Construction Manager at Risk – Westside Elementary School

Isle of Wight School Division is requesting qualifications for a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to oversee design and construction of Westside Elementary School, with qualification statements due August 6, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., and a 25 percent non-mandatory goal for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Emerging Small Business (ESB) participation.

The project comprises approximately 143,000 square feet of new two-story building construction and associated site work on approximately 18 acres at Benns Grant Boulevard in Smithfield, Virginia. The building includes classrooms, administrative offices, dining commons with kitchen, media center, and gymnasium; site work encompasses erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, utilities, parking, driveways, access roads, playfields, bus loop, and fencing. Design is based on Hardy Elementary School.

The estimated construction cost is $58 million. Applicants must demonstrate financial ability through a surety letter confirming bonding capacity for projects in the $60 million range, workers' compensation insurance, and general liability coverage. The CMAR will be selected through a two-step process: qualification statements evaluated on a 100-point scale (CMAR K-12 project experience: 45 points; proposed project team qualifications: 20 points; project methods including cost management, schedule management, quality control, safety programs, and MBE/ESB outreach: 35 points), followed by technical proposals and interviews. A minimum of two contractors will advance to Step Two.

Shortlisted firms will be announced August 10, 2026, with technical proposals due September 10. Interviews are tentatively scheduled September 14–18. School Board approval of the highest-ranked CMAR is anticipated October 8, 2026, with contract negotiations beginning October 12. Pre-construction is anticipated to begin October 1, 2026; Notice to Proceed for construction is anticipated in early spring 2027, with occupancy targeted for July 30, 2028. Standard AIA CMAR contract documents will be utilized, and all contractors and subcontractors must use the School Division's web-based project management system for project controls and information tracking. Questions are due July 20, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.