Construction Management Services - Dwight Elementary School with Early Childhood Center

The Town of Fairfield, Connecticut, on behalf of Fairfield Public Schools, is soliciting proposals from qualified Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) firms to provide comprehensive construction management services for the design and construction of a new Dwight Elementary School with Early Childhood Center located at 1600 Redding Road, Fairfield, Connecticut. The project involves the design and construction of a new 56,115 square-foot facility comprising 45,290 square feet for K-5 programs serving 264 students and 10,825 square feet for preschool programs serving 128 students, including demolition of the existing 1962-constructed building and replacement of the septic system. Key deliverables include pre-construction services, construction management oversight, general conditions management, and project closeout services over a 23-month construction duration with a 6-month closeout phase. To qualify, firms must have completed a minimum of five school projects utilizing CMR with Guaranteed Maximum Price delivery within the last ten years in the Northeast region, with at least two elementary schools in Connecticut and two new construction projects budgeted at $40 million or more; demonstrate $100 million in completed State-approved projects over the last seven years; and possess pre-qualification as "Construction Manager at Risk (Group B)" or "(Group C)" from the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services. The RFQ was published March 4, 2026, with a mandatory pre-proposal virtual site visit scheduled for March 13, 2026 at 10:30 a.m., inquiries due by March 17, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., and qualifications due March 26, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. Short-listed firms will be announced April 7, 2026, with the RFP issued April 8, 2026, proposals due April 20, 2026, interviews April 21, 2026, and CMR selection immediately following interviews. Evaluation will utilize a Quality Based Selection Process assessing clarity of proposal, technical competence, past performance, knowledge of Connecticut public school construction and Office of Grants Administration requirements, experience with LEED and high-performance building projects, and team member experience.

The solicitation documents do not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular classes of organizations such as disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or women-owned enterprises. No incumbent contractor or current vendor information is referenced within the procurement materials. The project incorporates Connecticut High Performance Building standards equivalent to LEED Silver certification or higher, featuring modern HVAC systems, LED lighting with motion sensors, comprehensive technology infrastructure including voice-over-IP systems and wireless coverage, digital video surveillance, electronic security systems, and full sprinkler systems that the selected CMR firm will coordinate and integrate during construction. The Town of Fairfield has authorized total project funding of $76,398,168 based on preliminary estimates, which is subject to review and approval by the State of Connecticut Office of Grants Administration; feasibility studies estimate hard costs at $65,323,500 and soft costs at $9,398,270 for a total project cost of approximately $74.7 million. Insurance requirements mandate General Liability with minimum limits of $1 million per claim/$3 million per aggregate, Auto Liability at $1 million per claim/$1 million per aggregate, Umbrella/Excess Liability at $10 million, Professional Errors & Omissions at $1 million, and Pollution Liability at $1 million, with the Town of Fairfield and Fairfield Board of Education named as additional insureds on all policies on a primary and non-contributory basis. All submissions must be made through the Town of Fairfield Purchasing Department's e-Procurement Portal, and firms are prohibited from contacting Town employees outside of this portal.