Cabarrus board approves Rogers Builders as construction manager at risk for Northwest Elementary
Summary
After a qualifications-based selection, the Cabarrus County Board of Education approved Rogers Builders as construction manager at risk for the new Northwest Area Elementary School; staff will begin contract negotiations and prepare a local government commission submission anticipated in April.
The Cabarrus County Board of Education voted to approve Rogers Builders as the construction manager at risk for the district's new Northwest Area Elementary School after a presentation and brief discussion on Jan. 12.
Brian Cohen, representing Cabarrus County Schools' Department of Construction, told the board that eight firms submitted statements of qualification and an evaluation committee narrowed the field to three finalists — New Atlantic Contracting, Rogers Builders and Vannoy Construction — following interviews on Jan. 6. "Based on the results of this project process, the committee recommends Rogers Builders for the approval as the construction manager at risk for the new Northwest Area Elementary School project," Cohen said.
Board members asked about rotation among contractors and how firms address savings and value engineering. Cohen said the district uses a qualifications-based selection process and that value-engineering conversations occur as the design advances. He described the construction-manager-at-risk delivery method as an industry trend that allows earlier cost identification and more collaborative pricing with subcontractors.
Mr. Treadaway made the motion to accept the recommendation; Catherine Moore seconded, and the board approved the motion by voice vote. Cohen said the district will begin negotiations on a standard AIA agreement and preconstruction services pricing and will assemble materials for the local government's commission submission, anticipated in April.
Funding for the project is approved separately by the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, Cohen said. The district described the selection as qualifications-based, not price-driven, and staff said the contractor will engage in value-engineering throughout design to manage costs.
The board's action concludes the public selection and starts contract negotiations and preparatory work required before formal construction contracting with county oversight.
