Laredo ISD approves CMAR procurement method for Raymond and Teresa Martin junior ROTC building

The Laredo ISD Board of Trustees approved Dec. 17 a procurement method to hire a construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the Raymond and Teresa Martin junior ROTC building.

Hector Mejia, presenting the item, described the vote as approval of the procurement method rather than selection of a contractor: "This item is simply declaring the type of procurement we're going to use for the contractor," he said, explaining that CMAR involves a vendor taking on more price risk and providing a guaranteed maximum price as part of the response. Mejia added that the architect's plans remain part of the solicitation and that the CMAR is not the architect.

Trustees asked how the district will oversee the project and who manages bids and punch lists. Staff identified Mr. Ibarra as the district representative who oversees projects and coordinates meetings with architects and contractors. Mr. Ibarra and other staff warned that exact costs are hard to fix far ahead of market timing because prices fluctuate; as one staffer explained, "it is very hard to give you an exact amount right now until we're actually at close to market in that time." The board approved the procurement-method item and continued planning for request-for-proposals work to hire the CMAR contractor in a later procurement step.

No contractor selection was made at the meeting; the vote authorized staff to pursue CMAR procurement for the project.