Design-Build Services for Center for Learning and Leadership (CLL) Building's Systems Upgrade

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ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Facilities Services
1631 LaFrance Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
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Request for Proposals
For
Design-Build Services for Center for Learning and Leadership (CLL)
Building's Systems Upgrade
August 17, 2026
RFP Number: 27-081126-67-AW
Due Date: September 15, 2026
Time Due: 11:00 a.m. ET

ADVERTISEMENT FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Atlanta Independent School System (known as Atlanta Public Schools, or APS) is
seeking a design-build contractor (referred to as the "Contractor") for systems upgrades
and other renovations at the Center for Learning and Leadership (CLL) building. The
selected design-build contractor will be required to deliver all services outlined in the
standard APS design-build agreement
A Pre-Proposal conference will be held at the address below on August 25, 2026, at
10:00 a.m.. ET. and site visit will follow immediately after conference.
Center for Learning and Leadership
130 Trinity Avenue, SW
Atlanta, Ga 30303
Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged.
All questions or requests for clarification must be sent via Bonfire under Message -
Opportunity Q & A: https://aps.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/249227.
All addendums related to this solicitation will be posted on the Bonfire website at
https://aps.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/249227. The proposers are responsible for
checking the Bonfire website for addendums, responses to proposal questions, or other
communications related to this Request for Proposal.
Proposals shall be submitted online at
https://aps.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/249227. The Office of Procurement
Services will only accept proposals submitted online. Proposal submissions are due no
later than 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. ET.
APS will only accept online submissions for this Request for Proposals. Proposals
can be submitted online at: https://aps.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/249227.
Proposals submitted after the proposal submission close date will not be accepted. Note:
Any proposal submitted in any other format (email, paper, fax, mail, etc.) will not be
accepted for any reason.
If you cannot download these documents, contact the purchasing agent, Alicia White, at
alicia.white@apsk12.org.

TENTATIVE TIMELINE
08/17/2026 Release RFP to the marketplace
08/25/2026 Pre-proposal conference, 10:00 a.m., ET
08/25/2026 Site Visit 10:30 a.m.
08/28/2026 Deadline for written questions, 2 p.m. ET
09/022026 Response to questions to be posted to Bonfire.
09/15/2026 RFP due online on Bonfire by 11:00 a.m. ET
09/16/2026 Administrative Review
09/22/2026 Initial Shortlist Evaluation
TBD Interview/Presentation (If applicable)
10/05/2026 Recommendation to the APS Board of Education (If applicable)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 Purpose
Section 2 Project Information
Section 3 Design Build Information Services
Design Phase
Scope of Work / Design Build Services
Section 4 Owner's Project Management Software
Section 5 General Requirements
Section 6 Submission Requirements and Evaluation Criteria
Section 7 Proposal Requirements
Section 8 Percentage of Fees
Section 9 Mandatory Submittals
Section 10 Payment and Performance Bonds; Insurance
Section 11 Evaluation
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Solicitation Acknowledgement Form
Attachment 2: Offeror Compliance Form
Attachment 3: Offeror Inclusion Form
Attachment 4: Primary Vendor/Subcontractor Utilization Form
Attachment 5: Promise of Non-Discrimination
Attachment 6: E-Verify Affidavit of Compliance
6A. Contractor Affidavit under O.C.G.A. 13-10-91 (b)(1)
6B. Subcontractor Affidavit under O.C.G.A. 13-10-91 (b)(3); if applicable
6C. Affidavit of Exception
Attachment 7: Joint Venture Affidavit
Attachment 8: Contract Exceptions
Attachment 9: No Influence and Non-Collusion Affidavit
Attachment 10: Local Preference
Attachment A: Offeror Reference Form
Attachment B: Current and Future Workload Form
Attachment C: Offeror Bid Form
Exhibit A: Additional Scope of Work Document

