Story · Public Safety Building Committee

Design-build RFP option

The committee plans to review the RFQ and RFP for the public safety building project. An RFQ (request for qualifications) asks firms to show their experience. An RFP (request for proposals) asks firms to submit plans and prices for a project.

How it happened

Jan 22 · VideoFirst mention

The committee talked about design-build, where one company does the design and then builds the project. A member said the design company would hold the design costs and be paid back as the project moves forward, even if another contractor got the job. Members asked whether it would limit bidders, how the town's public bidding duties would work, and who pays design costs if voters reject the project. A member said Brentwood, Northampton and Enfield used design-build and picked firms through a request for qualifications, which asks firms about their experience instead of asking for bids. Reports on those towns differed: Enfield was described as positive, Northampton was said to have had issues, and one member said another town's lowest-bid building still has problems. A member said construction costs usually rise 6 to 10 percent a year, as the project consultant had told the committee. The group agreed to look into how other towns did it and to try to have someone who has done design-build for another town speak at the next meeting. A member offered to ask town counsel about the pros and cons of design-build, and another asked that counsel not go too deep yet.

No vote. The group agreed to do more research and try to line up a speaker for the next meeting.

Jan 22 · Agenda

The committee plans to discuss the design-build process. In design-build, one team handles both the design and the construction of a building.

Jan 22 · Minutes

Committee members looked at design-build, where one company does both the design and the construction. A member explained that the first design costs are paid back if the project goes ahead. Two members asked whether this limits the pool of contractors and whether bidding stays open and competitive. Two members shared research on Brentwood, North Hampton and Enfield, where design-build was used. Some of those towns used a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) instead of a regular bid process. The group agreed to invite someone with design-build experience to a future meeting and to research other towns. They also want to learn what happens to design costs if the project does not go forward. The Select Board representative will ask the town's lawyer about the process. Another member will review minutes from other towns' projects.

Feb 12 · Agenda

The committee has "Design build process" on its agenda. Design build is a way of putting up a building where one team handles both the design and the construction.

Feb 26 · Agenda

The committee's agenda lists "Design build" as a topic. This is a heading only, with no further detail.

May 6 · Agenda

An RFQ/RFP item is listed on the agenda. These are usually written requests asking firms to submit qualifications or proposals. The agenda gives only the heading.

May 21 · Video

Members debated whether to also seek a design-build firm, which both designs and builds, at the same time as the site-studies RFP. One member said that doing things one step at a time could use up money. Others said the site-studies RFP is ready and should go out first. The committee agreed to prepare a design-build RFP in the meantime, using other towns' RFPs and the room list. A rough draft is due at the next meeting. Members said the preliminary work, about $50,000, does not have to go to bid, but construction would.

Jun 3 · MinutesDecided

Members debated whether to use design-build (one team designs and builds) or the conventional design-bid-build process (design first, then the construction is put out to bid). They said a team of an architect and a builder would be needed to give conceptual designs, needs assessments and cost estimates, and that rules on competitive bidding must be considered. The chair and others discussed whether the RFP should use the words 'design build' or use broader wording that allows different team setups. They agreed to focus the RFP on needs assessment, conceptual design and cost estimates. No vote was recorded on this item.

No vote recorded. Members agreed to focus the RFP on needs assessment, conceptual design and cost estimation, and not to require the term 'design build.'

Jun 3 · VideoDecided

Proposals for the site work request are due June 17. The chair said some firms had emailed questions, including one about the difference between a project timeline and a firm's record of staying on schedule. A member shared a draft of a second request, for a team to do a needs assessment, conceptual designs and a cost estimate. Members discussed whether to call it design-build. They also discussed whether an architect alone could give a price, and when the work must go to competitive bid. A member said Northampton and Nottingham requests could serve as models. Members said the budget is $50,000 and about $3,700 has been spent. Members agreed objectives would include a needs assessment, conceptual design, a price and a vote by residents. They also agreed to state that the project will go to bid after that vote. A member said the draft would be revised and sent out again. The committee said it would wait for replies to the first request before issuing this one.

The committee approved the prior meeting's minutes by voice vote, with no count given. No vote was taken on the new request. Members said it should say "building" instead of "complex."

Jun 3 · Agenda

The committee will discuss an RFQ/RFP at its 5:30 pm meeting on June 3, 2026. An RFQ is a request for qualifications and an RFP is a request for proposals. Both are ways a town asks firms to offer their services.

Jul 15 · Agenda

The committee will discuss questions about a request for proposals (RFP), which is a public notice asking firms to submit offers for a project. The agenda lists this as a discussion topic only.

Aug 5 · Video

The committee met August 5, 2026 to decide how to move forward on a combined police, fire and emergency operations building. The chair said the town's lawyer had not yet replied about whether the committee can use a design-build process, which hires one firm to design and build. The lawyer was expected back the next day. A member said town purchases over $10,000 go through the select board and that the committee should not promise money before a vote. A select board observer cited RSA 32 and RSA 33 and said signing with a design-builder before a vote could bring legal risk. He said switching now would likely miss the March ballot and add cost through inflation. The committee had $50,000 set aside for early work and about $46,000 was left. Members agreed to keep the current path of asking firms that answered the request for qualifications (RFQ) for needs and cost estimates. Each member named a top three, and S&P, Turner and Placework came out as the leading firms. One member said the vote had Turner and another recalled LaValley, so the final names were not clearly settled. The firms will be asked to come in for about 30 minutes each. Members said the firms should judge the 15,000 square foot size themselves and that a needs assessment is wanted either way.

Aug 5 · Agenda

The committee plans to follow up on the design-build process for the public safety building. Design-build is a way of building where one team handles both the design and the construction. The agenda lists this as a discussion item.

Aug 5 · Agenda