Accelerated Repair Program (ARP)
The Accelerated Repair Program (ARP) through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) focuses on deferred maintenance projects.
Boston Public Schools
John W. McCormack Middle School and Paul A. Dever Elementary School
A $4M roof replacement project. A successful appeal to the MSBA to waive their requirement of one site representative per project saved the City the expense of an extra site representative.
Boston Latin School, James F. Condon School, and William E. Channing Elementary School
Boiler replacements at three Boston schools, totaling $6M. These projects had concurrent schedules. One general contractor was chosen to complete them. Each school had its own site representative that reported daily project activities.
Chicopee Public Schools
Belcher Elementary School and Fairview Elementary School
A $3M roof replacement project. One general contractor was selected for both schools. Project budget was managed so that any unforeseen adds were offset by credits pursued in the base scope, resulting in a net zero change order to the contract.
New Bedford Public Schools
Elizabeth Carter Brooks Elementary School
A $4M renovation project that included doors, windows, and boiler replacements; ADA upgrades; vestibule creation; and clerestory window and metal panel replacements. The project required ten filed sub-bid contracts on a tight $3M construction budget.
Lowell Public Schools
Dr. Gertrude Bailey Elementary School, Frederic T. Greenhalge Elementary School, S. Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, STEM Academy (formerly Rogers Early Learning Center), James F. Sullivan Middle School, and James S. Daley Middle School
MSBA ARP roof and boiler replacements project. The boiler replacements totaled $4.4M, while the two replaced roofs came in at $2.1M. Driving a competitive bid market, the city was successfully saved over $2.75M for all six boilers. The project required the management of (6) site representatives and (3) general contractors across (6) sites with a tight 4.5-month schedule from start to finish.
Hampden-Wilbraham School District
Wilbraham Middle School
MSBA ARP $1.8M roof replacement project. Driving a competitive bid market secured competitive general bids under the MSBA PFA construction estimate of $2.5M. The winning lowest bid was $1.8M resulting in a savings of $670k for the district.
Revere Public Schools
Garfield Elementary/Middle School
A $1M MSBA ARP boiler replacement. The project initially received only two bids and was $200k over the construction budget. Timing the market carefully, the work was rebid for the following summer. The strategy successfully resulted in receiving ten bids, the lowest bid came in $300k under budget.
Gloucester Public Schools
Ralph B. O’Maley Middle School
MSBA ARP project for window and door replacements totaling $5M. A large 4-story, 181,000 SF brick and concrete building, the original exterior doors, window systems, clerestories and dome skylight required replacement. The project was phased due to lead times. The eleven window systems types and exterior doors were replaced in summer 2023. The electrical filed sub bid came in too high, threatening the overall bid to come in over-budget, and losing schedule from a rebid. To keep the project on schedule, the electrical bid was rejected and purchased two components off the state bid list (cafeteria lighting and security). This allowed the general contractor to procure the remaining electrical work post-bid. The window replacements were kept on schedule and the district was saved $400k from the initial sub bid. The library dome and clerestories will be replaced in summer 2024.
Wareham Public Schools
Wareham Middle School
MSBA ARP roof replacement, totaling $8.9M. The roof was replaced over two summers by the same low bidder. The Town saw $3.5M in savings over the estimate.
Wareham High School
MSBA ARP $1.6M boiler replacement project. The OPM requested a verification of building requirements resulting in replacing the (6) existing boilers with (5) new boilers. Overall, the project saved the town $700k from the original $1.9M project estimate.
Holyoke Public Schools
H.B. Lawrence School, Lt. Elmer J. McMahon Elementary School, and Maurice A. Donahue Elementary School
MSBA ARP projects for window replacements, the three totaled $11M. Each school was bid out separately for better bid coverage. Bid alternates were introduced for the McMahon school to save the city from non-reimbursable project scope.
William J. Dean Vocational Technical High School (Holyoke High School Dean Technical Campus)
MSBA ARP $1M boiler replacement project. The original sectional boilers and burners and (4) gas-fired domestic water heaters are to be replaced. The new system will be connected to a Building Management System summer 2024 for better controls.
Falmouth Public Schools
Teaticket Elementary School
MSBA ARP $3.7M roof replacement. The project experienced construction material availability issues due to the COVID pandemic. To assure the team, confirmation was obtained with the basis of design panel manufacturer that the project would be in the spring fabrication for summer availability. The project met the installation schedule. From a budgetary standpoint, the project was managed such that scope credits were pursued and offset any add changes resulting in no change orders.
Oxford Public Schools
Oxford Middle Schools
MSBA closeout and accounting services were provided for this $8M project consisting of boiler replacement, roof replacement, and ADA upgrades. With 4+ general contractors, tracking and submitting for the agreed upon potential reimbursement was complex and not initially implemented correctly. With a thorough understanding of the costs and the MSBA reimbursement process, the project invoices were realigned to the budget resulting in the Town receiving 98.5% of their maximum grant from the MSBA.
Core Program
Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical High School
Greater Lowell Technical High School
A $65M major MEP renovation and Cafeteria addition to the Greater Lowell Technical High School which serves four surrounding communities. Using a phased construction schedule for this 2,000-student occupied school, the project was delivered $0.5M under budget. This MSBA Core project, delivered CM-at-risk, included the renovation of the existing dining commons into seven new science labs.
Milford Public Schools
Woodland Elementary School
MSBA Core project for $60.9M. A new 132,000 SF elementary school serving grades 3, 4, and 5 was constructed. The project opened on time and on budget and was awarded the 2017 William W. Caudill Citation, the highest honor awarded by American School & University. The project received LEED® Silver certification.
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School District
Whittier Regional Vocational High School
A new $445M, 380,000 SF vocational facility was designed to replace the existing outdated school. The MSBA Core project was voted down by the voters of the 11-community district, in large part due to perceived inequity in the cost apportionment and the overall cost and associated tax increases. The project has recently been revived with a Massachusetts governor-proposed partnership and shared facility with Northern Essex Community College.
Agawam Public Schools
Agawam High School
New $230M, 235,000 SF high school. Town vote will be taken on June 11, 2024.