,” Justin said.
Committee members pressed for time to review the package before the Nov. 12 meeting. Justin said the GMP amendment package will include an updated schedule and alternates and that each alternate should be brought forward and voted on individually, as was done earlier with RTAs. “Each alternate should be voted on individually,” he said.
Why it matters: the GMP will lock in most construction scope and pricing; alternates (add/omit options) can change which elements are funded and built now versus later. Committee members discussed that some alternates must be decided now so subcontractor pricing can be held, while other items can be deferred and may require rebidding if delayed. Justin warned that if alternates are accepted at a later date Gilbane would not hold the previously presented costs and inflation or escalation would apply.
Budget and contingencies: committee members reviewed the project budget in the meeting package. The group confirmed the original April appropriation was $190 million. The committee was told the project has spent “just over $23,300,000 to date” and that current total anticipated costs (excluding contingencies) were described as about $178,400,000 to just under $178,500,000. Committee discussion noted there is roughly a "$4,000,000 construction contingency" within the contractor allowance and that an owner’s contingency sits on top of that; the existence and use of owner’s contingency funds were discussed but not finalized.
Construction update and schedule: the construction manager reported recent activity on site: completion of the high-school elevator shaft, near completion of the middle-school elevator shaft, arrival of structural steel deliveries, remaining foundation pours on the western wing and the beginning of foundations on the eastern wing, and ongoing mechanical/electrical/plumbing underground coordination. Structural steel erection is under way; the manager said the first two floors in the high school wing were in place and steel erection was progressing quickly.
The team flagged crane operation limits tied to wind: the lift plan described operational limits by wind speed (normal lifting 0–20 mph, restricted at higher wind ranges with boom-down requirements above certain thresholds). The contractor said they monitor weather and that high winds could require work pauses; if schedule impacts occur the team said they would consider Saturday work to recover time.
Process and next steps: committee members asked for a concise summary or executive summary of the GMP package ahead of the Nov. 12 meeting to help the school committee and town council review the materials. Justin and others agreed to provide a one‑page or slide summary in addition to the full GMP amendment package.
Formal actions recorded: the committee approved the minutes of Oct. 15, 2025 by voice motion.
Ending note: committee members signaled that, while questions remain about specific alternates for the elementary versus the middle–high school, the team believes recent procurement and value-engineering work put the project in a stronger financial position to restore many desired alternates. The GMP package expected on Nov. 12 will be the committee’s primary opportunity to finalize which alternates will be accepted now and which will be deferred.
The owner’s representative, Justin, said Bentley provided an updated GMP proposal “on the 20 fourth,” which Colliers and the design team have reviewed and returned with minor comments. Justin said the final GMP amendment will go to the town attorney for a final review; the committee was told the AIA GMP amendment language (referred to in the meeting as the “A133”/GMP amendment document) is not changing in substance. “Nothing’s changing as far as the legal language on the a 1 33, which is what he was most concerned about,” Justin said.
Committee members pressed for time to review the package before the Nov. 12 meeting. Justin said the GMP amendment package will include an updated schedule and alternates and that each alternate should be brought forward and voted on individually, as was done earlier with RTAs. “Each alternate should be voted on individually,” he said.
Why it matters: the GMP will lock in most construction scope and pricing; alternates (add/omit options) can change which elements are funded and built now versus later. Committee members discussed that some alternates must be decided now so subcontractor pricing can be held, while other items can be deferred and may require rebidding if delayed. Justin warned that if alternates are accepted at a later date Gilbane would not hold the previously presented costs and inflation or escalation would apply.
Budget and contingencies: committee members reviewed the project budget in the meeting package. The group confirmed the original April appropriation was $190 million. The committee was told the project has spent “just over $23,300,000 to date” and that current total anticipated costs (excluding contingencies) were described as about $178,400,000 to just under $178,500,000. Committee discussion noted there is roughly a "$4,000,000 construction contingency" within the contractor allowance and that an owner’s contingency sits on top of that; the existence and use of owner’s contingency funds were discussed but not finalized.
Construction update and schedule: the construction manager reported recent activity on site: completion of the high-school elevator shaft, near completion of the middle-school elevator shaft, arrival of structural steel deliveries, remaining foundation pours on the western wing and the beginning of foundations on the eastern wing, and ongoing mechanical/electrical/plumbing underground coordination. Structural steel erection is under way; the manager said the first two floors in the high school wing were in place and steel erection was progressing quickly.
The team flagged crane operation limits tied to wind: the lift plan described operational limits by wind speed (normal lifting 0–20 mph, restricted at higher wind ranges with boom-down requirements above certain thresholds). The contractor said they monitor weather and that high winds could require work pauses; if schedule impacts occur the team said they would consider Saturday work to recover time.
Process and next steps: committee members asked for a concise summary or executive summary of the GMP package ahead of the Nov. 12 meeting to help the school committee and town council review the materials. Justin and others agreed to provide a one‑page or slide summary in addition to the full GMP amendment package.
Formal actions recorded: the committee approved the minutes of Oct. 15, 2025 by voice motion.
Ending note: committee members signaled that, while questions remain about specific alternates for the elementary versus the middle–high school, the team believes recent procurement and value-engineering work put the project in a stronger financial position to restore many desired alternates. The GMP package expected on Nov. 12 will be the committee’s primary opportunity to finalize which alternates will be accepted now and which will be deferred.
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