Ohio Facilities Construction Commission & the 2026 K-12 Wave: A Merit Shop Playbook for ABC Ohio Valley Members

This briefing is designed for ABC Ohio Valley members and merit shop contractors seeking to understand and capitalize on the upcoming 2026 K-12 construction opportunities administered by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC). It covers project details, procurement mechanics, policy context, and actionable strategies to help your firm succeed in this competitive environment. The focus is on the 2026 K-12 construction wave and the central role of the OFCC in shaping these opportunities.

Kettering City Schools’ newly approved facilities program is a signal to contractors across the Dayton–Cincinnati corridor: the next Ohio K-12 construction wave is moving through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), the state’s central agency for public facilities construction. Merit shop firms that prepare early will have the advantage as the OFCC brings new projects to market.

Because this briefing lands on Memorial Day, when many offices are closed today in observance, ABC Ohio Valley also pauses to honor the brave men and women whose lives were given for this country. Building safe schools, strong hallways, and durable public facilities is part of that same community responsibility.

Why This Topic Matters

Major new opportunities are emerging for merit shop contractors as the 2026 K-12 construction wave approaches. The OFCC’s administration of these projects has unique policy implications, including prevailing-wage exemptions and standardized procurement, which create a competitive advantage for prepared firms. Understanding the OFCC’s authority, project pipeline, and delivery methods is essential for ABC Ohio Valley members aiming to secure work and grow their businesses in this environment.

Scope and Audience

This playbook is tailored for:

• ABC Ohio Valley members
• Merit shop contractors
• General contractors, specialty trades, suppliers, estimators, project managers, and executives operating in the Dayton–Cincinnati corridor and surrounding regions

It provides a comprehensive overview of the 2026 K-12 construction wave, the OFCC’s role, project specifics, procurement strategies, and policy context to help your firm compete and win.

Key Takeaways

• Kettering City Schools’ May 5, 2026, 5.93-mill, 37-year bond issue passed by a narrow 51%–49% margin and is unlocking a roughly $480 million Future-Ready Facilities Plan, including about $321 million in local share and $159 million from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
• K-12 school construction under OFCC differs structurally from most other public works in Ohio because O.R.C. 4115.04(C) exempts K-12 public school construction from Ohio’s prevailing wage requirements.
• The Ohio Legislative Service Commission found that the K-12 exemption resulted in an estimated $487.9 million in aggregate school construction savings and an overall 10.7% cost reduction after its enactment.
• Kettering Segment 1 includes a new 220,000-square-foot middle school on the Fairmont High School campus, demolition of Van Buren Middle School, and a rebuild of Fairmont’s academic wing.
• ABC Ohio Valley members should use the next 30–90 days to engage with the Kettering and OFCC teams, update qualifications, plan labor through the Diamond Oaks and Sinclair apprenticeship pipelines, and stay active in ABC advocacy through the ABC Action App.

With these key points in mind, let’s examine the specific role the OFCC plays in Ohio’s K-12 capital programs.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission: Core Functions & Authority

Sidebar: What Does the OFCC Do?

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) is the state agency responsible for overseeing the planning, design, and construction of public facilities in Ohio, including schools, colleges, universities, and other state-funded projects. The OFCC was created in 2012 by merging the Ohio School Facilities Commission and the Office of the State Architect. Its core functions and authority include:

• Administration of All State Public Works Construction: The OFCC oversees the preparation of construction documents, bidding, award, and payment to contractors for all state public works projects.
• Oversight of Planning, Design, and Construction: The commission ensures compliance with state regulations and standards throughout the project lifecycle, from early-stage master planning to final building occupancy.
• Standardized Contracts: The OFCC drafts and manages standardized contracts for various construction delivery methods, including Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), Design-Build, and General Contracting.
• Ohio School Design Manual: The commission maintains the Ohio School Design Manual, which establishes consistent, high-quality building standards for K-12 schools statewide. Recent updates include changes to cost sets, energy and water-efficiency standards, and indoor air-quality standards.
• Vertical Construction Oversight: The OFCC provides oversight for Ohio vertical construction, including colleges, universities, and schools that receive state construction funding.
• Capital Funding and Appropriations: Funding for OFCC projects comes through capital appropriation bills passed biennially by the Ohio General Assembly.
• Guidance and Compliance: The OFCC provides guidance throughout the construction process and ensures that all projects meet state requirements for safety, accessibility, and performance.

