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Vernon Hills to hire Leopardo as construction manager for police station renovation; staff warns GMP will return for approval
Summary
Trustees approved Resolution 2026-006 to waive formal bidding and execute a construction-manager-at-risk contract with Leopardo Construction for the police station project; staff said Leopardo’s preconstruction fee is $30,000, its fee 2.25% on subcontract packages and general-conditions estimates (24-month schedule) raise the total CM-related value to about $2.4 million.
The Village Board voted Feb. 17 to waive competitive bidding and authorize entering a construction-manager-at-risk agreement with Leopardo Construction for the police station addition and renovation project.
Director Bonata reviewed how the village selected the construction-manager (CM) delivery method and why CM-at-risk is appropriate for a complex, phased renovation that must keep existing operations functioning. He outlined the RFP and evaluation process: eight firms showed interest, four were interviewed, and staff unanimously recommended Leopardo for relevant experience and the team they proposed.
Bonata explained the three components of the CM cost structure: a fixed preconstruction-services lump-sum ($30,000 for Leopardo), a fee percentage on each subcontractor package (Leopardo proposed 2.25%), and general-conditions costs required to run the project day to day. Based on assumptions for a roughly $30 million contract value and a 24‑month schedule for construction, Bonata estimated the CM-related portion would be about $2.4 million. “So the total number that you're looking at with Leopardo would be around $2,400,000 contract,” Bonata said.
He emphasized the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) would be set at a later board meeting after subcontractor pricing is obtained and that the CM model still requires competitive bidding of trade packages. Trustees pressed staff about prior references, contract language and whether the AIA-based contract favors the village; staff and trustees reported contacting other municipalities and receiving positive feedback about Leopardo’s prior police-station work.
A motion to adopt the resolution passed by roll call; all trustees voted aye. Staff said the GMP and any construction-administration contract with the architect will return for board approval, and staff will monitor subcontractor bidding, constructability input and schedule management during preconstruction services.
