Council authorizes RFP for owner's representative and construction management for permanent supportive housing

Staff asked council to authorize a request for proposals for an owner's representative and construction management services for the permanent supportive housing project; the role would provide third-party oversight of construction progress, contractor coordination, budget management and regular reporting to council and the community. "This will be a third party who will interface with the contractor and dignity moves on behalf of the city," a staff presenter said.

Council members debated whether the role should be a single individual or a firm with bench depth, and asked to add value engineering explicitly to the scope so proposers would demonstrate cost-control capability. Council also asked staff to increase reporting frequency (staff agreed to add weekly summary and monthly reports in addition to the monthly/quarterly structure) and to include two council members on the evaluation committee; the council approved issuing the RFP after those edits. Staff said proposals will return with an evaluation recommendation and an award will come back to council for final approval.