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Exterior restoration for Capitol likely delayed past September as RFP and scoping continue
Summary
Michael Harrington, executive director for the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, told the committee the exterior restoration remains in RFP and procurement stages and is now more likely to begin late in the year rather than in September; funding remains in place and cost estimates are ongoing.
Michael Harrington, Executive Director for the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, told the committee Tuesday that the long‑planned exterior restoration of the Capitol remains in the RFP drafting, procurement and contract negotiation phases and is unlikely to break ground by September as earlier hoped.
“Given all the other projects we have going on…we’re still going through the RFP drafting, procurement process and then eventually the contract negotiation process,” Harrington said, adding that scoping work must finish before contractors can begin. He told members the project team expects to select vendors and “begin ASAP” once the scoping and procurement steps are complete, but that a late‑year start is now more likely than a September mobilization.
Committee members asked about procurement approach. Harrington said the plan is to hire a general contractor who will manage subcontractors and site supervision rather than separately contracting every specialty. The staff member leading the update confirmed historical consultants, including Building Conservation Associates, and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will be integral in guiding historically sensitive work.
On funding, a member asked whether any money had been moved out of the restoration account; the staff member replied no funds have been transferred and that the budget remains in place as the team continues cost estimating with engineering firm Techton. Harrington said the project team has not yet seen unexpected cost increases but that estimates will continue to be updated.
The committee pressed on schedule and cost risk. Bill Morgan and others voiced concern that delays could inflate costs; staff acknowledged that longer timelines can increase expenses and said the group will provide regular updates so the committee can make decisions as needed. The committee asked for additional detail on the project’s critical path and for a future agenda item that outlines steps required before construction can begin.
The meeting did not produce a formal contract award or a vote on procurement; members asked staff to return with scoping results and updated cost estimates at a subsequent meeting.
