The Flint Community Schools Board of Education on Nov. 18 voted 7–0 to issue a public request for proposals for a construction manager to oversee design and construction of the district’s new high school.

Nicole Blocker, the owner’s representative, told the board the construction-manager-as-agency (CMA) delivery method will provide design-phase constructability reviews, scheduling and regular cost estimates. “The construction manager as an agency is a professional service,” Blocker said, adding that, under school code law, subcontractors hired to perform the work still must be publicly bid while the CM firm itself may be selected through a qualifications-based RFP process.

Scott Smith of Plant Moran reviewed a proposed procurement timeline: issue the RFP on Thursday the 13th, hold a pre-bid meeting on the 17th, set proposals due Dec. 1, and aim to present a recommendation to the board by mid‑December with a goal of onboarding a construction manager by the end of the calendar year. “We’d like to work through any kind of contract terms that may come up,” Smith said as he outlined interviews and shortlisting steps.

Trustees debated whether to run an open national solicitation or limit the competition to a shortlist of qualified firms. Trustee Rutherford urged board involvement in the selection process, saying voluntary public bidding “promote[s] transparency and encourage[s] competition.” Vice President McIntyre moved to make the RFP public; Trustee Rillett seconded the motion. After discussion about timing and transparency, the board approved the motion by roll call.

What happens next: the district’s owner’s rep will post the RFP to the state procurement (SIGMA) site, the district website and local notice outlets per the proposed schedule and manage the shortlisting and interview process before returning to the board with a recommendation.

Votes and procedural note: the board’s action to make the RFP public passed unanimously, 7–0.