Hall County board approves RFP to seek construction manager at risk for courthouse project

The Hall County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a request-for-proposal seeking a construction-manager-at-risk to shepherd a proposed courthouse construction and renovation project.

Davis Design staff presented the final RFP and a scoring rubric intended to evaluate potential construction managers on their ability to manage schedule, cost and subcontractor procurement. The consultant said the base building estimate in the RFP was roughly $33 million, not including some site work and contingencies.

Commissioners debated whether a stand‑alone courthouse design could save taxpayers millions, whether the CMAR approach would give the county sufficient oversight of subcontractor bids, and whether the RFP should include specific liquidated-damage provisions if a contractor missed deadlines. “We want someone who can demonstrate how they have delivered projects on time,” the Davis Design presenter said; the board told staff that schedule performance must be a key scoring element and part of later negotiations.

Several commissioners urged more analysis of a smaller stand‑alone building that one member estimated could potentially reduce costs by roughly $10 million; other commissioners and the consultant warned that comparisons require detailed planning and that courtroom adjacencies, security and support spaces drive cost and complexity.

The motion to approve the RFP as presented carried (vote recorded as 4 yes, 2 no). Commissioners directed staff to use the RFP process to gather candidate solutions and to prioritize firms that can show past performance on similar, complex courthouse projects. The board will review proposals and negotiate contract terms — including the guaranteed maximum price and schedule — if a candidate is selected.