Gateway Welcome Center

Location:	Ohio
Posted:	Apr 30, 2026
Due:	Jun 4, 2026
Agency:	Ohio Facility Construction Commission
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	99 - Miscellaneous
Solicitation No:	UCN-26067A
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Request for Qualifications (Design-Build Contract)

State of Ohio Standard Forms and Documents

Administration of Project: Local Higher Education

Project Name Gateway Welcome Center

Response Deadline 6/4/2026

10:00AM local time

Project Location Uptown Campus West

City / County Cincinnati / Hamilton

Project Number

Project Manager

UCN-26067A

Joe Bodkin

Owner

University of Cincinnati

Contracting Authority Local Higher Education

Delivery Method Design-Build

Prevailing Wages State

Publish Date 4/29/2026

No. of paper copies requested (stapled, not bound)

No. of electronic copies requested (PDF)

Submit the requested number of Statements of Qualifications (Form F110-330) directly to Contact Name at E-mail or Mailing

Address. See Section G of this RFQ for additional submittal instructions.

Submit all questions regarding this RFQ in writing to Michael Myres at myresmp@ucmail.uc.edu with the project number

included in the subject line (no phone calls please). Questions will be answered and posted to the Opportunities page on the

OFCC website at https://ofcc.ohio.gov on a regular basis until one week before the response deadline. The name of the party

submitting a question will not be included on the Q&A document.

Project Overview

A. Project Description

The University of Cincinnati invites Design-Build proposals for a new Welcome Center and Gateway Building of

approximately 200,000 gross square feet building with a below grade parking garage for 400 cars at the corner of Calhoun

Street and Clifton Avenue. The building will serve as the primary point of entry for prospective students and their families

and as a public-facing showcase of UC’s academic, creative, and technological identity.

The Program of Requirements (“POR”) will be developed as a part of this project by the Criteria Architect/Engineer

(“Criteria A/E”).

All aspects of the project and related issues will be implemented and operated consistent with the Contracting Authority

and/or Owner’s policies and procedures.

B. Scope of Services

As required by the Agreement, and as properly authorized, provide the following categories of services: develop and

maintain estimates of probable construction cost, value engineering, project schedules, and construction schedules; lead

and manage the Schematic Design, Design Development, Subcontractor Prequalification and Bidding process,

Construction Documents, Construction and Closeout stages.

Refer to the Ohio Facilities Construction Manual additional information about the type and extent of services required for

each. A copy of the standard Agreement can be obtained at the OFCC website at https://ofcc.ohio.gov.

The preconstruction and construction services are generally described below. Subcontracts including Plumbing, Fire

Protection, HVAC, and Electrical trades will be awarded by the DB to prequalified vendors using a competitive process.

The parties will engage in an "open book" pricing method in which all subcontracted work shall be based upon competitive

pricing that will be reviewed by the Contracting Authority and the Owner, the Criteria A/E and the DB. The Contracting

Authority and/or Owner shall have access to all books, records, documents and other data in the DB's possession related

to itself, its subcontractors and material suppliers pertaining to bidding, pricing or performance of the Agreement.

Preconstruction Services: The DB will work cooperatively with the Contracting Authority and/or Owner, Criteria A/E and

Project Team, and will provide, among other services, schedule development, estimate development, program

verification, schematic design, design development, Guaranteed Maximum Price (“GMP”) proposal, subcontractor

prequalification and bidding, construction documents preparation, constructability review, permits, budgeting, value

engineering, and preconstruction planning throughout the preconstruction stages. When the drawings and specifications

are at a stage of completion specified in the Agreement, such partially completed documents (the “Basis Documents”)

shall be provided to the DB, together with the Architect/Engineer of Record’s (“AOR”) detailed listing of any incomplete

F180-01-2026-JAN

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Request for Qualifications (Design-Build Contract) continued

design elements and the AOR’s statement of intended scope with respect to such incomplete elements (the "Design Intent

Statement"). Contingent upon the Contracting Authority’s approval of the GMP, the parties will enter into an amendment to

the Agreement establishing the Contract Sum (“GMP Amendment”). If the proposed Contract Sum exceeds the Project

Budget established for construction, then the Contracting Authority may terminate the agreement with the DB and seek

proposals from other firms for completion of the Project.

Construction Services: The DB shall construct the Project pursuant to the construction documents and in accordance with

the schedule requirements. The DB shall hold all subcontracts and shall be fully responsible for the means and methods

of construction, weekly progress meetings, testing and inspections, project safety, project completion within the schedule

agreed upon in the preconstruction phase, compliance with all applicable laws and regulations including monitoring

compliance with all EDGE, equal employment, and prevailing wage requirements, and submitting monthly reports of these

activities to the Contracting Authority. All subcontracts shall be on the subcontract form prescribed by OAC Section 153:1-

03-02. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to approve the DB’s selection of subcontractors and any supplemental

terms to the subcontract form.

