Stewartville Council directs staff to advertise construction-manager RFP for library expansion

Stewartville’s council voted to direct city staff to advertise a request for proposals seeking a construction manager for a planned library expansion, a process council said it used successfully on the city’s recent fire station project.

“Tonight is an RFP for the library expansion project,” the presiding officer (S1) said, introducing the staff recommendation that the construction-manager approach be used to develop final documents and coordinate the work. Staff told the council proposals will be due by the Oct. 18 meeting and that a review and interview committee made up of council members, library representatives and staff will evaluate bidders.

Proponents on the council argued the construction-manager approach can yield savings and more detailed phasing. Council member S6 said the model makes it easier to break the project into components for bidding and reduces staff time on procurement, adding, “There’s room for savings.”

After discussion, S1 moved to direct staff to advertise bids for a construction manager, S3 seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote.

The council did not settle a final project budget at the meeting; staff said the construction manager would help produce a final estimated overall project cost for council consideration and that additional design work would be scheduled once the council formally approves the project to proceed.

Next steps: staff will issue the RFP as directed, accept proposals through the Oct. 18 meeting, and convene the review committee for interviews and recommendation back to the council.