Board of Education to Consider 7 More Contracts under 2012 Bond Program

Administrators are recommending firms to provide CMAR services

Administrators are recommending that the HISD Board of Education authorize the district to negotiate contracts with five firms to provide construction manager at risk (CMAR) services on selected 2012 bond projects.

The firms and the projects are:

Utilizing the CMAR contracting method helps HISD ensure a quality project by increasing coordination with the design team and establishing a guaranteed maximum price for construction, minimizing the potential for problems such as cost overruns. CMAR also allows greater potential for subcontracting specialized work, increasing the number of potential business opportunities with the district. Many of the 2012 bond program projects will be assigned CMARs due to the nature and complexity of the projects.

The selected firms were chosen from a pool of 33 contractors based upon several selection criteria, including qualifications, relevant experience, safety record, minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBE) plan, construction methodology and phasing strategy, and financial stability. Qualified firms were then invited to submit cost proposals for construction services.

Two of the firms, H.J. Russell & Company and Comex Corporation, are certified M/WBEs, which means they are at least 51 percent owned by one of the following groups: African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Native American or women. The other three companies have committed to contracting 20 percent to 30 percent of their work to M/WBE contractors.

The board’s regular monthly meeting begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2013, in the board auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street). Click here to view the full agenda.

The board meeting will be carried live on HISD’s website and on the HISD Channel, which can be found on Comcast Channel 18 or AT&T Channel 99.