Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Architect Selection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
OPM says Landsberg top choice; MSBA cleared town to begin fee negotiations
Summary
PMA Consultants told the Peaslee Building Committee that Landsberg was ranked the committee’s top choice among three architect teams and that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) sent a letter allowing the town to begin fee negotiations with the selected firm; PMA and town staff said they aim to have contracts executed by Nov. 18 and will coordinate negotiations offline.
PMA Consultants reported to the Peaslee Building Committee that Landsberg emerged as the committee’s first-ranked architectural team following interviews with three firms. A PMA representative said the town had “received a letter from the MSBA, which now allows the town to move forward with fee negotiations with the selected firm.”
Jason, a district representative who participated in the interview process, said he found the presentations useful and noted the selected firm’s experience working with MSBA panels was a deciding factor: “I think the one that got selected was probably the most experienced out of the three, in terms of working with MSBA.” Another district representative, Becky, highlighted continuity with town work because the Flansburg team’s MEP engineer had prior experience on the town’s firehouse project and had worked with the facilities department.
PMA outlined next steps as beginning fee negotiations with the selected firm and coordinating a plan with town staff. A PMA representative stated the team had targeted contracts to be executed by Nov. 18 “but that’s mostly on us and the town to get that completed by that date.” The consultant said MSBA gives a feasibility contract number and that typical designer fees cited in the meeting are commonly in the range of 10–12 percent.
Committee discussion also included budgetary figures mentioned in the meeting: the transcript states the town’s feasibility amount was $900,000; a committee member reported the designer budget as “590” and environmental/site testing as “75,” but the transcript did not specify units for those latter figures.
The committee did not take a formal vote in this session to award a contract; PMA and town representatives described the current status as the selection ranking and authorization from MSBA to enter fee negotiations. PMA said it will work with town staff to schedule negotiation meetings and bring a contract back to the committee for any required approvals.
The committee will continue coordinating with PMA and expects further updates after fee negotiations are underway.
