Council authorizes GMP‑1 for Fire Station 16; construction manager outlines preconstruction safeguards

The Fayetteville City Council on Feb. 23 authorized the city manager to negotiate and enter into a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP‑1) contract with Barr & Barr for the Fire Station 16 project.

Councilmember Green moved the authorization; a second was recorded and the motion carried unanimously. The agreement begins the construction stage under a construction manager‑at‑risk contract and follows the preconstruction phase the company performed for the city.

Jonathan Best of Barr & Barr, the construction manager at risk on the project, told council the preconstruction contract enabled the team to clarify budget, constructability and schedule before crews reach the field. "We were able to prequalify all of the subcontractors who will work on a project," he said, noting prequalification covered financial stability, safety and past performance and that risk‑management plans can be put in place to include smaller subcontractors.

Brian Roof of The Cummings Group, the city's owner's representative, described his firm’s role as a fiduciary for the city, overseeing design, scope and cost to protect the city's interests during construction.

Assistant City Manager Yates and staff said the city has created a capital projects committee of council members to receive regular updates on Fire Station 16 and other capital work. Council emphasized the layered oversight—construction manager at risk, owner's representative and capital projects committee—as a way to avoid surprises and keep the project on budget and schedule.

The motion recorded no amendments on the council floor. Council did not adopt the final contract terms at the meeting; staff will return with the negotiated GMP‑1 for formal execution after negotiations are complete and any required technical reviews are finished.