Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Delivery and Pricing Structure

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is issuing a Request for Information on Construction Manager at Risk project delivery methods and pricing structures, with responses due October 26, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. This is market research only and will not result in contract award.

WSSC seeks industry input on commercially viable CMAR compensation models that comply with Maryland Code Ann., Public Utilities 20-104(d)(2), which prohibits WSSC from entering into cost-plus-percentage-of-cost contracts and requires prohibition of such subcontracts. The statutory constraint is the central driver of this RFI — WSSC must understand alternative pricing structures that satisfy the state ban on percentage-based compensation.

Specific topics addressed in the RFI include CMAR market feasibility, recommended compensation structures, Guaranteed Maximum Price development, general conditions and overhead treatment, open-book pricing and cost transparency, preconstruction services, and subcontracting methods. WSSC is particularly interested in public-sector examples of non-percentage-based CMAR models, including compensation methodology, GMP development, and lessons learned.

Respondents should organize submissions by company information, relevant experience, responses to specific RFI questions, project examples, and supporting materials. No pricing is required for specific WSSC projects. The RFI identifies fixed-fee compensation, lump-sum compensation, cost reimbursement plus fixed fees, GMP arrangements, and open-book cost reimbursement with defined allowable costs as candidate structures.

WSSC reserves the right to use information obtained through this RFI to develop future procurement strategies and specifications. Participation in this RFI does not affect a firm's eligibility for future WSSC procurements. All preparation costs are the responsibility of respondents.