RFQ 26-28 Architectural Design Services for Montgomery County Justice Center

Project 26-28, Addendum #1 - Questions and Answers
1. Can the County clarify the intended composition of the "Justice Center", specifically
whether the project is anticipated to include courthouse functions only, or a
combination of courthouse, detention, sheriff, and/or other justice-related
agencies?
ANSWER:
The "Justice Center" will primarily function as a courthouse. There is a need for
multiple courtrooms along with administrative functions for those courtrooms
and detention related facilities that are applicable to normal operating criminal
courthouses.
2. Is the County's intent for this procurement to include initial programming and needs
assessment services only, or to include full architectural and engineering design
services through construction?
ANSWER:
The intent is to select a firm to provide initial programming along with full
architectural and engineering design services through construction.
3. Does the County anticipate that the scope will include development and evaluation
of multiple project scenarios - including program options, site considerations, and
order-of-magnitude cost estimates-to inform decision-making on next steps?
ANSWER:
Yes.
4. Has the County completed any prior needs assessments, master plans, space
programming studies, or facility evaluations related to the "Justice Center" that will
be made available to the selected team?
ANSWER:
Yes.
5. Can the County identify the primary drivers for this project (e.g. population growth,
caseload increases, facility deficiencies, consolidation of functions or other
factors)?
ANSWER:
All reasons listed in the question are valid primary drivers the County currently
has.

Project 26-28, Addendum #1 - Questions and Answers
6. Will the selected team be expected to evaluate existing County facilities as part of
the planning effort, including potential renovation, expansion, or consolidation
options?
ANSWER:
To some degree, this may be required. However, the County will rely on the
expertise of the selected team for guidance.
7. Has a project site been identified for the proposed "Justice Center", or is site
evaluation and selection anticipated to be a part of the scope of services?
ANSWER:
There are several sites identified; however, the County has not made a
definitive site selection at this time. The County will rely on the expertise of the
selected team for guidance.
8. Has the County established any preliminary program elements, such as number of
courtrooms, agencies to be included, or overall facility size, that can be shared at
this stage?
ANSWER:
Preliminary information indicates that the overall facility size anticipated to
accommodate approximately eighteen courtrooms, support offices, one
ceremonial courtroom and other areas to be determined may be approximately
240,000 SF to 275,000 SF.
9. How does the County envision the relationship between the proposed "Justice
Center" and existing detention facilities, including any anticipated operation or
physical connections?
ANSWER:
The County will rely on the expertise of the selected team for guidance.
However, the "Justice Center" is not a detention facility and will serve no
purposes as a detention facility other than what is necessary in a normal
operating criminal courthouse setting.

Project 26-28, Addendum #1 - Questions and Answers
10. Does the County anticipate that the planning effort will include evaluation of case
processing workflows and their impact on facility utilization, including in-custody
populations?
ANSWER:
Not currently. However, the County will rely on the expertise of the selected
team for guidance.
11. Can the County provide any preliminary information regarding project schedule,
budget or funding strategy, anticipated phasing, delivery method, and whether a
single firm/team will be retained for all phases of the project?
ANSWER:
These are all items that are to be determined.
12. Can the County identify the primary stakeholders and/or departments that will be
involved in the planning and decision-making process for this project?
ANSWER:
Primary stakeholders include, but are not limited to, the County Judge and
Commissioners' Court.
13. Did the County complete any programming for the project, and if so, will the County
share the study results as part of the RFQ process?
ANSWER:
Yes. Those results will be shared with the selected team.
14. Please provide all known project milestones for this service, including a project
completion date, if known.
ANSWER: see question 11.
15. Please confirm that the County's selected construction delivery method is CMAR.
ANSWER:
This has not yet been determined.
16. Is there an overall budget for this RFQ?
ANSWER:
Information is not available.

Project 26-28, Addendum #1 - Questions and Answers
17. Is union required for all your bids?
ANSWER:
No.
18. Is there a pre-bid or a basis of design interest upcoming?
ANSWER:
No. The purpose of this RFQ is to select an Architectural Design firm/team
based on qualifications.