Board update on finances, construction methods, architecture/engineering services

On February 20, Ector County ISD Trustees received a progress update on Bond 2023 projects.

Finances

In a look at bond finances, more than $300,000 has now been encumbered, meaning those dollars have now been committed for a particular purpose, for the purchase of musical instruments. More than $2.8 million has already been spent on the purchase and installation of Promethean interactive flat panels for classrooms and another $401,000 has been encumbered to continue this same work. Trustees also approved several future expenditures: a projected $26 million for architectural and engineering services; approximately $2.2 million for the land for the new Transportation Center (5308 N. Andrews Highway); and $200,000 for land surveying and additional environmental assessments.

Construction methods

There are six construction delivery methods approved for school districts to use: Construction Manager At-Risk, Competitive Sealed Proposal, Job Order Contract, Competitive Bidding, Design Build, and Construction Manager Agent. 

At the meeting, school leaders recommended, and Trustees approved:

·         Construction Manager At-Risk for the Career & Technical Education Center, the new middle school, and the Permian High School auditorium

·         Competitive Sealed Proposal for the Transition Learning Center, Agricultural Facility, and the Transportation Center

Under the Construction Manager-At-Risk (CMAR) method, the construction manager oversees the project from start to finish and works on behalf of the district while contracting with subcontractors. The architect/engineers hold separate contracts with the district. The construction manager provides a guaranteed maximum price of a project’s construction cost to the district before the design phase is complete. The construction manager will be financially responsible if the approved project exceeds the guaranteed maximum price. This method is often preferable for large, complex builds.

In a competitive sealed proposal, the district requests proposals for specific projects. This method offers value to the district as the Request For Proposal (RFP) goes beyond just the pricing factor and instead focuses on evaluating needs, expectation, and desired outcomes through a detailed response that addresses the district’s needs, and provides room to negotiate.

See this presentation (Item 8C) for the definition of each method and the differences between them. 

Architecture/Engineering services review

In January, the District sent out a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for architecture and engineering services for projects approved in Bond 2023. A total of 12 firms responded. A review committee evaluated those responses on factors such as the firm’s experience with similar projects, number of similar projects taken on in the last five years, experience with ECISD, and the firm’s capacity to complete the work in the timeline established by the school district. Four firms – JSA Architects, Inc.; PBK Architects; Parkhill, Smith, Cooper, Inc.; and DLR Group – were interviewed by a committee of 15 people representing a cross-section of ECISD departments and functions. The next steps are to complete the evaluation process of each firm and assign bond projects as determined.

The school board will receive another update at its meeting on March 26. The Bond Oversight Committee will hold its next meeting on April 30.