Role of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission in Ohio K-12 Capital Programs

Definition of Key Terms

• Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC): The state agency responsible for overseeing the planning, design, and construction of public facilities in Ohio, including K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and other state-funded projects. The OFCC administers all state public works construction, overseeing the preparation of construction documents, bidding, award, and payment to contractors for state projects.
• Ohio School Design Manual: A comprehensive set of standards maintained by the OFCC to establish consistent, high-quality building requirements for K-12 schools statewide.
• Vertical Construction: Refers to the construction of buildings (such as schools, universities, and public facilities), as opposed to horizontal infrastructure like roads or bridges.

OFCC Background and Statewide Role

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) was created in 2012 by merging the Ohio School Facilities Commission and the Office of the State Architect. The OFCC administers all state public works construction, overseeing the preparation of construction documents, bidding, award, and payment to contractors for state projects. It also maintains the Ohio School Design Manual to establish consistent, high-quality building standards statewide.

OFCC Mandate

• Administer state-funded vertical construction
• Manage capital appropriations
• Partner with local districts for co-funded K-12 facilities construction under programs such as the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program

OFCC Process for School Districts

• Facilities assessments
• Enrollment projections
• Master planning
• Cost modeling
• Use of the Ohio School Design Manual to calculate state and local shares based on a district’s relative wealth

OFCC vs. Other Public Facilities

• OFCC does not self-perform construction. Its responsibilities are standards, funding, oversight, procurement guidance, and compliance.
• Private-sector contractors, construction managers, specialty trades, suppliers, designers, and consultants execute the design and construction work.
• K-12 OFCC work must be distinguished from other Ohio facilities work, including higher education, corrections, agriculture, state agency buildings, and other public facilities. Many of those projects remain subject to prevailing wage rules, while K-12 school work has a specific statutory exemption.

OFCC History

The predecessor, the Ohio School Facilities Commission, helped launch the modern school rebuilding era in Ohio after 1997. Today, the Facilities Construction Commission continues that role through a broader Ohio state capital delivery platform.

For members tracking opportunities, the phrase “facilities construction commission OFCC” will appear in planning notes, board materials, procurement notices, and project documents. Learn to recognize it early, because early recognition creates early positioning.

With a clear understanding of the OFCC’s authority and process, let’s turn to a real-world example: Kettering City Schools’ Future-Ready Facilities Plan.

Case Study Anchor: Kettering City Schools’ Future-Ready Facilities Plan

Kettering as a Bellwether Project

Kettering City Schools is now the bellwether project for the 2026 OFCC school cycle in the Dayton–Cincinnati corridor. In a ballot environment where many Ohio school levies are failing, Kettering’s approval shows what happens when a district secures local funding and pairs it with state co-funding.

Why Kettering Matters for Merit Shop Contractors

This is also the type of program ABC Ohio Valley members should study closely. It is:

• Large enough to require broad trade participation
• Long enough to shape backlog planning
• Public enough to test whether merit shop contractors are visible before procurement decisions are made

Key Milestones

• May 5, 2026: Kettering voters approved a 5.93-mill, 37-year bond issue by a 51%–49% margin. That close vote matters because every passed levy in the current market becomes a high-priority construction program with taxpayer expectations attached.
• May 21, 2026: The Kettering Board of Education authorized up to $222 million in bond anticipation notes. That allows Segment 1 design, planning, and early site mobilization to begin as early as June 2026.
• Total 10-year Future-Ready Facilities Plan: Approximately $480 million. It will reduce the district from 12 buildings to 7, with about $321 million in local funding and $159 million from the facilities construction commission OFCC.

Local/OFCC Cost Split

Kettering’s local/OFCC cost split makes the program a template for future Ohio facilities construction programs:

• Local voters approve the bond
• OFCC brings state partnership dollars
• The district moves into design, procurement, and construction

Audience and Opportunity

The audience for this opportunity includes:

• General contractors
• Specialty trades
• Suppliers
• Estimators
• Project managers
• Executives in Dayton, Cincinnati, Springfield, Lima, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana

Kettering’s public facilities plan includes major consolidation, new buildings, renovations, demolitions, athletics, site work, and technology. That breadth is why contractors should treat it as more than one project. It is a five- to ten-year pipeline.

