MSU RFQ Design-Builder for the MSU Gallatin College

Location:	Montana
Posted:	Jun 9, 2026
Due:	Jul 8, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Montana
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction
Solicitation No:	2025-07-05
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

DESIGN-BUILDER FOR THE

MSU GALLATIN COLLEGE

A/E #2025-07-05

PROGRESSIVE DESIGN-BUILD PROJECT

ON THE CAMPUS OF

Montana State University

BOZEMAN, MT

Architecture & Engineering Division

Department of Administration

PO Box 200103

Helena, MT 59620-0103

State of Montana

MSU Gallatin College PDB

Request for Qualifications

June 2026

Page 1

This REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (“RFQ”) from the Owner invites the submittal of a Statement of

Qualifications (“SOQ”) from firms interested in providing design-build services for the project described below. By

submitting an SOQ, the Proposer represents that it has carefully read the terms and conditions of this RFQ and all

attachments and addenda and agrees to be bound by them. This RFQ is not an offer to enter into a contract, but

merely a solicitation of persons interested in submitting SOQ to the Owner for the Project.

All submissions must be provided pursuant to the instructions below. It is the Finalist’s sole responsibility to ensure

that the required documents are delivered in the manner required by this RFQ by the Due Date and Time. Owner

has the right to reject any submissions not properly delivered.

SECTION 1

OWNER DESCRIPTION

1.1. General

Gallatin College is Montana State University’s two-year college located in Bozeman, offering two-year associate

degrees and one-year professional certificates. Gallatin College offers professional workforce programs, transfer

programs, development coursework, and dual enrollment programs that help students gain valuable skills and

advance their career opportunities or prepare for a career change. The programs include certificates that qualify

students to work in professional offices and business environments, hospitality, construction trades, aviation, and

technology.

MSU’s long-term vision for Gallatin College will respond to and meet the high-demand occupations across Montana

in both urban and rural workforce needs across our communities. Gallatin College MSU is nimble and adaptable in

launching new programs where employer needs and student interest are the highest. The flexibility and adaptability

will be important in the future as new industries and employers move to Montana with additional workforce needs

in areas that are not addressed with current education and training programming. Hence, MSU requires a facility

that is adaptable and able to strategically “flex” in response to changing workforce training needs.

SECTION 2

OVERVIEW OF PROJECT

2.1. General Description of the Project

Currently, the campus is spread out in multiple locations which often requires students to drive between the

locations. To improve the student experience, this project will consolidate the identified Gallatin College programs

into one location. A successful Project will efficiently combine the varied programs into a single space that not only

includes the current programs but also is flexible to accommodate future uses and technology as well as fluctuations

in student enrollment. Gallatin College envisions the Project as an opportunity to connect and integrate the students

of Gallatin College with MSU students currently on campus. The Project should be welcoming to both Gallatin

College students as well as students currently on the MSU campus. The Project will provide opportunities for

industry partners to provide training and act as a living training space for students. In addition, the Design-Build

Team will provide the College with achievable options to incorporate sustainable features into the Project.

This project will be the first progressive design-build project for the Owner. The selected Design-Build Team will

be able to assist the Owner in understanding the progressive design-build process and create a collaborative

environment that promotes transparency and robust communication. Combining the varied Gallatin programs into

one location will require that the Design-Build Team work closely with the College and its stakeholders to determine

space priority, the ability for programs to share flexible spaces, and possibly incorporating the use of outdoor spaces

into the design. The Design-Build Team will also examine the available spaces on the current MSU campus to

determine whether there are spaces that could be used for the Gallatin program. In addition, the design should

take into account the total cost of ownership, including efficient operations and maintenance.

Timely completion of the Project is essential, as the College is currently spread across several leased locations.

The Project needs to be completed in time for Gallatin College to re-locate the facility to be ready for student use

as soon as possible.

The College anticipates that the following programs will be re-located into the new facility. A more complete list is

set forth in this RFQ in Exhibit D. The list below is not final. The final scope will be developed collaboratively with

the selected Design-Build team:

State of Montana

MSU Gallatin College PDB

Request for Qualifications

Page 2

• Carpentry

• CNC Machine Technology

• Design Drafting & Interior Design

• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

• IT Cybersecurity & Networking

• Photonics & Laser Technology

• Welding Technology

• Other Program Considerations to Meet On-Demand Statewide Workforce Needs

• Develop adaptable spaces that can “flex” with changing workforce needs and allow Gallatin College MSU

to respond with training programs for students to be educated with desirable job skills.

