Parker School Building Committee votes unanimously for construction manager at risk delivery

CHELMSFORD — June 10, 2026 — Chelmsford's Parker School Building Committee voted unanimously to use the construction manager at risk delivery method for the new Parker Middle School project. The committee, meeting June 10, also approved a $94,084 invoice package and established a five-member CM selection subcommittee composed of Chair Pat Maloney, member Jay Lane, member John Sather, and representatives from owner's project manager Left Field and the project's design firm. David, the project's owner's project manager, outlined the key distinction between the two methods: under design-bid-build, a contractor who barely meets the pre-qualification threshold can still win on low bid, while CMR allows selection on qualifications and price and binds the contractor to a guaranteed maximum price. Maloney said every major town project over the past 25 years had required legal counsel under design-bid-build, adding that CMR "might be the path of lesser resistance." Left Field is expected to file the CMR application with the state Inspector General's office in July. The committee also received word that the Massachusetts School Building Authority awarded the town 1.75 out of a possible 2.0 additional maintenance classification points in its preliminary study report submission, a score the project manager called among the highest he had seen in his career.