With Kettering’s plan as our anchor, let’s break down the immediate and future opportunities in detail.

Segment 1: Detailed Scope, Schedule, and Opportunity Profile

Overview of Segment 1

Segment 1 is the immediate opportunity. It is centered on the Fairmont High School campus and will create work for a wide range of contractors and suppliers.

Contractor Types Involved

• General contractors
• Construction managers (CMs)
• Site contractors
• Structural trades
• Envelope contractors
• MEPFP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection) firms
• Interiors contractors
• Low-voltage specialists
• Demolition contractors
• Suppliers

Major Project Components

• The new middle school is planned as a two- or three-story, roughly 220,000-square-foot building on the Fairmont High School campus. It is expected to house approximately 50 general education classrooms and 13 dedicated science/STEM labs and maker spaces.
• Site integration will be a major factor. Contractors should expect:
  • Shared or adjacent circulation with Fairmont High School
  • Possible common-use core spaces such as cafeteria, performing arts, or athletics
  • Associated site work, including parking, bus loops, pedestrian routes, utilities, and outdoor learning areas
• Van Buren Middle School is expected to be demolished after the new middle school is occupied. That phase includes:
  • Potential abatement
  • Salvage
  • Selective demolition
  • Site conversion (planned for athletic and activity practice fields)
• Fairmont High School’s academic wing will be rebuilt through phased demolition and reconstruction while campus operations continue. That means:
  • Heavy MEP
  • Envelope
  • Interiors
  • Temporary partitions
  • Safety barriers
  • Access control
  • Sequencing

Notional Schedule (Order of Steps)

1. Schematic design and preliminary estimating in 2026–2027
2. Design development and pricing in 2027–2028
3. Early site packages and foundations in late 2028
4. Structural and shell work in 2029
5. Interiors and systems through 2030
6. Van Buren demolition and field construction after occupancy

Bid Opportunities

Bid opportunities are likely to surface through:

• Preconstruction CMAR trade packages
• Separate site packages
• Foundations
• Structural steel
• Masonry
• Roofing
• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Fire protection
• Technology
• Security
• Interiors
• FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment)
• Athletic field packages

This is where early business development matters. If your first contact with the district or CM is when the bid page goes live, you are already late.

With Segment 1 mapped out, let’s look ahead to the next phase: elementary schools and renovations.

Segment 2: Elementary Schools and Renovations in the Kettering Plan

Overview of Segment 2

Segment 2 continues the Future-Ready Facilities Plan by modernizing Kettering’s elementary schools while preserving the district’s neighborhood-school model. For merit shop firms, this phase may create repeatable work across multiple sites.

Key Elements

• Four new neighborhood elementary schools, planned as modern PK–5 facilities with:
  • Secure entries
  • Collaborative learning areas
  • Efficient layouts
  • High-performance building systems aligned with the Ohio School Design Manual
• Greenmont Elementary is planned for renovation rather than full replacement. Contractors should watch for:
  • Systems upgrades
  • Interior reconfiguration
  • Safety/security improvements
  • Mechanical replacement
  • Electrical upgrades
  • Lighting
  • Finishes
  • Accessibility work

Prototype Opportunity

The elementary school’s portfolio creates a prototype opportunity. Similar design details across multiple buildings can reward contractors who standardize:

• Estimating
• Prefabrication
• Procurement
• Crew deployment
• Quality control

Timeline

Segment 2 is expected to follow Segment 1 within the broader 10-year horizon. Planning may overlap, but major construction should ramp after middle school and Fairmont academic work are stabilized.

Trades in Demand

This work is especially attractive to ABC Ohio Valley members with strengths in:

• Sitework
• Concrete
• Masonry
• Carpentry
• Drywall
• Roofing
• Interiors
• Mechanical
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• K-12 technology packages

Elementary school work can look simple from a distance. It is not. Tight sites, parent traffic, existing neighborhoods, utilities, school calendars, and community expectations all affect productivity and risk.