2.2. Project Goals

The Owner has established the following Project Goals:

Execute a successful, collaborative Progressive Design-Build (PDB) process to produce

the envisioned Project: The Design-Build Team will develop a highly collaborative relationship

with the Owner and its stakeholders, using effective and efficient management of stakeholder

input, so that the needs of the stakeholders are addressed within the Owner’s budget and

schedule. Additionally, MSU is interested in how the Design-Build team will incorporate student

engagement as it relates to the students who will be learning in this facility.

Efficient Facility Design: The Design-Build Team will utilize their expertise in the design and

construction of collegiate trade education facilities to develop a creative and efficient design to

consolidate the identified Gallatin College’s locations into a highly visible facility that is fully

integrated into the MSU campus. The design will also be flexible to account for future growth of

the College into account, incorporate the Total Cost of Ownership, and comply with the Owner’s

Basic Requirements for State of Montana Projects.

Transparent Pricing: The Design-Build Team will conduct a robust validation process and

provide transparent pricing that allows the Owner to track the cost of design and construction

concurrently so that the Owner is fully informed regarding the cost implications of design and other

project decisions and the design can be maximized within the Owner’s budget.

Efficient Scheduling, Sequencing, and Construction Means and Methods: The Design-Build

Team will use efficient and effective scheduling, sequencing, and early incorporation of innovative

construction means and methods to achieve timely completion of the Project, develop an efficient

Project scope, and enhance the quality of the project to meet or exceed the High-Performance

Building Standards (available on the A&E Division website https://doa.mt.gov/ae/) or achieve

LEED Gold.

2.3. Form of Agreement

The Project will be contracted through a progressive design-build agreement that is attached as Exhibit A

to the RFQ. The Design-Build Team will work collaboratively with the Owner to establish a project scope,

Basis of Design Documents, and Guaranteed Maximum Price after the award of the Project. The Design-

Build Agreement will be a cost plus with a Guaranteed Maximum Price, modified version of the DBIA Form

530 Standard Form of Agreement Between Design-Builder and Owner with a modified version of the DBIA

Form 535 General Conditions of Agreement.

2.4. Project Budget

The budgeted cost for design and construction for this Project is up to $43,000,000 dollars.

2.5. Project Procurement Schedule

The following is the Project Procurement Schedule. The Owner reserves the right to modify the Project

Procurement Schedule via addenda issued prior to the date set forth below.

Date

June 8

State of Montana

MSU Gallatin College PDB

Request for Qualifications

Activity

Issue RFQ

Page 3

June 17

June 22

June 29

July 8

July 20

August 6

August 14

August 21

August 28

September 14

September 23

Project Information Meeting

Last Date to Submit Questions Regarding the

RFQ

Last Date to Issue Owner Addenda

SOQ Due Date

Notification of Finalists

Issue RFP

Confidential Individual Meetings

Last Date to Ask Questions or Submit

Proposed Changes to Contract

Last Date to Issue Owner Addenda

Proposal Due Date

Interviews with Finalists (optional)

Notification of Highest Scored Finalist

2.6. Definitions

2.6.1

Business Day: Monday through Friday, with the exception of official holidays observed by the

Owner.

2.6.2

Confidential Individual Meetings: The confidential meeting(s) conducted individually between

the Owner and each Finalist after the issuance of the RFP. All Confidential Individual Meetings

will be conducted pursuant to the instructions in the procurement documents, and all participants

will be required to enter into a confidentiality agreement before the meeting.

2.6.3 Design-Builder: The entity with the prime design-build contract with the Owner.

2.6.4

Design-Build Team: The Design-Builder and the individuals and entities working for or

subcontracted to the Design-Builder or its subcontractors and subconsultants.

2.6.5

Design-Build Team Member: All entities listed by the Design-Builder as providing services or

construction on the project. Members of the Design-Build Team may also be referred to as “Team

Members”.

2.6.6

Finalist: A Proposer that has been selected in the shortlist to propose in the Request for

Proposals phase of the procurement.

2.6.7

Key Team Member: Individuals who will be assigned to the Project who play an important role

in the design, construction or management of the Project.

