In RFQ, State Seeks Companies for Facility Build

In a request for qualifications (RFQ) released Dec. 8, the Project Management and Development Branch of the Real Estate Services Division at the California Department of General Services (DGS) seeks responses from “prospective design-build entities” that can help the state construct a “replacement facility” for the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Among the takeaways:

• DGS seeks “project proposals” to replace the CHP’s offices in Quincy, from “no more than the three highest scoring design-build entities.” The company ultimately selected would work on replacement and relocation of the Quincy office to “new facilities that will provide adequate workspace, equipment, and vehicle storage for an increasing number of employees assigned to this office,” according to the RFQ. The project would develop approximately 3.8 acres in a five-acre parcel that’s just north of State Route 70 and about two miles east of the current Quincy office. About 2.8 acres of the developed site would be “new impervious surfaces,” with the rest of the site being unpaved “such as for landscaping or snow storage.” More specifically, the facilities will feature an office building of about 19,200 square feet with an attached carport; an automobile service building of about 5,400 square fee; a radio vault building of about 750 square feet; a communication tower roughly 148 feet tall; a property storage building of roughly 750 square feet; and a “waste enclosure building” of about 1,300 square feet. Also part of the project are a vehicle fueling area of about 3,300 square feet, a generator yard around 2,240 square feet, and visitor parking of about 33,400 square feet. When finished, the project must “obtain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Silver Certification or higher from the U.S. Green Building Council.” The state has hired an architectural and engineering consultant to help prepare the RFP and administrate the project, and it will hire a commissioning agent for building commissioning services. However, the company selected for this project must nevertheless provide “complete start-up and commissioning of all applicable facility systems and elements.” This includes “procurement and payment for all professional services including all oversight and/or testing as applicable by their Geotechnical Engineer of Record retained by the Design-build Entity ... .”
• Among the requirements, companies must provide an organizational chart delineating participants; describe “teaming relationships within the Design-build Team (project architects/designers and general contractor) for whom similar projects have been completed together”; and describe participation aspects as well as maintenance of schedules, budgets and quality. Resumes are needed for key personnel including project executive, design principal, construction principal, and “any other management team leaders”; design personnel in “architecture, mechanical, structural, electrical, security electronics, civil, geotechnical and landscape architecture”; and “professional from the general contractor” on the project. Respondents must also provide project profiles of at least five projects done in the last 10 years, at least two of which had construction costs of more than $37 million with at least one of those in California.
• The state’s process includes that it will choose “no more than the three highest scoring design-build teams” to move on to step two, which is a request for proposal (RFP). These entities must have attended the mandatory RFQ briefing conference Dec. 19 and will be “issued the RFP and project proposal agreement.” Per the RFQ, the state “intends to enter into project proposal agreements with each of the design-build entities” chosen to turn in project proposals to design and build the project. In return for turning in an acceptable proposal, “the state will pay each design-build entity who is not awarded the design-build agreement the amount of $40,000” for their project proposal. “In the event a design-build agreement is not awarded, all design-build entities that have submitted proposals acceptable to the state will be eligible for the $40,000 payment.” The company or entity that is awarded the design-build agreement won’t be eligible to receive the $40,000. Once the state has accepted a project proposal agreement, it will enter into a design-build agreement with one of the three aforementioned entities — with project completion anticipated within 30 months after a notice to proceed.
• Written questions are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 3, with answers coming Jan. 9 by 5 p.m. A statement of qualifications package is due by 2 p.m. Jan. 23 with interview notifications coming by 5 p.m. Jan. 30, and interviews for “no more than the five highest scoring entities” expected Jan. 31. The RFP, issued to “no more than the three highest scoring entities,” is likely to be issued around Feb. 13, with a mandatory briefing conference around Feb. 21 and project proposals due around May 1. The “stipulated sum” for the project’s design-build agreement has yet to be defined, via the RFP, but it’s now estimated at $37 million-$42 million. The agreement award is expected to be executed during the autumn of 2023.