Construction Manager at Riskin progress
Status set at the School Board Regular Meeting on Sep 14, 2026
Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) is an alternative construction delivery method being pursued for the Daniels Run and Providence Elementary School renovation projects.
The process requires several preconditions under state code: a licensed architect or engineer under contract (already satisfied via the school board's existing architecture firms) and City Council consent on a per-project basis. The City of Fairfax updated its purchasing policy on March 24, 2026, to allow alternative delivery methods, and City Council consent for both projects was placed on the June 9, 2026 agenda. As of the September 14, 2026 board meeting, the process had advanced significantly: a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued and drew a strong response; a committee evaluated and scored submissions to create a shortlist; that shortlist was then invited to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP), which had just recently been sent out.
Site visits were scheduled for the following week. Key advantages cited throughout the process include the ability to bring the construction manager in early (before the end of schematic design), ongoing collaboration with designers, and ultimately securing a guaranteed maximum price.
Still open
- RFP responses are pending; the award of a CMAR contract has not yet occurred as of September 14, 2026.
- City Council action to formally award a contract is a remaining step before moving into design development.
- The specific date the RFP was issued was not confirmed on the record at the September 14, 2026 meeting.
What members have said
At the May 18, 2026 work session, Dr. Wright introduced the CMAR delivery method as under consideration but not yet decided, explaining the required order of operations including the City Council purchasing policy change, the need for City Council per-project consent (scheduled for June 9), and the importance of bringing a construction manager on board before the end of schematic design. He provided an overview of the two-step RFQ/RFP process and noted the guaranteed maximum price as a key advantage.
At the September 14, 2026 regular meeting, Dan Nebhut (of Brailsford & Dunlavey) presented the CMAR RFP and its schedule as part of the capital projects program review, confirming that the RFQ had been issued, a strong response received, a committee formed to evaluate and score submissions, a shortlist created, and the RFP recently sent to shortlisted offerors, with site visits upcoming the following week.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, Apr 1, 2025 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- May 18, 2026School Board · item 1.02Renovation Update – Dr. Dustin Wright, Superintendent
[1.02] Dr. Wright discussed the potential use of a Construction Manager at Risk delivery method for the renovation project.
- Capital Projects Update
[2.06] Dan Nebhut presented the request for proposals for the Construction Manager at Risk process and its schedule as part of the capital projects program review.