2.6.8 Montana Resident: Means a bona fide Montana resident as defined in MCA 18-2-401.

2.6.9 Procurement: The Owner’s process for selecting a Design-Build Team for this Project.

2.6.10 Procurement Documents: All documents issued by the Owner in connection with the

Procurement or Project.

2.6.11 Projects of Similar Scope and Complexity: Projects that had substantial completion dates

within the last seven (7) years and that have many or all of the following characteristics:

Projects of a similar size, budget, and complexity that include design and construction of a

similar educational facility that primarily provides one or two year certificates or degrees,

including projects where the team provided a space analysis of current programs and

assistance with prioritizing the programs;

Projects where the design-build team members created flexible spaces that successfully

took into account future uses;

State of Montana

MSU Gallatin College PDB

Request for Qualifications

Page 4

Projects that included an integrated team that achieved strong coordination and integration

of the design and construction professionals and early involvement of the construction

professionals during design and where the Design-Builder collaborated with the Owner and

its stakeholders to develop the final scope, schedule, and price without impacting the

budget or schedule;

Projects with a limited budget where an owner ‘s goal is to maximize the available scope

within the budget and minimize operations and maintenance costs;

Projects that implemented schedule efficiencies and successfully met an aggressive

project schedule;

Projects where the design-build team members analyzed and provided sustainable options

to incorporate into the design, construction, and/or operation of the facility.

Projects of Similar Scope and Complexity do not need to meet all of the elements above. Proposers

are encouraged to explain the relevance of the projects cited in the SOQs and Proposals. The

Owner will determine the relevance of the projects cited and reserves the right to give more weight

to projects that have more of the above characteristics. Because a significant portion of the Project

will involve technical labs, including the welding and HVAC programs, the Owner reserves the right

to give more weight to projects that include those programs.

2.6.12 Proposer: An entity that submits a Statement of Qualifications in response to this RFQ.

2.6.13 RFQ: The Owner’s Request for Qualifications.

2.6.14 RFP: The Owner’s Request for Proposals, which will be issued to those Finalists who are selected

to proceed to the next phase of this Procurement.

2.6.15 SOQ: A Statement of Qualifications submitted in response to this RFQ.

2.6.16 Team Member is any entity (rather than individual) submitted with the Design-Builder’s team in

the SOQ.

SECTION 3

PROCUREMENT PROCESS

3.1. General Information

3.1.1.

Communication with the Owner. Proposers are required to conduct the preparation of their

SOQs with professional integrity and free of lobbying activities. Communication with the Owner

regarding this Project shall be via email or regular mail only and directed to the Owner’s Contact

Person. Do not communicate about the Project or the Procurement with any other Owner

employees, representatives, or consultants. Communication with other Owner employees,

representatives, or consultants regarding the Procurement may cause the firm involved to be

disqualified from submitting under this Procurement. Any verified allegation that a responding

Proposer or Team Member or an agent or consultant of the foregoing has made such contact or

attempted to influence the evaluation, scoring, and/or selection of Finalists may be the cause for

Owner to disqualify the Proposer team from submitting an SOQ or Proposal, to disqualify the Team

Member from participating in the Procurement and/or to discontinue any further consideration of

such Proposer or Team Member. Following the Owner’s approval of the Finalists, the Owner

anticipates that certain communications and contacts will be permitted. The RFQ, RFP and/or other

written communications from Owner will set forth the rules and parameters of such permitted

contacts and communications. To the extent any Proposer intends at any time to initiate contact

with the general public regarding the Project, the nature of such intended contact and the

substance thereof must be approved in writing by Owner prior to the commencement of such

activities.

3.1.2. Expenses of Proposer. The Owner accepts no liability for the costs and expenses incurred by

firms in responding to this Procurement.

Each Proposer that enters into the Procurement process shall prepare the required

materials, the SOQ, and the Proposal at its own expense and with the express

understanding that the Proposer cannot make any claims whatsoever for reimbursement

from the Owner for the costs and expenses associated with the process even in the event

State of Montana

MSU Gallatin College PDB

Request for Qualifications

Page 5

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

Project	Location	A/E#	Doc
MSU RFQ Design-Builder for the MSU Gallatin College	Bozeman	2025-07-05	PDF

MSU RFQ Design-Builder for the MSU Gallatin College

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