The Mount Vernon City Council has granted Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers the authority to issue a request for qualifications aimed at identifying and selecting a company to provide professional services for the construction of municipal buildings. The council approved this resolution on Monday night.
According to Ben Hyden of Bricker Graydon, "The pre-construction services add a ton of value of planning, thinking through the project, and they can make the project just go smoother for the city." He further explained that if there is a year of pre-construction services followed by 24 months of active construction, it typically results in fewer claims and less adversarial interactions during the project.
Hyden recommended using the construction manager at risk model as the procurement method for these projects. This model involves hiring a construction manager during the pre-construction phase to review documents, coordinate design documents, and assess constructability. Hyden said that after evaluating documents and reviewing options, they would propose ideas to potentially save money through materials, schedule changes, or site layout adjustments.
Law Director Rob Broeren emphasized that involving a construction manager at risk early in the process allows for cost-saving suggestions before finalizing designs. "That's why you bring them on at the very beginning," Broeren said.
Broeren also mentioned that payment for the construction manager at risk would be structured in two phases: a flat rate during pre-construction between $150,000 and $200,000, and then either continued payment or reverting to traditional bidding once construction documents are finalized. Councilmember Mike Miller expressed concern over authorizing up to $600,000 for these services without further council approval. Broeren confirmed this but assured that council oversight would occur before any physical work began.
City Engineer Brian Ball noted that all projects will fall under federal jurisdiction. The wastewater plant is currently in design, while planning has concluded for both the police headquarters and municipal court building. Ball praised the construction manager at risk model because it offers a guaranteed maximum price and advises against costly commitments not aligned with public needs.
