Council authorizes town manager to negotiate GMPs for $30M early school‑construction package

The East Greenwich Town Council voted to authorize the town manager to negotiate guaranteed maximum price (GMP) agreements for early bid package #2 of the district’s school construction program, covering site work, concrete, structural steel and air‑handler units for the high school and two elementary schools. The resolution authorizes work funded through the town’s $150,000,000 school construction bond and sets a contract threshold consistent with the council’s review responsibilities.

Town Manager Andrew Nada and Consigli Construction project executive Corey Pinero presented the bid results and schedule. Pinero said the direct trade cost for the 12 scopes across three schools was “just under $27,000,000” with roughly $3,000,000 in indirect costs, putting the initial package just under $30,000,000. Nada said the package is intended to mobilize construction for a January 2026 start and emphasized the team’s efforts to bring the project within budget. The council discussed contingency planning and value‑management steps to address tariff and soil‑remediation risks; Pinero said tariff exposure on this project could fall “anywhere from $1,000,000 to about $2,500,000,” and that the town’s 5% owner contingency is the primary hedge against such material‑cost risk.

The council approved the manager’s authority by unanimous vote, with the manager and legal counsel directed to report material changes back to the council within a 45‑day window. The resolution directs that any final GMP exceeding the approved threshold be presented to the council for final approval.