PMA: $186 million Bristol Warren high‑school project on track; contingency exposure flagged for audio enhancements
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Summary
PMA reported site progress and a cash‑flow snapshot for the district’s $186,000,000 high‑school project, saying $17,000,000 is built to date, PAYGO reimbursements of about $7,000,000 have been initiated and an audio‑enhancement alternate (~$2,000,000) remains on the change‑order log as exposed contingency.
PMA, the owner’s project manager for the Bristol Warren high‑school capital project, told the school committee on Sept. 15 that the board’s approved total budget remains $186,000,000 and that $17,000,000 has been billed to date.
Nicole, a PMA presenter, summarized cash flows and reimbursements, saying: “PAYGo reimbursement is roughly $7,000,000.” She said the team has submitted recent rate reconciliations to the district and is tracking contingency exposure tied to alternates. In one example she identified the audio‑enhancement system, an alternate priced at roughly $2,000,000, which PMA has left on the change log to preserve options if savings emerge later in the project.
Why it matters: the project is in early heavy‑cost phases—excavation, footings and early foundations—so monthly cash‑flow spikes are expected when contractors mobilize and buy structural steel. PMA listed a steel kickoff meeting targeted for October, earlier than the schedule’s January steel erection milestone, and told the committee that Phase 1 financial completion is currently projected for May 28, 2027 with Phase 2 wrapping by year‑end 2027.
Committee members pressed for clarity on sequencing, forecast updates and parent communications. Miss Ferreira asked whether KMS work will be finished by Aug. 28, 2026 so fifth graders can move up next year; district staff and PMA replied that the Aug. 28 date is the deadline for all work to be complete and that staff will provide a floor plan and timeline in October. On reforecasting, a committee member asked whether the project forecast will be adjusted after the two‑month construction delay; PMA responded that the high‑level schedule duration has not changed and that monthly actuals will be reconciled to the forecast as work unfolds.
PMA described on‑site quality control measures: daily PMA presence, weekly Perkins Eastman site walks, monthly engineer inspections and a third‑party testing firm that examines rebar and forms before concrete placement. “We have a geotech on‑site every day who witnesses bottom of footings,” PMA said, describing the process used to approve footings before backfill or concrete placement.
Next steps: PMA will provide a floor plan keyed to building sections (A–F) in future presentations, provide a reforecast or cumulative timeline update at the October meeting, and continue monthly cash‑flow reporting. The committee requested clearer visuals showing cumulative actual versus forecasted spend by month so members can monitor how early delays affect future monthly expenditures.
