Riviera Beach utility board postpones vote on $280 million GMP 5 water‑plant; asks for external cost comparisons

The Riviera Beach Utility Special District on Jan. 22 received multi‑part presentations on GMP 5, a $280,418,404.52 guaranteed‑maximum‑price proposal for a new membrane water‑treatment plant, but deferred a final vote until its Feb. 18 meeting while staff gathers comparative cost data.

Josh Neiman, the utility district’s executive director, opened the GMP 5 discussion by outlining the presentation sequence and saying the team had done extensive due diligence: “We are proud to bring GMP 5 to the commission for review and potential approval.” Consultants from Brown & Caldwell, the CDM‑Haskell joint venture and independent reviewers then walked the board through technical scope, costs and schedule.

Nigel Grace of Brown & Caldwell, the owner’s representative, described the plant as the hub of the city’s water‑modernization program. He told the board that direct construction bids totaled roughly $207 million, indirect costs (management, trailers, bonds, insurance, etc.) account for about 26% of the GMP, and contingency is slightly over 4%. Grace also said the design includes an…