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Council backs CMAR procurement and authorizes RFQs for police-building design and owner's rep
Summary
Council adopted a resolution declaring Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) the preferred procurement method for the Police Department building and authorized RFQs for a design architect and an owner's representative; council discussed GMP, contingency handling, and elected-official involvement in selection.
The Argyle Town Council on Jan. 20 approved Resolution 2026-01, directing staff to use the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) procurement method for the proposed Police Department building and authorizing issuance of RFQs for an architectural design firm and for an owner’s representative.
Staff described the CMAR approach: the construction manager participates in preconstruction and provides a guaranteed maximum price (GMP); if cost overruns occur without a material change the CMAR bears the risk above the GMP. Council discussed pros and cons — including potential "fudge factors" in GMPs vs. uncertainty premiums in a pure design-bid-build process — and stressed the importance of tight contract language on contingency and change orders. Staff recommended launching RFQs concurrently with final master-plan tasks to shorten the schedule.
Mayor and several council members stressed involvement in the selection committee and oversight of the GMP negotiation. Staff said contracts awarding a CMAR or architect would return to council for approval.
What’s next: staff will post RFQs for a design architect and for an owner's representative; a subsequent RFQ for CMAR will follow once the architect advances the design to an agreed stage.
