Advisory committee recommends Shawmut as construction manager at risk for Woodford Middle School

The North Kingstown Building Advisory Committee unanimously recommended Shawmut as the construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the Woodford Middle School project during its Dec. 3 meeting. The advisory committee's endorsement followed a competitive solicitation that drew six proposals and interviews with four finalists.

Project staff told the committee the district received proposals from Consigli, Dimeo, DOC (Decco), Gilbane, O&G and Shawmut. An evaluation subgroup shortlisted four firms for interviews; Shawmut scored highest after the interview phase and was recommended by the review team. Shawmut's preconstruction fee for the work was presented as $100,000; presenters said other firms had preconstruction fees ranging roughly from about $50,000 into the hundreds of thousands of dollars before discounts.

Committee members asked about the firm's experience building adjacent to occupied schools. Presenters said Shawmut recently completed work on Martin Middle School and described logistics used to separate active construction from occupied classroom spaces. Steve Herrera, who participated in the interview process, is recorded as supporting award to Shawmut in written comment to the committee.

A member moved that the advisory committee recommend awarding the CMAR contract to Shawmut; the motion was seconded and passed with recorded ayes. The committee will forward a memo and its recommendation to the School Committee and Town Council, both of which are scheduled to consider approvals at joint hearings on Dec. 15. If those approvals follow, the project team said the preconstruction agreement would begin soon after and take the team through 2026 to a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contract.

The decision advances the procurement but does not itself award construction contracts. Final award and any contract amounts will be determined by the School Committee and Town Council when those bodies consider the recommendation.