To:

Members, Board of Education

From:

Terry B. Grier, Ed.D.

Date:

January 5, 2007

RE:

Alternative Contracting Method Request for The Academy at Smith Project

North Carolina General Statute 143-128 specifies that:  The State, a county, municipality, or other public body shall award contracts to erect, construct, alter, or repair buildings pursuant to any of the following methods:

(1) Separate‑prime bidding
(2) Single‑prime bidding
(3) Dual bidding pursuant to subsection (d1) of this section
(4) Construction management at risk contracts pursuant to G.S. 143‑128.1
(5) Alternative contracting methods authorized pursuant to G.S. 143‑135.26(9).

On December 8, 2006, a meeting was held to explore opportunities to increase the district’s MWBE participation in The Academy at Smith Project.  This meeting was attended by John Mann, Purchasing Officer, Guilford County Schools (GCS); Sharon Ozment, Chief Financial Officer, GCS; Tim McMullen, Architect with Millennium 3; Dennis Cole, Project Management Consultant to GCS; Dave Burnett, Executive Director of Facilities, GCS; and Kenneth Johnson of K. Johnson Consulting.  During this meeting, Kenneth Johnson proposed an alternative contracting method (“multi-packaging”) pursuant to item (5) above.  We are seeking the Board of Education’s approval to present this alternative method to the North Carolina State Building Commission for consideration/approval.

A summary of the proposed alternative contracting method follows.

1. Single prime bids for HVAC, electrical, plumbing and general construction, in one package. The general contractor package will not include work for the (“multi-packaging”) items a – i listed below. These items will be bid separately; however, the general contractor will serve as the Project Expediter.
2. “Multi-Packaging” or separate bid packages for:
   1. floor coverings;
   2. ceilings;
   3. painting;
   4. doors and hardware;
   5. casework;
   6. masonry;
   7. site work;
   8. fire protection; and
   9. technology cabling

In order to vary from the prescribed contracting methods (1) through (4) outlined above, the Board of Education must seek approval from the North Carolina State Building Commission. A copy of the application for Authorization to Use an Alternative Contracting Method is attached for information/reference purposes. An application must be completed for each project for which an owner is seeking such an authorization. The proposed alternative contracting method must be approved by a majority of the state building commission and the bid structure and method(s) must comply with all statutory bid/contracting requirements.

RECOMMENDATION:  I recommend that the application for this alternative contracting method for the Academy at Smith project be completed and submitted to the North Carolina State Building Commission no later than 30 days prior to the North Carolina State Building Commission meeting scheduled for February 20, 2007.

Attachment - Application