Committee Recommends Parsons for BISD Bond Issue Project Manager

October 15, 2007 - 7:09PM
Even though it admits to making mistakes in the past, a Houston company could get a second chance to work on the Beaumont Independent School District bond proposal.

The district's building and grounds committee has recommended Parson's of Houston to oversee the spending of $390 million should voters approve the bond next month.

Despite the company publicly acknowledging several errors in the past when determining the cost of the bond projects, a five member committee says Parsons is a good company that will do a good job.

Parson's, which merged with 3DI, was one of six companies that submitted bids to the district to become the bond project manager.

A committee interviewed and ranked the companies, and Parsons came in second.

However, when it came time to negotiate a fee for overseeing the bond projects, the top ranked company, which was not identified, would not budge from its demand of more than $13.5 million dollars.

Parsons agreed to take a flat fee of $9 million. However, CABC member, Bennie Hickman says having a flat fee contract on such a large project could lead to a request for more money from the company in the future if the scope of work isn't precise.

Committee members say the process was based strictly on qualifications and fees, and they believe they made the right decision even though Parsons has made mistakes in the past... mistakes some committee members say the CABC was to blame for as well.

Hickman said, “Let's face it, they were errors that were in the public and they're going to be a lot of. On the other hand, they know that and they're gonna be, I think they're going to be pretty sure they don't repeat those same errors."

This Thursday the full board of trustees will vote on whether to accept the recommendation that Parson's be selected as the project manager of the bond.