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City staff explain use of construction‑manager‑at‑risk for complex infrastructure work
Summary
Staff told council a construction‑manager‑at‑risk (CMAR) delivery was recommended for a complex infrastructure project because of steep grades, deep trenching (up to about 40 ft), bedrock, and nearby development, and explained CMAR's guaranteed maximum price and risk‑management features.
Mesa staff explained why the city is proposing a construction‑manager‑at‑risk (CMAR) delivery for a major infrastructure project under item 4D.
Lance, a project staff member, told council state law permits CMAR and described the site conditions driving the recommendation: significant grade changes, rocky soils, and trench depths the project could require up to about 40 feet in places. Those geotechnical and coordination challenges, he said, make CMAR — with an engaged construction manager during design and a guaranteed maximum price — a better fit than a traditional design‑bid‑build contract.
"For this particular project, we're anticipating up the depths of over 40 ft at the wet well," Lance said, noting the engineering and constructibility issues that can arise at those depths and the value of involving the builder early. He also described the guaranteed maximum price mechanism as a way to constrain owner exposure while acknowledging that some change orders can still arise for owner‑requested changes or previously unforeseen conditions.
Why it matters: staff said CMAR supports better coordination with adjacent private development and provides flexibility to sequence complex work in a fluid development area. Staff noted that early contractor involvement can reduce change orders and give the city clearer cost visibility before finalizing construction commitments.
Next steps: staff answered council questions about cost recovery and said the project is part of the city's capacity growth fee program intended to avoid embedding additional costs in resident bills. The CMAR delivery approach will be incorporated into procurement documents brought back to council for approval of the contract package.
