Millis Select Board approves MSBA scope and related contract amendments for middle‑high school project

The Millis Select Board on Jan. 12 approved a Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) project scope and budget agreement for the Millis Middle‑High School project and authorized two contract amendments that advance design and construction oversight.

Jeff D'Amico of Vertex described the scope-and-budget agreement as the formal arrangement that records the MSBA’s maximum grant and the project terms. He said the maximum grant amount in the agreement is $68,200,000 and that a subsequent project‑funding agreement will follow to release reimbursements on a monthly schedule.

Following the presentation, a board member moved to approve the MSBA project scope and budget agreement and to authorize the town administrator to sign the agreement on the board’s behalf; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

The board also approved an owner’s project management contract amendment with Vertex Companies Inc. (amendment #1) with a not‑to‑exceed figure presented in the meeting materials and authorized the town administrator to sign. The board approved a design services contract amendment #2 with Tepe Architects Inc. for an amount not to exceed $9,065,000 (total authorization reported as $9,789,310) and authorized the town administrator to sign; the motion carried unanimously.

Project staff said a construction manager selection process is underway: the inspector general approved the community's application, ten firms responded, four were shortlisted and an RFP will be issued to those firms with interviews scheduled for Feb. 26. The building committee will make a recommendation to the board, which expects to consider a construction manager in March.

Next steps: sign the MSBA scope and budget agreement, execute the project‑funding agreement when it is issued by MSBA, and continue the construction manager selection process.