Northern Essex Community College (NECC) is exploring a public-private partnership to upgrade health and wellness facilities and programs on its Haverhill campus.
Request for Proposals
On May 13, 2024 DCAMM, in partnership with NECC, issued the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a long-term ground lease and redevelopment that will modernize the health and wellness facilities on NECC’s Haverhill Campus.
The RFP and attachments, including Questions & Answers, can be found on the following link: RFP Health and Wellness.
Asset Management Board
On Tuesday, July 18th, the Commonwealth’s Asset Management Board (AMB) gave final approval to move forward with the Health and Wellness project. We have included the Final Project Proposal (FPP) and the presentation that was presented to the AMB.
Public Hearing Presentation - Thursday, May 18, 2023
On Thursday, May 18, a public hearing presentation was held on campus. We are making available the NECC Health & Wellness Project Public Hearing Presentation in PDF format.
The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) issued the Draft Final Project Proposal (FPP), in collaboration with Northern Essex Community College (NECC), we invited public comments on the Draft FPP and we hosted a Public Hearing on May 18th at 6:00PM on the Haverhill Campus in the Technology Center.
The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) issued the Request for Information (RFI), in collaboration with Northern Essex Community College (NECC), to seek information related to opportunities for partnerships to improve health & wellness facilities on Commonwealth-owned property at NECC’s Haverhill Campus (the “Campus”).
Please find responses from the RFI on the link below. These responses are NOT proposals but informational responses to a Request for Infromation to help us inform the process.
NECC’s health and wellness facilities, comprised of the Sports and Fitness Center (Building D, built in 1971) and several fields, do not meet the modern needs of the campus community. These facilities face an estimated $9M+ in deferred maintenance, including outdated systems, ADA accessibility shortcomings, and poor drainage of the fields. NECC has been approached by various organizations about partnerships over the past several years.
NECC views vibrant athletic health and wellness programming as integral to student retention, physical and mental health, and the success of the college.
Key Goals
Advance NECC’s mission by better serving their students of today and the future with athletic health and wellness offerings.
Enhance facilities in a cost-effective way.
Develop better connectivity with the surrounding community to advance shared values and attract and retain students.
Equity
Northern Essex has long recognized the important role athletic health and wellness can play in recruiting, retaining, and helping students succeed, especially male students, who lag significantly behind female students in enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates. NECC is a unique community college within Massachusetts, and across the nation, in preserving and investing in these opportunities to expand educational access to our community.
What is a Public-Private Partnership (P3)?
What is a Public-Private Partnership (P3)?
P3s are agreements between a public entity and third-party organizations that allow both parties to achieve common goals in a cost-effective way. NECC is working with the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) to seek authorization from the State to pursue a P3 agreement.
Potential Partnership
Potential Partnership
A long-term ground lease of the site could attract a development partner to be responsible for designing, permitting, financing, and constructing the improvements, while NECC avoids those capital costs and retains primary use rights in the upgraded facilities. It is expected that an entity with an aligned mission, financial capability, and significant development experience represents the most feasible partnership opportunity for NECC.
Timeline and Next Steps
Timeline and Next Steps
March 2023: Request for Information released
May 2023: Public Hearing Presentation was held on campus
July 2023: The Commonwealth’s Asst Management Board gave approval to move forward with a competitive disposition process
May 2024: Request for Proposals was released
Next Step: Proposal evaluations and designating a developer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I submit comments?
How can I submit comments?
There is a form below you may use to submit a comment.
