Region 4 committee approves $6,000 elevator tariff change order, conditions final payment on documentation

On Sept. 12, 2025, the Region 4 John Winthrop Security Project Building Committee approved Orlando Annulli & Sons Change Order Proposal #11, adding $6,000 to the John Winthrop Middle School elevator contract to cover tariff-related costs. Chair Rick Daniels said Orlando Annulli & Sons negotiated the amount down from an earlier figure the parties discussed and is not including any general-contractor markup.

The committee’s architect, Rusty Malik of QA+M Architecture, recommended approval with explicit language that final payment would be made only after the subcontractor, Schindler Elevator Corporation, provided documentation that the tariff costs were actually incurred and charged to the subcontractor. Malik cautioned that without appropriate substantiation the State could deem the added cost ineligible for reimbursement.

Daniels told the committee that Schindler had initially sought roughly $14,000–$15,000 but the amount was reduced to $6,000 after Orlando Annulli & Sons contested the charge, and that Orlando was refusing to mark up the pass-through request. Daniels also said the subcontractor had refused to ship the elevator until it received assurances that the tariff costs would be paid, a step that could delay the project schedule if the committee did not act.

Documents placed in the record include Orlando Annulli & Sons Change Order Proposal #11 (dated Sept. 4, 2025), which lists an "Elevator Tariff Cost" add of $6,000 and notes 0% GC overhead and profit on the add. Schindler submitted a Change Notice and supporting materials asserting that recent tariff actions — including expanded coverage under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act and adjustments tied to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and other measures — have increased import-related costs for elevator components. In its materials Schindler states, "these are unprecedented times as new and increased tariffs have been imposed on a broad range of materials and products," and asks the parties to execute an NDA to receive confidential, proprietary backup.

After discussion, "upon motion duly made and seconded" (mover and seconder not recorded in the transcript), the committee unanimously approved the $6,000 change order with final payment explicitly conditioned on receipt of appropriate backup and documentation from Schindler. The committee recorded no public comment and adjourned at 8:40 AM.

Next steps: the committee’s approval authorizes issuance of the change order but holds final payment until the committee (via the general contractor and QA+M) receives Schindler’s supporting documentation — and, if required by Schindler, an executed NDA — to demonstrate the tariff-related charges were incurred and charged to the subcontractor. The committee’s files note that the State’s reimbursement eligibility for the added cost remains subject to review.