1.0 Purpose
This project is intended to provide design-builder construction services for the
system's upgrade at the Center for Learning and Leadership (CLL) building. The
contract will be a lump sum contract for the provision of design-build
construction services.
The basic program for the project to be responded to may include, but may not be
limited to, the items listed below.
2.0 Project Information
2.1 This effort is intended to select a Design Builder (DB) and enter into the
standard APS Design Build Agreement with the successful Board-approved
Design Builder contractor.
2.2 A project summary description, current facility inventory drawings, and
proposed concept plans may be included for your use in this effort.
2.3 The APS Design Guidelines, APS Standard Specifications, APS Bulletins to
Design and Construction Professionals, APS Capital Project
Expectations, and APS standard Construction Management Agreement
are located on the APS Web Site at this address:
https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/page/32597. The Design Builder may
obtain copies of these documents at your discretion and expense.
2.4 Design Builders should thoroughly review the project description and the
outlined project scope before submitting their proposals. The strategies for
design management, construction, and scheduling must be developed by
you, but they should be organized in a way that accelerates the start of the
project according to the estimated commencement and completion dates
provided in Section 2.7.
2.5 The Design Builder's proposal must be based on the existing site conditions,
experience as a Design Builder contractor, knowledge of Georgia K-12
construction projects, APS construction projects, APS Design Guidelines, and
the APS Standard Specifications.

2.6 By submitting a proposal to this Request for Proposal, you acknowledge
that the documents provided by APS and any documentation provided by
you as part of your submittal to this RFP and accepted in writing by APS
apply to this contract.
2.7 Project Tentative Timeline: This project is time sensitive. To complete the
project on time, the vendor understands that the following schedule must
be kept:
DB Schedule
Release DB RFP 08/17/2026
Responses Due 09/15/2026
Evaluation / Shortlist Select 09/22/2026
Interviews (If applicable) TBD
Board Approval/Award of Contract 10/05/2026
NTP 10/06/2026
Substantial Completion
12/31/2027
2.8 This project requires a General Contractor's license for the firm
(Qualifying Agent, NOT Limited Tier).
3.0 Design Build Information and Services.
3.0.1 The Design Builder shall review project requirements,
educational specifications, on- and off-site development,
survey requirements, and preliminary budget, and make value
engineering and constructability recommendations for revisions
to APS in the form of a written report before final payment for
this phase.

3.0.2 Where the project includes renovation or expansion of an existing
Facility, the Design Builder will prepare an analysis outlining the
condition of the existing Facility, existing structure, existing
finishes, existing equipment, code deficiencies, energy use, and
life expectancy of other building systems by providing
constructability, value engineering, and cost estimate
recommendations. The package should contain the Design
Builder's recommendations, cost estimates, and preliminary
schedules.
3.1 Design Build Phase
3.1.1 The Design Builder will be required to attend all project-related
meetings and include a summary of the meeting in its monthly
report to the APS.
3.1.2 The Design Builder will ensure compliance with all applicable laws,
rules, codes, design standards, and ordinances. The Design Builder
shall immediately notify APS of any non-compliant contract
documents. Such information shall be provided to APS in the form of a
written report in the format as noted herein before final payment for
this phase.
3.1.3 The Design Builder shall review all documents for new and existing
buildings and/or building sites and provide value engineering
recommendations to minimize APS's capital outlay and maximize
APS's operational resources. Such information shall be provided to
APS in the form of a written report before final payment for this
phase.
3.1.4 The Design Builder will review all contract documents, all new and
existing buildings' conditions, and the building site to ensure proper
coordination, constructability, clarity, and completeness, and to
minimize conflict, errors, omissions, and unforeseen conditions.
The Design Builder shall strive to eliminate change orders due to
errors, omissions, and unforeseen conditions. The Design Builder
agrees specifically that no change orders shall be requested by the

