CMAR for Phase II of Bowling Green Riverfront Park

The City of Bowling Green, Kentucky is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to serve as Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for Phase II of the Bowling Green Riverfront Park Project under RFP 2026-54, issued pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statutes 45A.183. The procurement solicits preconstruction and construction phase services, with proposals due by April 15, 2026. Preconstruction services, estimated at 2-3 months duration, include cost estimating, constructability review, value engineering, schedule development, subcontractor bid packaging, long-lead procurement planning, risk identification, and permitting coordination. Construction phase services encompass general conditions and CMAR fee components for a project with a total budget of $10,000,000 and estimated Cost of Work between $7,500,000 and $8,500,000. Respondents must submit minimum three project references from public-owner projects substantially completed within the past seven years, with at least one CMAR-delivered project and at least one exceeding $5,000,000 in construction value; references should demonstrate relevant experience with brownfield or landfill sites, public parks and recreation facilities, water or aquatic features, event infrastructure, and karst or complex geologic conditions. Fee proposals consist of a lump sum preconstruction services fee, lump sum general conditions covering full construction duration, and a CMAR fee expressed as a percentage of Cost of Work, though fees are not scored during qualitative selection but serve as the starting point for post-selection GMP negotiation at approximately 90% construction documents completion. The selected firm must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Commercial General Liability and Excess Liability with $10,000,000 per occurrence limits, Automobile Liability at $1,000,000 Combined Single Limit, Workers' Compensation at statutory limits with $1,000,000 Employers' Liability, Professional Liability Insurance at $2,000,000 per occurrence and annual aggregate, and Builder's Risk insurance for full replacement cost.

The solicitation documents do not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting organizational type eligibility to respond. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available procurement materials. The City reserves the right to reject any proposed Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) exceeding the $10,000,000 project budget and to terminate the preconstruction agreement if a mutually acceptable GMP cannot be negotiated. Following GMP execution, all trade packages shall be competitively bid with any cost savings below the GMP reverting to the City. The City retains open-book audit rights to all project costs, subcontractor bids, and contingency draws throughout construction and at closeout. The preliminary 60% design plans provided as part of the solicitation package establish the technical foundation and baseline project scope for cost estimating and schedule development, with the plans detailing riverfront park improvements including site grading, utilities, hardscape features, and vegetation plans designed to enhance public access and recreational use of the riverfront area.