Board approves qualifications-based selection for Forest Hills Elementary replacement

The Lake Oswego School District board voted to allow a qualifications-based selection (QBS) exemption for the planned 2026 Forest Hills Elementary School replacement project, enabling staff to prequalify general contractors before soliciting bids.

Mister Vandenberg, who presented the request, told the board the process “allows the school district to select, qualified general contractors to participate in the bidding process for the new school.” He said the approach reduces risk by narrowing the pool to contractors with relevant experience and that a public meeting on the findings had been held and included in the board packet. Director Gupta moved to authorize the QBS exemption and a second was recorded; the chair called for the ayes and the motion carried by voice vote.

The board did not create additional conditions on the exemption in the meeting discussion; the packet contains the staff findings and the public meeting summary referenced by the presenter. The action removes the standard open competitive bid step and instead lets staff work with a prequalified pool of contractors for the Forest Hills replacement.