Board names Cunningham Lemp as construction manager for Project Alpha; oversight and competitive bidding model explained

County administration and the Project Alpha team recommended selecting Cunningham Lemp as the construction manager for the next phase of Project Alpha, transitioning the firm from an owner's representative role into a construction-manager-at-risk contract. Staff described a three-layer oversight model: (1) Cunningham Lemp as construction manager with open-book contracting, (2) Partners in Architecture (PIA) as the project architect providing bidding assistance and contract administration, and (3) the Grand Traverse County Building Authority acting as the county’s representative for invoice review and certificate approvals.

Cunningham Lemp representatives and project staff stressed that the competitive bidding process will be used for all scopes of work and that PIA will continue to review pay applications and certify completed work. Staff said the recommended model matches practices used on comparable public projects and that the county can also solicit a narrow-scope local architect for additional review during construction if desired.

Commissioners discussed optics and fairness to other construction firms; staff emphasized that a construction manager is engaged for professional expertise rather than a low-bid procurement and that every trade and subcontract will be competitively bid. Several commissioners expressed confidence based on the firm's performance to date on Project Alpha and moved to approve the recommendation; the motion passed by voice vote. The board directed that the building authority provide periodic updates during the transition and that communication and cadence be established between the construction manager, architect and board.