Board selects ICON in RFP for Oppenlander property; move clears way for nonbinding LOI

The school board voted to select ICON Construction and Development as the preferred proposer for the district’s Oppenlander property after an RFP process that drew three timely proposals.

Remo Douglas, staff member, said 11 firms received the request for proposals and three submitted: ICON, Lennar and Noyes. “ICON was tied at the highest value, which was the appraised value of $7,875,000, to be paid in cash on closing,” Douglas said, adding that Noyes submitted $7,000,000, below the appraisal. Douglas told the board the staff recommendation reflected price and a number of other evaluation factors.

Douglas emphasized that accepting a proposal does not bind the district to a contract. “The acceptance of a proposal does not bind any party to a contract. We would look to sign a nonbinding letter of intent and then move into a negotiations phase for a purchase and sale agreement,” he said.

Board members asked for public disclosure of the three bids after sealed-bid openings made the amounts public; Douglas read the three proposers and their amounts into the record. Director Salvaggio asked whether limiting selection criteria around likely residential use had constrained potential price outcomes; Douglas replied the appraisal’s highest and best use and all three proposals were for residential development and that the district did not require a specific use in the RFP.

Vice Chair Vidal asked about earnest money. Douglas said the RFP required a minimum earnest-money amount of $300,000 and that all three proposers met that requirement. The board voted to direct staff to negotiate a nonbinding letter of intent and a purchase-and-sale agreement; staff will return to the board for review and final approval before any binding contract is executed.

The vote was unanimous: Director Salvaggio, Director Wyatt, Director Shoemaker, Vice Chair Vidal and Chair Sloop voted aye.