Lee County Board awards bus garage design services to CRA Associates
July 09, 2025 | Lee County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina
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The Lee County Board of Education voted to award the architecture and engineering services for a new transportation facility, bus garage and maintenance storage facility to CRA Associates Inc. following a qualifications-based selection.
Alan, an operations committee member who led the presentation, told the board staff had received six RFQs and used a scoring matrix to recommend CRA. He said CRA’s recent projects — including a Chatham County bus garage — fit the district’s needs and that the operations committee sought to keep the project below the $13.5 million allocation. “We don't wanna end up with, like, a Taj Mahal bus garage,” he said.
Alan cited the Chatham bus garage as a reference project and noted the final cost there was near the original budget: “The Chatham bus garage had a budget of 6,000,000. The bid that was provided from CRA was 5.8, and the final cost came in at 6.1.”
After a motion from Alan and a second, the board approved the award by voice vote. The vote record in the transcript shows the motion passed after a voice “Aye” and no oral opposition. The operations committee recommended negotiating the scope with CRA while emphasizing affordability and room for projected growth.
Board members flagged the risk of change orders and asked staff about CRA’s history with budgets and change orders; staff said references indicate CRA’s projects typically stayed close to initial budgets and that some overages were tied to owner‑requested change orders.
No construction contract was awarded at the meeting; the approved action was to award architecture and engineering services and to begin negotiations. Staff said further approvals will be required as design and cost estimates are refined.
Alan, an operations committee member who led the presentation, told the board staff had received six RFQs and used a scoring matrix to recommend CRA. He said CRA’s recent projects — including a Chatham County bus garage — fit the district’s needs and that the operations committee sought to keep the project below the $13.5 million allocation. “We don't wanna end up with, like, a Taj Mahal bus garage,” he said.
Alan cited the Chatham bus garage as a reference project and noted the final cost there was near the original budget: “The Chatham bus garage had a budget of 6,000,000. The bid that was provided from CRA was 5.8, and the final cost came in at 6.1.”
After a motion from Alan and a second, the board approved the award by voice vote. The vote record in the transcript shows the motion passed after a voice “Aye” and no oral opposition. The operations committee recommended negotiating the scope with CRA while emphasizing affordability and room for projected growth.
Board members flagged the risk of change orders and asked staff about CRA’s history with budgets and change orders; staff said references indicate CRA’s projects typically stayed close to initial budgets and that some overages were tied to owner‑requested change orders.
No construction contract was awarded at the meeting; the approved action was to award architecture and engineering services and to begin negotiations. Staff said further approvals will be required as design and cost estimates are refined.
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