With both segments outlined, understanding how OFCC procurement works is the next step to positioning your firm for success.

Procurement Mechanics: How OFCC Delivery Methods Shape Opportunities

Understanding OFCC procurement is critical. The right technical scope does not matter if your firm is not positioned for the delivery model. Kettering and similar OFCC projects may use several delivery methods depending on scope, timing, and district decisions.

Design-Bid-Build

• OFCC and the district procure an A/E team, complete the design, and publicly bid the project.
• This can create clear low-bid opportunities for GCs and trade contractors, including separate prime contracts in some circumstances.

Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)

• A construction manager is selected earlier based on qualifications, price, and value.
• The CM provides preconstruction services, develops a guaranteed maximum price, and releases multiple trade packages.
• Many OFCC K-12 projects now favor this model because it supports early pricing and phased work.

Design-Build

• Less common for full K-12 school programs in Ohio, but it may appear for certain components such as athletic facilities, specialty systems, or defined site packages.
• Consolidates risk and coordination under one team.

OFCC Standards and Bid Opportunities

• OFCC standard documents and the Ohio School Design Manual shape both design and construction. The OSDM includes room templates, performance criteria, systems expectations, safety standards, accessibility requirements, energy goals, and cost benchmarks.
• Bid opportunities may be advertised through the OFCC procurement process, district procurement portals, Builders Exchanges, public notices, CM/GC outreach, and ABC Ohio Valley bid communications.
• In CMAR environments, prequalification and relationships with the selected CM or GC are essential.

Contractors should track the district board agenda, OFCC updates, architect/engineer selection, CMAR RFQs, pre-bid meetings, addenda, and scope-specific documents. The contractor who understands the sequence can decide where to compete instead of reacting to every package.

With procurement mechanics in mind, let’s examine the prevailing wage exemption that makes K-12 school work structurally different for merit shop contractors.

Prevailing Wage Exemption: Why K-12 School Work Is Structurally Different

The most important policy issue in Ohio school construction is O.R.C. 4115.04(C). The 1997 legislative decision to exempt K-12 public school construction from Ohio’s prevailing wage law is a foundational merit shop win. It is one reason OFCC-backed school projects remain among the most accessible public construction opportunities for open-shop contractors.

• Under O.R.C. 4115.04(C), K-12 public school construction and renovation work is generally exempt from state prevailing wage requirements when the project falls under the school construction exemption.
• The Ohio Legislative Service Commission’s post-exemption study estimated approximately $487.9 million in aggregate school construction savings and an overall 10.7% cost reduction after the K-12 exemption was enacted. Contractors can review the study in the LSC report on school construction and prevailing wage.
• Ohio’s prevailing wage law still applies to most other public construction under O.R.C. Chapter 4115. Current thresholds are $250,000 for new construction and $75,000 for reconstruction or remodeling. Contractors must distinguish K-12 school work from higher education, state agency, municipal, and other public projects when building estimates.
• For merit shop firms, the exemption levels the cost playing field by allowing market-based wages, merit-based advancement, productivity incentives, flexible crew deployment, and non-union work rules. ABC Ohio Valley’s regional reality is that roughly 9 out of 10 construction workers are non-union.
• Tri-state contractors must keep the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana rules separate. A firm working in Northern Kentucky or Southeastern Indiana cannot assume the same procurement, wage, licensing, or public bidding rules apply across borders. Ohio’s K-12 framework is uniquely open and competitive.

The exemption does not reduce safety obligations, quality standards, bonding requirements, insurance requirements, or schedule discipline. It simply allows contractors to compete based on productivity and value rather than a government-mandated wage table.

With the policy context clear, let’s move to practical strategies for merit shop contractors bidding on Kettering and the 2026 OFCC school pipeline.

Merit Shop Strategy: Bidding Kettering & the 2026 OFCC School Pipeline

Kettering is the leading edge of a 2026–2030 OFCC-driven school work pipeline. The firms that win will not be the ones that merely “watch for bids.” They will now be the ones aligning labor, estimating, relationships, bonding, safety, and advocacy.

