Sanitary board selects Bowen as guaranteed-savings contractor

The Board of Sanitary Commissioners voted July 23 to select Bowen as the district's guaranteed-savings contractor and authorized district staff and legal counsel to begin preparing contracts.

The selection gives the district a contractor to work with on guaranteed maximum (GMAX) pricing for future construction projects. District Administrator Rick Conrad told the board the selection carries no immediate cost: "this is just to select Bowen as as beginning the process to work with us to come up with these costs."

The board discussed the small pool of firms that offer guaranteed-savings contracts in the state and the protections a GMAX arrangement offers the district. "I do appreciate the flexibility of the GMAX, on our side and then also the protections that it gives us with with the cost overruns and extras that are not allowed," Commissioner Clark said. The motion to select Bowen was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Board members noted they had a prior working relationship with Bowen and that the district had reached out to other qualified firms but received only Bowen's statement of qualifications. The district will proceed to contract negotiations; no construction work or contractor payments are authorized by this selection alone.

The selection means staff and legal counsel will draft contract documents and return to the board for any required approvals if contract terms or expenditures are proposed.