Smithfield panel selects Colliers as OPM to lead secondary-school capital planning

The Smithfield School Committee on Nov. 4 approved recommending Colliers as the district's Owner's Project Manager for stage 1 and 2 work at the middle and high schools.

Speaker 4 told the committee the selection followed interviews of six firms and scoring on a published rubric; Colliers was the committee's unanimous choice because of its local experience and ability to move quickly. "Colliers was the unanimous choice of the committee to go forward as a recommendation for negotiations," Speaker 4 said. The OPM role will focus on planning, preliminary budgets and timelines rather than contractor oversight in later construction phases.

Committee members asked about the scoring and alternatives; Speaker 4 said copies of the rubric and the firms' proposals are available for committee review. Speaker 2 and others noted Colliers had previously served on the district's elementary project and performed on time and on budget during challenging conditions such as the COVID period.

The committee emphasized that approving Colliers at this meeting authorizes the district team to enter negotiations only after the town council approves the recommendation. Speaker 4 said the town council will consider the OPM approval at a special meeting on Nov. 12. "Once that second approval occurs, then we can actually start negotiations and form the building committee," Speaker 4 said.

The motion to approve Colliers as the recommended OPM was made and seconded and passed by voice vote.

Next steps: the committee will forward its recommendation to the town council on Nov. 12, begin OPM negotiations if council approval follows, and then form the school building committee to develop a 5–10 year master plan and pursue state reimbursement for eligible capital work.