LASALLE-BACKUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MODERNIZATION

The District of Columbia (“District”) Department of General Services (the “Department” or “DGS”) is issuing this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to solicit design-build proposals (“Proposal(s)”) from offerors (“Offeror(s)”) interested in serving as the design-builder (the “Design-Builder” or the “Contractor”) for the modernization of LaSalle-Backus Elementary School (“LaSalle-Backus ES”), located at 501 Riggs Road NE, Washington, DC 20011 (the “Project”).

The Department anticipates awarding a design-build contract (the “Agreement”, “Contract” or “Design-Build Agreement” ) to the Offeror whose Proposal is most advantageous to the District pursuant to the evaluation and award criteria in Part 3 of this RFP. The Project includes full design and construction services for LaSalle-Backus ES, which will be approximately 79,590 square-feet school facility.

The Design-Builder shall design and construct a combination of renovation of the existing and new construction to increase the existing footprint to accommodate the square footage required in the Educational Specifications (“Ed Specs(s)” or “Educational Specifications”) to bring it in line with the District of Columbia Public Schools (“DCPS”).

LaSalle-Backus ES was designed by Architect Rhees Burket and built in 1957. The original design drawings indicate a hexagonal shaped multipurpose room, however, this is not what was built. Instead, the south side of the site hosts a two-story rectangular gymnasium, set behind an angled entrance lobby. There is a one-story connector building with low ceilings connecting the entrance to a three-story classroom bar. The Department anticipates demolition of the existing gymnasium and connecting one-story structure and the maintenance of the classroom bar. The Design-Builder shall recommend a design that is most advantageous to the Project. The student population has a greater need for accessibility and therefore, two (2) elevators are required at this site. There is an extensive grade change from the east to the west of Riggs Road NE, along Madison Street NE. The project team should consider this site slope and stacking of the new construction to maximize site area for outdoor programming.