Mt. Vernon Board of School Trustees

Mr. Elkins, appearing via ZOOM, and asked the board to consider two bid packages for approval for the addition and renovations to Fortville Elementary School-Early Release Project, one for sitework and foundations work and the other for structural steel work.  AECOM Hunt received bids on November 22, 2021.  On November  23, 2021 de-scope meetings were held with the low bidders and based on review of the bids, they are recommending acceptance of the following bids:  1)  Sitework and Foundations Work to Gibraltar Construction Corporation for $951,000 and Structural Steel Work to JL Walter and Associates for $874,00 for a total of $1,825,000.  Mrs. Walls made a motion to approve the bids as presented.  Mr. Gray seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Elkins asked the board for approval of the contract for construction manager as agent with AECOM Hunt.  The contract will cover construction manager services as needed for the Future Growth Plan (FES addition, new elementary school construction, transportation center construction, and parking and traffic flow upgrades).  Mr. Elkins met with representatives from AECOM Hunt to vet the proposed contract language, which he said is fairly typical.  The school contracts directly with all project sub-contractors.  AECOM Hunt does not hold these contracts, the school does.  This differs with a CMc contract where the school contracts only with the construction manager at a predetermined fixed amount, who then holds all subcontracts.  Hard construction costs (items you can see and touch) will be 1.85% of the $64.5 million for all phases of the project, billed monthly.  Miscellaneous expenses, if any, will be billed directly to the school.  Onsite staff costs will be determined by hours worked.  Preconstruction phase is November 1, 2021 through June, 2022 with $211,510 to be billed monthly.

Mr. Gray made a motion to approve the Construction Manager Contract as presented.  Mrs. Walls seconded.  Mrs. Freeman asked what the advantage was for us to hold the contracts.  Mr. Elkins stated it gave us more flexability to move funds through parts of the contract to wherever they needed to be.  More risk is put on the contractor.  Dr. Parker added that the leadership team had approved doing it this way prior to beginning the process as they felt it did not  work well with the middle school project for the construction manager to hold the contracts.  Mr. Edwards asked if the $64.5 million included everything in the Future Growth Plan.  Mr. Elkins stated yes, all inclusive as all parts were approved as one project.  The motion carried 4-0.