School Building Project Contract Not Yet Signed, Timeline Not Yet Re-established

With the bid protest denied, the Elementary School Building Committee’s (ESBC) agenda on December 20 centered on next steps for the project. Town Manager Paul Bockelman reported that Special Capital Projects Manager Bob Peirent and town lawyers are negotiating with low bidders CTA Construction Managers with the hope of executing a contract before the end of the calendar year. 

The original timeline called for the building to be completed in June 2026 to allow for the school to open for the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year. Peirent said he was working with CTA to try to keep that schedule. Building Committee Chair Town Councilor Cathy Schoen (District 1) questioned whether overtime would be part of the strategy to bring the project in on the same schedule. Committee member Bruce Coldham wondered if the need to hold the bid for longer than the usual 30 days would result in increased costs. (The low bid of $73,475,000 for construction costs was received on September 19, 2024.) Bockelman acknowledged that “there are complications on timing and costs” but added that “there are always cost adjustments”. In answer to committee member (and Amherst School Committee member) Deb Leonard’s question about whether the project would have to go back out to bid, Bockleman replied “Not at this point.”