Committee recommends Colliers for program management; approves not-to-exceed $219,000

The Special Projects Standing Building Committee voted Jan. 29 to accept Colliers Project Leaders’ proposal to provide program and project management for a package of five school security‑vestibule projects, approving a not‑to‑exceed fee of $219,000.

Adam Toolein introduced Colliers as the lone respondent to the RFP for program management. Chuck Warrington, Colliers’ director of project management, and project manager Mark Switzer described Colliers’ experience on local school projects and outlined a six‑month design schedule tied to a 2027 construction window. Warrington said the team bases fees on hourly, not‑to‑exceed billing and identified a $15,000 allowance for state closeout paperwork.

The committee questioned procurement and delivery options, weighing a general‑contractor route against hiring a construction manager or using preconstruction services. Colliers noted typical lead times for security glazing are about three months and recommended maximizing lead time and considering an early procurement request to the state (PCR) if needed. Committee members asked that the RFP identify local stakeholders (police, fire, security vendors) and stressed the need for clear scope language.

A motion to accept Colliers’ proposal not to exceed $219,000 — with routine reimbursables excluded from the cap — was moved and seconded; the committee carried the motion by voice vote. Colliers and staff will work with town legal to finalize contract language (including insurance/indemnification issues raised during discussion) and routes the award to the Board of Selectmen if required.

"My name is Chuck Warrington, Director of Project Management with Colliers Project Leaders," Warrington said in opening the team’s remarks. He summarized prior local work and said the firm is prepared to invoice hourly up to the stated cap. The committee asked for a walkthrough of the five sites to precede RFQ/RFP questions and requested that the RFP make stakeholder coordination and clear deliverables explicit.

Next steps: staff to prepare an award letter and contract for Colliers, coordinate with legal on indemnification language, and, if necessary, place the contract before the Board of Selectmen for approval.