Housing Authority approves CMGC contracting for Forest Grove supportive-housing project and adopts bad-debt write-off policy

The Housing Authority of Washington County voted unanimously on March 3 to exempt the Forest Grove permanent supportive housing project from the traditional design-bid-build process and to pursue a competitive construction manager/general contractor (CMGC) contracting approach, staff said.

Deputy Director Jill Chen told the board the project at 3127 Pacific Avenue would provide up to 60 apartments with on-site supportive services and be sited near transit and community amenities. "We are here to present the Forest Grove permanent supportive housing project, construction contract exemption and alternative contracting process," Chen said, explaining staff’s recommendation to seek a CMGC selection to improve constructability, accelerate delivery and create cost transparency.

Joe Penzone, capital improvements project manager, described the CMGC approach as a way to allow early collaboration between contractor and design teams, reduce surprises and produce a guaranteed maximum price under an…