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How was the architect and contractor selected for the upcoming bond projects?
Idaho law outlines how public agencies, like school districts, can do construction projects. This includes how they can procure both design professionals, like architects as well as contractors. The Jefferson School District Board of Trustees elected to utilize the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) method for selecting a contractor. For both the Architect selection as well as the CM/GC selection process, Idaho Statute 67-2320 requires that these professionals be selected on the basis of qualifications and demonstrated competence.
The Board followed Idaho Statute 67-2320 requirements and publicly advertised for the project and then issued Requests for Qualifications (attached below) for both an Architect and CM/GC. Three qualified architects submitted proposals, the highest ranked firms were then interviewed and local architect, NBW Architects was ultimately selected as the design team. A similar process was also carried out for the CM/GC selection with multiple proposals, subsequent interviews and local contractor, Headwaters Construction Company being selected as the CM/GC.
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Idaho Statute 67-2320."PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS WITH DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS, AND PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYORS. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, it shall be the policy of this state that all public agencies and political subdivisions of the state of Idaho and their agents shall make selections for professional engineering, architectural, landscape architecture, construction management, and professional land surveying services, including services by persons licensed pursuant to chapters 3, 12, 30, and 45, title 54, Idaho Code, on the basis of qualifications and demonstrated competence and shall negotiate contracts or agreements for such services." You can reference the entire Idaho Statute 67-2320 HERE. | ||||||
Why didn't the District bid out the Architectural services?
As stated in Idaho Statute 67-2320, "Public agencies, such as School Districts, shall make their selections for architectural services on the basis of qualifications and demonstrated competence." The statute then outlines the process for selections which was followed by Jefferson County School District for this bond project. Bidding out architectural services is not an option for this project under Idaho law.
Why did the District decide to use the CM/GC method for selecting a contractor?
While there are many advantages to the CM/GC method, here are a few of the most important for the District:
- construction professionals are part of the design process and can provide accurate and up-to-date budgets,
- the CM/GC is selected based on qualifications to ensure they have experience building schools,
- subcontractors competitively bid on the project as per state law,
- risk is shifted away from the District and to the contractor,
- there is potential for time and cost savings, and
- the CM/GC provides a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP for the work. Any project savings are returned to the District.