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Concord advisory board flags unknown underground utilities, hears $125,000'$150,000 consultant estimate
Summary
Advisory board members warned that incomplete data about underground utilities at the MCI Concord site could make developer cost estimates unreliable and asked staff to confirm whether Department of Corrections/DCAM documents will be provided; a consultant estimated the work at $125,000'$150,000.
Board members pressed for clarity about existing underground utilities and whether Department of Corrections or DCAM would provide engineering or site documents required for accurate developer bids.
Speaker 3 summarized the concern: "If I were the developer, I'd be very anxious about this," noting that developers need utility information before they can reliably price abatement, reuse or geotechnical work. Members discussed that some utility records may exist within the Department of Corrections or DCAM but that the RFP as drafted did not clearly require the consultant to collect them.
The board directed staff to follow up with Paul (a DCAM contact) to determine whether DOC/DCAM would supply site-specific infrastructure documents or whether bidders would need to assume responsibility for missing records. Speaker 1 said staff would contact Paul, who was expected to be available later that day, and to revise RFP language accordingly.
Separately, the advisory board heard a consultant-cost estimate reported by Speaker 3. "All in, their estimate was a hundred and 25 to a hundred and $50,000," the speaker said, reflecting a $125,000'$150,000 range for the consultant work discussed in the meeting. Members acknowledged the estimate and reiterated that procurement and the town would need to confirm funding and final scope.
Implications: Without clarified engineering and utility records, developers responding to the RFP could face added risk or inflated bids. The board's follow-up with DCAM/DOC is intended to reduce uncertainty before the RFP is issued. The advisory board did not take a formal vote on funding or procurement at this meeting; it instead instructed staff to incorporate clarified language and confirm document availability with DCAM/Paul and procurement.
