The Northeast Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 7-0 to authorize publication of a request for qualifications (RFQ) to prequalify design-build and specialty contractors for projects funded by the district's 2025 bond program.

Mrs. Caldwell told trustees that design-build means a single entity would manage a project from design through construction and that the RFQ would create a pool of prequalified general contractors and specialty contractors (for example, HVAC). "Design build services means that a single entity is overseeing that project, from beginning to end," she said.

Staff described the RFQ contents as similar to the earlier RFQ for architects and engineers: minimum qualifications, evaluation criteria, a conflict-of-interest questionnaire and a list of Bond 2025 projects eligible for design-build. When trustees asked how many projects would be included, staff member Hori said the RFQ packet lists eligible projects and "it amounts to about over a 150 projects." He added that the district would not contract with that many firms and cited state limits: the district will select up to the maximum allowed by Texas law (staff cited a cap of five design-build contractors per category).

Trustees also asked about performance oversight. Staff said each contractor would receive a contract with performance criteria and that underperforming contractors could be removed from future project lists. Staff said they expect work to begin in summer 2026 and plan to return with recommendations for design-build contractors in February or March for projects starting in 2026.

Trustee Shelton moved to approve issuance of the RFQ for design-build services; Trustee Chigi seconded. The motion passed 7-0.

Next steps: staff will publish the RFQ, list eligible projects in the packet and return with recommended prequalified design-build contractors for board approval in early 2026.