Erin McCarty - 710KEEL
The Caddo Parish Commission is set to move forward with construction of the pickleball complex in southeast Shreveport. But this project will be handled differently from most other public works projects. The parish is planning to use a program in Louisiana that allows the government entity to move forward without following public bid laws.
This program is called the Construction Management At Risk (CMAR). It is described under RS 38:2225.2.4 in Louisiana state law.
How Is this Law Used in Louisiana
Under this law a public entity can “award a contract to construct public works when deemed in the public interest, beneficial to the owner, and in accordance with the procedures in this Section.”
The goal is to control costs and speed up the process for constructing public projects. Another goal is to minimize “the risk of construction and design disputes by using a collaborative process.”
CMAR projects must cost more than $5 million dollars. The budget for the pickleball complex in Caddo Parish is $10 million dollars. The parish does have to notify the state of the plan to use this avenue for the pickleball complex. And this request does have to be approved by the House and Senate transportation committees for review and approval.
Why Is the Parish Using the CMAR Program for Pickleball?
Parish Administrator Erica Bryant tells KEEL News this process will save time and reduce costs. The parish will be able to hire a design team that specializes in pickleball complexes and that team will be able to hire a company that has specific experience in these types of construction projects.