Canutillo ISD board approves $58.3 million guaranteed maximum price for Pineapple Middle School

The Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to approve a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $58,300,944.37 for the construction-manager-at-risk contract for the new Pineapple Middle School. The motion to approve the GMP was made by an unidentified board member (Unidentified Speaker 2) and seconded by another unidentified board member (Unidentified Speaker 3); board members affirmed the motion by roll call.

The board’s discussion focused on scope clarifications and risk allocation. District staff said the CMAR approach places cost risk on the contractor once the GMP is approved, and that the contractor will solicit best-and-final bids from subcontractors; "they've guaranteed us a maximum price. Should it go over that, they're at risk," said Unidentified Speaker 7. Staff also said any savings from subcontractor bids or value-engineering will be reported monthly to administration and quarterly to the board so the district can decide on reallocations.

Officials clarified several contract items before the vote. Project staff stated a roofing protection/detection system was removed by the design consultant during the 50% plan review and is not included in the construction contract. Subcontractors are responsible for final engineered foundation design and the general contractor has included an allowance for those elements. The project allowance list includes a $900,000 line item for dewatering; staff said the general contractor is contractually responsible for dewatering the site and preparing the pad.

The board approved the GMP and the next steps outlined by staff are final subcontractor bidding and monthly/quarterly reporting on any realized savings. The transcript did not include a full, named roll-call tally; the motion was recorded as carried in the meeting record.