Design Builder or considered by APS for reasons that were or should
have reasonably been known by the Design Builder involving
unforeseen conditions, conflicts, or questions of clarity in the
contract documents, or between the contract documents and the
existing conditions, utilities, and unforeseen underground
conditions.
3.1.5 After the Design Builder reviews the plans and specifications,
except only as to specific matters as may be identified by
appropriate written comments pursuant to this section, the Design
Builder shall notify APS in writing that the plans and specifications
are consistent, practical, feasible, and constructible and that the
work described in the plans and specifications is constructible
within the scheduled construction time.
3.1.6 APS may select certain projects for expediting using fast-track
construction. When this option is exercised, in writing, by APS, it
shall be implemented per the Design Builder's recommendation
once approved by APS.
3.2 Scope of Work /Design Build Contractor Must Complete the Following. See
attached Exhibit C for additional scope of work information.
3.2.1 Replacement of eight (8) SWUD units, one floor at a time. Project will be
performed in phases so that the entire building is not affected during equipment
replacement.
3.4.2 Replacement of existing cooling tower.
3.4.3 Provide associated disconnect/reconnect to power and building automation
system.
3.4.4 Provide Test & Balance (TAB) after completion of work (airside only).
3.4.5 Provide commissioning support to third-party commissioning firm separately
retained by APS. (Salas O'Brien will submit ROM)
3.4.6 For additional scope, refer to attached Exhibit C.
3.4.7 In addition to the fully defined work, it is the intent of this project to potentially
identify and remedy, upgrade, or enhance building systems, structural

components, fixtures, finishes, or site work at the project site if significant
disruption can be avoided and costs saved.
Total Stated Cost Limitation (SCL) is $4,000,000.00
4.0 Owner's Project Management Software
4.1 The awarded Design Builder shall be required to use the Owner's project
management software. One (1) license will be distributed to the Design
Builder at a cost to the Owner, which will allow access to the project
management software for the Project. Usage of this license will be provided
throughout the duration of the Project. Based on availability, additional
licenses may be provided as needed.
4.2 This Project will utilize project management and collaboration system for all
project documentation. Applicable team members of the Design Builder (to
include subcontractors as determined by the Owner) will be invited and are
required to create a username (email) and password for the project
management software if they do not already have one. The Design Builder
will be expected to obtain drawings, sketches, RFIs, meeting minutes,
coordination drawings, change information, etc. via this application. The
Design Builder will notify subcontractors as relevant items are added. It will
be the responsibility of the Design Builder to regularly check and review
updated documents as they are added. Applicable team members of the
Design Builder are required to complete a free, one-hour Subcontractor
training certification course for the project management software within two
(2) weeks following the execution of this Agreement. There will be no cost to
the Design Builder for the use of the Owner's project management software.
4.3 It is recommended that the Design Builder provide mobile iOS or
Android devices with the project management software App installed
to at least one individual on-site to provide real-time access to
currently posted drawings, Specifications, RFIs, Submittals, project
documents, as well as any deficient observations or Punch List items.
Providing mobile access will improve communication, efficiency, and
productivity for all parties.

5.0 General Requirements
5.1 All work conducted must be in accordance with all local, state, and
federal guidelines.
5.2 Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Outreach Efforts
It is the policy of the owner to promote the utilization of women,
minorities, and small business enterprises in all phases of the design,
development, construction, and maintenance of the Project. While
the owner does not impose any quotas regarding their utilization, the
awarded Construction Manager shall take all steps established by the
contract documents or otherwise reasonably requested by the owner
to satisfy the Owner that they have made their "best efforts" to be
involved in the work as many companies or firms owned by women,
minorities and small business enterprises as practicable, provided
they are qualified to conduct the work.
When the Construction Managers are ready to begin the GMP
process, they must work with the Owner's Supplier Diversity office to
provide an advertisement that will be made available via the Georgia
Procurement Registry for thirty (30) days.
The following organizations may provide relevant resources to the
awarded Construction Manager:
National Association of Minority
Contractors Georgia Minority
Development Council National
Association of Women in Construction:
https://www.nawicatlanta.org/
For further information regarding the Owner's policy, please click the
the following link: APS Supplier Diversity.