For purposes of completing the Relevant Project Experience Matrix in Section F of the Statement of Qualifications (Form

F110-330), below is a list of relevant scope of work requirements for this RFQ:

1. Project Delivery Method: Design-Build

2. Role on Project: DB

3. LEED Status: Silver

4. Previous experience compatible with the proposed project (e.g., type, size).

5. Relevant past work of prospective firm’s proposed consultants

6. Experience with design of critically acclaimed multifunctional buildings

7. Experience with complex site constraints (and opportunities) of dense urban settings

8. Relevant Scope

9. Relevant Scope

10. Relevant Scope

Funding / Estimated Budget

Total Project Cost $200,000,000

Construction Cost $160,000,000

State Funding

Other Funding

Anticipated Schedule

DB Preconstruction Services Start

Construction Stage Notice to Proceed

Substantial Completion of all Work

DB Services Completed

06 / 26

10 / 26

12 / 29

06 / 30

EDGE Participation Goal

Percent of the DB’s total compensation

excluding DB’s Contingency*

0.0%

*Preconstruction Stage Compensation plus Contract Sum

minus DB’s Contingency

F. Evaluation Criteria for Selection

Selection Criteria: The DB will be selected using (i) qualifications-based process during the Request for Qualifications

(“RFQ”) stage to develop a short list and (ii) best value process during the Request for Proposal stage. The qualifications-

based criteria for the RFQ is included in this announcement. The best value criteria used in evaluating proposals from

short listed firms will include such factors that are determined to derive or offer the greatest value to the State and Owner,

combining both qualifications and fee.

Short List: Each firm responding to this RFQ will be evaluated and selected based on its qualifications and the

qualifications and experience of the particular individuals identified as the candidate's proposed team for the Project. Afte r

evaluating the responses to this RFQ, the Contracting Authority will select a short list of no fewer than three candidates

that it considers to be the most qualified, except if the Contracting Authority determines that fewer than three firms are

qualified, it will only select the qualified firms.

Request for Proposal: The short-listed firms shall be sent a Request for Proposal (“RFP”) that will invite the firms to submit

pricing proposals containing their proposed preconstruction stage compensation, construction stage personnel costs,

itemized construction stage general conditions costs, construction stage contingency percentage, construction stage

design fee percentage, and design-build fee percentage. The short-listed candidates will also receive (i) form of the

Agreement with the Contracting Authority containing the contract terms and conditions, (ii) set of the most recent criteria

documents and (iii) proposed Project schedule.

F180-01-2026-JAN

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Request for Qualifications (Design-Build Contract) continued

Pre-Proposal Meeting: Prior to submitting a response to the RFP, the short-listed firms will be invited to meet individually

with the Contracting Authority and the Owner. The purpose of the pre-proposal meeting is to permit the short-listed firms

an opportunity to ask the Contracting Authority and the Owner questions in an individual setting to help the firms prepare

their responses to the RFP. The Contracting Authority will notify each short-listed firm to schedule individual times for the

pre-proposal meetings.

Interview: After submitting responses to the RFP, the short-listed firms will be interviewed by the Contracting Authority and

representatives of the Owner. The purpose of the interview will be to meet the proposed Project team, become familiar

with key personnel, and understand the project approach and ability to meet the stated objectives for the Project. Please

be prepared to discuss with specificity the firm’s capacity to conduct this work in compliance with the timetable, budget

and EDGE expectations. The Contracting Authority will notify each short-listed firm to schedule individual times for the

interviews.

Selection Schedule: Tentative schedule is subject to change

Qualifications Due

RFP issued to the Short-Listed Firms

Interviews

Selection of DB

6/4/2026

6/11/2026

6/25/2026

6/30/2026

Cancellation and Rejection: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to reject all proposals and cancel at any time for

any reason this solicitation, any portion of this solicitation or any phase of the Project. The Contracting Authority shall

have no liability to any proposer arising out of such cancellation or rejection. The Contracting Authority reserves the right

to waive minor variations in the selection process.

Interested DB firms are required to address how they will implement Building Information Modeling (“BIM”) on the project,

experience and level of training of staff related to BIM, incorporation of team partners that have previous BIM experience,

and an understanding of collaborative BIM processes, including but not limited to the State of Ohio BIM Protocol available

at the OFCC website at https://ofcc.ohio.gov/.

Interested DB firms must indicate on their Statement of Qualifications, the locations where their services will be performed

in the spaces provided or by attachment in accordance with the requirements of Executive Order 2019-12D related to

providing services only within the United States and the requirements of Executive Order 2022-02D prohibiting purchases

from or investment in any Russian institution or company. Failure to do so may cause their Statement of Qualifications to

be rejected.

G. Submittal Instructions

Firms are required to submit the current version of Statement of Qualifications (Form F110-330) available via the OFCC

website at https://ofcc.ohio.gov.

Electronic submittals, if requested, should be combined into one PDF file named with the project number listed on the

RFQ and your firm’s name, followed by “SOQ”. Use the “print” feature of Adobe Acrobat or similar software for creating a

PDF rather than using a scanner. If possible, please reduce the file size of the PDF. In Acrobat, go to Advanced, then

PDF Optimizer. Electronic submittals are limited to a maximum file size of 25 MB.

Paper copies of the Statement of Qualifications, if requested, should be stapled only. Do not use special bindings or

coverings of any type. Cover letters and transmittals are not necessary.

