Broward Schools again taps consultant from troubled SMART program
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Broward Schools is set to award a new $10 million contract to the consulting firm that oversaw costs for the troubled SMART bond program.
Why it matters: The SMART program was defined by mismanagement, delays and high costs.
Catch up quick: Voters approved an $800 million bond referendum in 2014 to renovate aging schools and to pay for safety, technology, arts and athletics improvements districtwide.
- In 2015, the district hired Atkins North America, now AtkinsRéalis, as SMART's cost and program controls manager.
- The program was plagued by overspending and delays with the estimated costs skyrocketing to $1.7 billion.
- After a statewide grand jury report found the district mismanaged the bond and misled the public while students remained "in decrepit, moldy, unsafe buildings," Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended four School Board members.
- Supposed to be finished by 2021, SMART ended in 2025 with at least 100 projects still incomplete.
The latest: The district is recommending a three-year, $10.2 million contract with AtkinsRéalis to provide cost and program management services for its capital program, which includes 296 active projects worth more than $1.3 billion.
- The program will complete the remaining SMART projects and manage future improvements to school and administrative facilities, the bid explains.
- AtkinsRéalis would monitor costs and schedules, manage budgets and track spending under the program, among other responsibilities.
State of play: Over the last decade, the district has lost more than 48,000 students, costing it more than $430 million in funding.
- The district may close 10 schools next year to cut costs amid the decline in enrollment.
What they're saying: A Broward Schools spokesperson tells Axios that the district received two bids, but "one was deemed non-responsive, leaving AtkinsRéalis as the only responsive offeror."
- "The proposal from AtkinsRéalis was evaluated and fully met all of the district's requirements," the spokesperson tells Axios. "Their performance on the previous cont[r]act was also deemed fully satisfactory."
- AtkinsRéalis didnt't respond to Axios' request for comment.
What's next: The School Board must approve the contract.