Title:
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Approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $86,394,919 for the Design and Construction of Seminole County Criminal Justice Center Renovation and Five Points Building System Improvements, in accordance with Section 287.055, Florida Statutes, the Consultants Competitive Negotiations Act, and authorize the Purchasing and Contracts Division to execute Work Order No. 2 for Construction Services under PS-5968-24/RTB - Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Agreement for the Design and Construction of Seminole County Criminal Justice Center Renovation and Five Points Building System Improvements. District4 - Lockhart (Chad Wilsky, Fleet and Facilities Director)
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Division:
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Fleet and Facilities - Facilities Development
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Authorized By:
Chad Wilsky, Director Fleet and Facilities
Contact/Phone Number:
Chad Wilsky/407-665-5276
Background:
The renovation of the Criminal Justice Center represents a cornerstone investment in both Seminole County’s public infrastructure and the operational effectiveness of the County’s justice system. The project will expand and modernize the existing facility to include 9 new and 10 upgraded courtrooms, along with enhanced support areas that provide flexibility for future growth, improved circulation, and secure separation of public, staff, and detainee movement.
By consolidating two buildings into a single, state-of-the-art facility, the County will achieve measurable cost savings through shared infrastructure, reduced maintenance, and operational streamlining. Security will be significantly enhanced through centralized screening and access control, and staffing efficiencies will be realized by eliminating the need to duplicate administrative and security personnel across multiple buildings. The consolidation also improves public accessibility, allowing citizens to access justice-related services in one location.
Co-locating constitutional partners - including Court Administration, the State Attorney, and the Public Defender - within a single, purpose-built facility will promote stronger collaboration, reduce delays, and improve service delivery for residents and the judicial community. The renovation also integrates with the Five Points Central Energy Plant, ensuring long-term energy efficiency, operational reliability, and lifecycle cost savings. This alignment leverages one of the County’s most critical infrastructure assets to provide a sustainable, cost-effective solution for decades to come.
The project will be delivered by Wharton-Smith, Inc., with construction scheduled to begin in December 2025 and substantial completion targeted for June 2027. Due to the scale and complexity of this renovation, the County is utilizing the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method, which provides the advantage of early collaboration between the contractor, design team, and County staff. This approach allows the project team to identify potential cost savings, refine scope, and manage phasing and schedule development effectively.
The Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $86,394,919 was developed under comprehensive oversight led by Project Management Advisors (PMA), serving as the County’s Owner’s Representative. The process included detailed preconstruction planning, budgeting, phasing, and value engineering (VE) to align scope with market value while maintaining program integrity. Through a series of VE workshops involving PMA, Wharton-Smith, DLR Group, HKS, TLC, and County staff, the team carefully evaluated design and construction alternatives that preserved functionality while optimizing cost efficiency. This collaboration resulted in the implementation of 19 value engineering (VE) measures, achieving a projected direct cost reduction of $10,494,817 while maintaining the project’s full functionality and design intent.
Throughout the GMP validation process, the project team met twice weekly to review scope alignment and confirm subcontractor proposals. To ensure transparency and accuracy, PMA, Wharton-Smith, DLR Group, CMI, and County staff conducted four detailed workshops reviewing approximately 90% of the GMP value, analyzing original budgets, forecasted VE reductions, bid leveling, and low-bidder recommendations. PMA also coordinated closely with the County’s independent certified estimator to conduct an additional cost analysis accounting for factors such as market volatility and tariff impacts. This independent evaluation verified pricing consistency, resulting in an additional $3.4 million in direct cost savings.
The project is expected to include 36 construction contracts, with 9 or 25% projected to be awarded to Seminole County businesses. Of the total Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $86,394,919, approximately 35.9% ($31,011,958) is expected to remain with Seminole County businesses.
The County project team - Chad Wilsky, Fleet and Facilities Director; Anthony Maddox, Facilities Division Manager; Nick Brow, Facilities Development Manager; and Mike Forcht, Project Manager - has thoroughly reviewed and successfully negotiated the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) package for the Criminal Justice Center Renovation, demonstrating the County’s commitment to fiscal accountability, transparency, and excellence in project delivery.
The budget for this project is approved in Business Unit 02107086 FIVE POINTS CJC RENOVATION.
Requested Action:
Staff requests that the Board approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $86,394,919 for the Design and Construction of Seminole County Criminal Justice Center Renovation and Five Points Building System Improvements, in accordance with Section 287.055, Florida Statutes, the Consultants Competitive Negotiations Act, and authorize the Purchasing and Contracts Division to execute Work Order No. 2 for Construction Services under PS-5968-24/RTB - Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Agreement for the Design and Construction of Seminole County Criminal Justice Center Renovation and Five Points Building System Improvements.