• Use the prevailing wage exemption correctly. It allows more flexible labor cost structures, including merit-based pay scales, productivity incentives, mixed-crew deployment, and efficient supervision. But every bid must still comply with the contract, safety rules, apprenticeship commitments, and quality requirements.
• Segment your backlog planning. Separate K-12 exempt work from prevailing-wage public projects such as higher education, transportation-related vertical construction, municipal facilities, or state agency buildings. Mispricing of fringes or wage obligations can quickly erode margin.
• Build estimating discipline around OFCC standards. The Ohio School Design Manual and historical cost models can be paired with ABC Ohio Valley wage, productivity, and supplier data to sharpen pricing, especially for recurring elementary school projects.
• From the GC or CM side, structure bid packages to maximize competition. Package scopes at sizes that small and mid-sized merit shop contractors can realistically bond, staff, and execute. Use alternatives to manage material volatility without confusing the base bid.
• Prepare for K-12 project management realities. School construction is tied to academic calendars, testing windows, student safety, parent traffic, occupied-campus restrictions, and public scrutiny. Phasing plans and campus logistics are not optional.
• Map your target role. Decide whether your firm is best positioned as prime GC, CM-at-risk trade partner, first-tier specialty contractor, supplier, low-voltage integrator, or site package contractor. Align that decision with bonding capacity, K-12 resume, and geographic coverage in the Dayton–Cincinnati corridor.

Practical Example:

• Roofing contractors may track envelope release dates and seasonal constraints.
• Electrical contractors may track technology, fire alarm, security, and service upgrades.
• HVAC contractors may track long-lead equipment, commissioning, and occupied-phase tie-ins.

With a strategy in place, the next challenge is the workforce: filling the skilled labor gap for schoolwork.

Workforce & Apprenticeship: Filling the 60,000-Worker Gap for School Work

ABC Ohio Valley’s workforce reality is straightforward: the region has a largely non-union labor market and a current skilled-labor gap of 60,000 workers. OFCC school programs can fill backlogs for years, but only if contractors can staff the work without overextending their best crews.

• ABC Ohio Valley’s apprenticeship pipelines include programs connected to Diamond Oaks Career Campus in Cincinnati and Sinclair Community College in Dayton. These training partners support the skilled labor base needed for K-12 construction.

Critical Trades for Kettering:

• Carpentry
• Electrical
• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Masonry
• Roofing
• Low-voltage/technology
• Concrete
• Equipment operation

These nine trades will be active across sitework, shell, MEP, interiors, technology, and closeout.

• Contractors should align workforce development with the five- to ten-year OFCC K-12 pipeline. That means increasing apprenticeship enrollment, improving mentoring, building foreman capacity, and identifying future project managers earlier.
• Regional labor-sharing may become important between Dayton and Cincinnati and across Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. Contractors should coordinate carefully while maintaining awareness of different state licensure, labor, and compliance rules.
• Safety and quality will be visible in every interview. ABC safety programs, STEP participation, written site-specific safety plans, and school-campus experience should be highlighted in qualifications and owner presentations.

Workforce is not only a field issue. It is a business development issue. District leaders and CM teams want confidence that contractors can staff work through the full schedule, not just win the first package.

With workforce strategies in place, advocacy remains the backbone of protecting the competitive environment for merit shop contractors.

Advocacy Spine: Protecting the K-12 Competitive Advantage

The K-12 prevailing wage exemption did not happen by accident. It is the product of long-term merit shop advocacy, and it remains a live policy issue in Columbus. Contractors benefit from the exemption every time they bid on OFCC school work. That means contractors also have a responsibility to defend it.

• ABC of Ohio and ABC Ohio Valley have long supported open competition and the 1997 exemption under O.R.C. 4115.04(C). That advocacy is directly connected to today’s competitive environment on OFCC K-12 projects.
• The Ohio Merit Shop Scorecard helps track legislative and regulatory conditions affecting merit shop contractors, including prevailing wage, project labor agreement neutrality, procurement fairness, and local policy risks.
• Members should use the ABC Action App to track bills, respond to alerts, and communicate with legislators when attempts are made to roll back the K-12 exemption or restrict fair competition.
• Contractors should be ready with plain-language talking points for school boards and community leaders: open competition saved an estimated 10.7%, avoided $487.9 million in costs, and can