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Scituate committee recommends $78.2 million contract for new school, approves while AG reviews subcontractor protest
Summary
The Scituate School Committee recommended awarding the general‑contractor contract for the new school to Rate Builders in a combined bid of about $78.24 million; the recommendation allows the town to proceed while an Attorney General review of an electrical subcontract dispute continues.
The Scituate School Committee on Aug. 25 recommended that the town enter a contract with Rate Builders for the construction of the new school, based on a combined base bid and Alternate No. 1 totaling $78,235,410.
Dr. Rabe, the district’s project lead, told the committee the project is “very much on time and very much under budget,” and described a timeline that anticipates a notice to proceed by Aug. 28 and building completion in 2027. He said the district received three prequalified general‑contractor bids and that the low combined bid included the turf‑field alternate.
The superintendent and project staff highlighted two scheduling and procurement risks: (1) the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office is handling a protest over the low electrical subcontractor bid and (2) long lead times for electrical panels (about a year) mean the general contractor may want to order components before the subcontractor dispute is resolved. Dr. Rabe said AG staff gave permission to award the general‑contractor contract while the subcontractor dispute is adjudicated, but noted the general contractor will have to manage electrical subcontractor selections and any changes that result from the AG’s determination.
Committee members pressed staff on what would happen to the apparent construction savings. Dr. Rabe said bid results reduced the construction bid line by roughly $16.4 million from the earlier construction estimate; he cautioned the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will adjust the project funding agreement so the district does not retain MSBA’s share of those savings.
A motion to recommend Rate Builders for award of the base bid and Alternate No. 1 (combined $78,235,410) was moved, seconded and approved by roll call; the motion included language to allow an administrative increase to the recommendation if the Attorney General later rules that the successful electrical subcontract must be changed to the second or third bidder (with an estimated maximum increase described during the meeting).
What happens next: the recommendation goes to the full town for a formal contract award and the district will coordinate with town counsel, the MSBA and the general contractor to manage subcontractor selection and long‑lead procurement. The project team said they expect site activity and trailer‑meeting coordination to increase in the coming weeks.
Sources: Presentation and motion at the Aug. 25 Scituate School Committee meeting. Quotes are from Dr. Rabe and project staff during the committee presentation.
