The North Kingstown Building Advisory Committee voted unanimously Dec. 3 to recommend Shawmut as the construction manager at risk for the Woodford Middle School project.

The committee’s recommendation followed a procurement process that produced six proposals and four finalist interviews. An evaluation committee that included the superintendent, the town manager, an advisory committee member and the interim facilities director completed interviews and scored firms on qualifications, approach and a preconstruction fee. The presenter reported interview and aggregate scores with Shawmut highest (79.5), followed by Gilbane (77.5), Dimeo (69.3) and Consigli (67).

Committee members discussed recent Shawmut work near occupied schools and logistics for maintaining active operations during construction. A committee member summarized the firm’s strengths, saying the company had a “reputation for excellence and safety and quality of work” and noting its experience with school projects and phased turnover.

Shawmut’s proposed preconstruction fee was reported as $100,000; across firms the preconstruction fee range shown to the committee ran from about $50,000 to roughly $400,000. The committee’s formal motion to recommend Shawmut will be advanced to the School Committee and to the Town Council at their Dec. 15 meetings for final approvals and to execute the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) process.

The advisory committee’s action is a recommendation, not a final contract award; the School Committee and Town Council must still vote to approve the CMAR contract and any subsequent guaranteed maximum price. If those bodies approve, the presenter said the team would aim for the CMAR to begin preconstruction work promptly to assist with cost estimating and plan reviews.

Next steps: the recommendation will be on the School Committee and Town Council agendas on Dec. 15; the committee will return for schematic design estimates and further budget review in January.