HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 09-16-2025; 8-d - Authorization for Use of Construction Manager at Risk Services for the Sheriff’s Office Evidence Storage Facility and Link Government Services Center Renovations 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 16, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-d
SUBJECT: Authorization for Use of Construction Manager at Risk Services for the Orange
County Sheriff's Office Evidence Storage Facility and John M. Link, Jr.
Government Services Center Renovations
DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Connor Wilkins, Asset Management
Services Assistant Director, 919-
245-2689
Alan Dorman, Asset Management
Services Director, 919-245-2627
PURPOSE: To authorize the use of the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) project delivery
method for the Orange County Sheriff's Office Evidence Storage Facility and John M. Link, Jr.
Government Services Center Renovation project.
BACKGROUND: The Orange County Sheriff's Office Evidence Storage Facility and John M.
Link, Jr. Government Services Center Renovation Link Center Renovation project is a key phase
of Orange County's Justice Center Space Needs initiative. The project includes the construction
of a 6,000 square-foot Evidence Storage Facility adjacent to the Orange County Detention Center
on US Highway 70 in Hillsborough to address long-standing capacity, security, and environmental
control deficiencies. The Link Center, built in downtown Hillsborough in 1992 and vacant since
2019 due to severe water intrusion and mold, will be renovated to serve as the new headquarters
for the Orange County Sheriff's Office, providing modern, secure, and efficient space while freeing
Justice Center capacity for future expansion. On July 3, 2025, the request for qualifications (RFQ)
was posted for the preliminary and schematic-level design services for developing the Evidence
Storage Facility and renovating the Link Center.
In order to move the construction of the Evidence Storage Facility and renovation of the Link
Center project forward, the Board needs to authorize the use of a project delivery method. For
large-scale construction projects, the four main processes are:
a) Design Bid Build with Separate Prime Bidding
b) Design Bid Build with Single Prime Bidding
c) Construction Management at Risk (CMAR)
d) Design Build
Staff recommends the use of a Construction Manager at Risk. Under this method of contracting,
the owner contracts directly with the designer and the CMAR, all of whom are selected based on
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their demonstrated qualifications to design and construct the Evidence Storage Facility and
renovate the Link Center. The objective will be to engage with the CMAR as the schematic and
developmental design of the project begins in earnest to take advantage of scope and related
cost information provided by the CMAR. The CMAR method was used to develop and construct
the Bonnie B. Davis Environmental & Agricultural Center, the Detention Center, and the Parks
Operations Base, and is currently being utilized for the Crisis Diversion Facility.
The project program is developed as a collaborative partnership (County, Designer, CMAR)
through a pre-construction phase process and, when pricing is ultimately agreed to by the parties,
the CMAR establishes a Guaranteed Maximum Price ("GMP") which becomes the basis of the
CMAR contract which binds the project to the agreed upon price unless Orange County changes
the scope of the project in some manner. This method allows for significant, collaborative cost
analysis with the full benefit of the CMAR during the pre-construction phase to analyze cost-
benefit factors and appropriate value engineering throughout the design.
Once the Construction Management at Risk procurement process is authorized, a Request for
Qualifications (RFQ) will be issued to obtain CMAR services. The RFQ will allow for the County
to enter into a contract with a qualified CMAR to construct the Evidence Storage Facility and
complete the Link Center Renovations. After the closing of the RFQ process, the selected firm
will be presented to the Board in late November 2025 for contract approval.
The BOCC's authorization to construct the Evidence Storage Facility and complete the Link
Center Renovations will be an approval of a Guaranteed Maximum Price ("GMP") (featuring
several construction alternates that will assist in the flexibility of the project's construction) that
the CMAR will commit to within the Agreement.
In accordance with North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 143-128.1(e), staff recommends that
the Board make a determination which allows the utilization of CMAR services. Staff has
determined that such utilization is in the best interest of the project, as the County has compared
the advantages and disadvantages of using the construction management at risk method for the
given project in lieu of other delivery methods identified in (NCGS) 143-128(a)(1) through NCGS
143-128(a1)(3).
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Although there is not a specific financial impact with this item, the FY 2025-
35 Capital Investment Plan (CIP) recommended $2,430,000 for the construction of the Evidence
Storage Facility and $16,914,576 for the completion of the Link Center Renovation.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• MISSION STATEMENT - Orange County is a visionary leader in providing governmental
services valued by our community, beyond those required by law, in an equitable,
sustainable, innovative and efficient way.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) Make a determination that the Construction Manager at Risk method is in the best interest
of the Orange County Sheriff's Office Evidence Storage Facility and John M. Link, Jr.
Government Services Center Renovation project; and
2) Authorize the use of the Construction Manager at Risk process for the Orange County
Sheriff's Office Evidence Storage Facility and John Link Center Renovation project.