CD/DVD copies of the Statement of Qualifications, if requested, should have the sleeve labeled with the project number

and firm name, followed by “SOQ”.

Facsimile copies of the Statement of Qualifications will not be accepted.

Unless otherwise noted or exempt, all documents submitted to the Contracting Authority in response to this RFQ and

subsequent RFP are public and will be available for inspection at the conclusion of the selection process. The following

information shall remain confidential and will not be released: (1) Proposal Form(s), except for cost category subtotals

which will be transferred to the Best Value Rating Form; (2) Financial Capacity; and (3) Bonding/Insurance.

Proposers are requested to submit the following information in response to this RFQ within Section H of Form F110-330.

1. Summary: Provide a summary, on one page or less, describing why your firm/team is the most qualified for the

Project.

F180-01-2026-JAN

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Request for Qualifications (Design-Build Contract) continued

2. Bonding/Insurance: Provide evidence of capacity to provide bonding in the amount of the construction budget

(e.g. a letter from your Surety agent stating that one or more Sureties will issue Bonds in the amount of the

construction budget if your team is selected) and a copy of the firm's certificate of insurance showing the firm's

current limits of liability for commercial general liability, employer's liability, business automobile liability , and

professional liability insurance.

3. Management Systems: Describe the scheduling and cost control systems the firm would propose to use for the

Project

4. Self-Performed Work: Indicate whether the firm intends to self-perform any work on the Project through a

competitive process and, if so, the nature of the work and capability to self-perform.

5. Estimating: Demonstrated track record of performance of in-house estimating on projects comparable to the

Project.

6. Scheduling: Demonstrated track record of performance of managing projects to the original schedule.

Firms are requested to identify professional registrations, memberships and credentials including but not limited to:

LEED GA, LEED AP, LEED AP+, CCCA, CCM, CCS, CDT, CPE, DBIA, and any other appropriate design and

construction industry credentials. Identify that information on the resume page for individual in Block 22, Section E of the

F110-330 form.

F180-01-2026-JAN

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Design-Build Selection Rating Form

State of Standard Forms and Documents

Project Name Project Name

Project Number Project Number

Proposer Firm Proposer Firm

City, State, Zip City, State, Zip

Selection Criteria

1. Primary Firm Location and Workload (Maximum 10 points)

a. Proximity of firm to project site

b. Amount of contracts awarded by Contracting

Authority in previous 24 months

Less than 150 miles

150 miles to 300 miles

More than 300 miles

Less than $10,000,000

$10,000,000 to $50,000,000

More than $50,000,000

2. Primary Qualifications (Maximum 35 points)

a. Project management lead

b. Project design lead

c. Technical staff

d. Construction administration staff

Experience / ability of project manager to

manage scope / budget / schedule / quality

Experience / creativity of project designer to

achieve owner’s vision and requirements

Experience / ability of technical staff to

coordinate construction documents and

develop accurate estimates and schedules

Experience / ability of field representatives to

identify and solve issues during construction

3. Key Consultant Qualifications (Maximum 15 points)

a. Key consultants

b. Proposed EDGE-certified Consultant participation*

Experience / ability of key consultants to

perform effectively and collaboratively

One point for every 2 percent

increase in Services compensation** over

the EDGE participation goal

4. Overall Team Qualifications (Maximum 10 points)

a. Previous team collaboration

b. LEED*** Registered / Certified project experience

c. BIM project experience

d. Team organization

Less than 3 sample projects

3 to 6 sample projects

More than 6 sample projects

Registered LEED v4 or v4.1 projects

Certified LEED v4 or v4.1 projects

Training and knowledge

Direct project experience

Clarity of responsibility / communication

demonstrated by table of organization

5. Overall Team Experience (Maximum 30 points)

a. Previous team performance

b. Experience with similar projects / delivery methods

c. Budget and schedule management

d. Knowledge of Ohio Capital Improvements process

Past performance as indicated by

evaluations and letters of reference

Less than 3 projects

3 to 6 projects

More than 6 projects

Performance in completing projects within

original construction budget and schedule

Less than 3 projects

4 to 6 projects

More than 6 projects

Value

Score

0 - 10

Max =

0-5

0 - 10

0-5

2 Max = 3

Max = 2

Max = 3

0-2

0 - 10

0-3

4-6

7 - 10

0-5

0-1

2-3

4-5

* Must be comprised of consulting firm(s) and NOT the lead firm - For more information on scoring this

and other criteria refer to Document F199-01 - PS Selection Rating Rubric.

** Preconstruction Stage Compensation plus Contract Sum minus Subcontracted Work, Self-performed

Work, and DB’s Contingency

*** Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design administered by Green Business Certification Inc.

Notes:

Evaluator:

Name

Subtotal

F180-01-2026-JAN

Signature

Publish Date: 4/29/2026

Date

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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Publish Date	Due Date	Project Number	Owner	Project Name	Primary Service	Estimated Project Cost	Q&A	Short List	Notes
2026/04/30	6/4/2026	UCN-26067A	University of Cincinnati	Gateway Welcome Center	D-B	$200,000,000	N/A	TBD

Gateway Welcome Center

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See also