GSA Design Excellence Public Announcement, Lead Design Architect New United States Courthouse, Chattanooga, TN

Active

Contract Opportunity

NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

GSA Design Excellence Solicitation for Lead Design Architect

Architect-Engineer Services Public Notice

Solicitation# 47PE0324R0002

Region: 04, Southeast Sunbelt Region

City: Chattanooga

State: Tennessee

Contracting Officer: William Peterson

Phone Number: 704-219-1604

Email: william.peterson@gsa.gov

PROJECT: Chattanooga, Tennessee United States Courthouse Project

BUILDING TYPE: Federal Courthouse

CLIENT AGENCY: Eastern District of Tennessee U.S. District Court, U.S. Magistrate Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court as well as other federal tenant agencies which include GSA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Trustees and Congressional Offices

SIZE: 190,478 GSF

SECURED PARKING SPACES: 40

BUDGET: Approximately $218M (Inclusive of site acquisition, design, construction, and management and inspection)

Through its Design Excellence Program, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) commissions our nation’s most talented creative professionals to design outstanding federal workplaces. These projects embody an exemplary integrated process whose results deliver enduring value to taxpayers. GSA defines quality as the thoughtful expression of artistry, local culture, and democratic values like civic participation, accessibility, and transparency, achieved in balance with affordability, constructability, reliability, and industry-leading sustainable performance. Design Excellence is the means by which GSA realizes the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture, which President Kennedy authorized in 1962, and it is one of the agency’s primary vehicles for catalyzing positive, inclusive change in local communities. Continuing this legacy of world-class public architecture, GSA announces an opportunity for Design Excellence for Lead Designer of the New United States Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The project is a new United States Courthouse to be erected in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The building will measure approximately 190,478 gross square feet, including 40 inside secured parking spaces. The new courthouse will meet the long term needs of the courts providing separate circulation for the public, judges and prisoners thereby improving security and the efficiency of courts’ operations as well as accommodating the ten year space requirements of the courts and court related agencies and expandable to meet the thirty year housing needs. The new courthouse will include seven (7) courtrooms and nine (9) judges’ chambers. Once built, the facility will provide workspace for the following tenant agencies: Eastern District of Tennessee U.S. District Court, U.S. Magistrate Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court as well as other federal tenant agencies which include GSA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Trustees and Congressional offices. The site for the new courthouse has not yet been identified. GSA is currently evaluating parcels of land in and around downtown Chattanooga around 3 - 5 acres in size and anticipates the site may be identified prior to finalizing the contract with the Lead Designer.

Desired outcomes of this project include the following:

1. A design that reflects tradition, strength, and stability of the American government.

2. Building massing that is monumental in nature while maintaining appropriate proportions, a balanced composition, and a hierarchy of elements.

3. Detailing that contributes to rhythm, order, and relatability at a human scale, while avoiding pure decoration. Texture and relief should be used strategically to avoid a one-dimensional appearance.

4. Material selections that represent permanence, durability, and solemnity.

5. A clear sense of wayfinding and progression for visitors, from a site arrival point that offers a public amenity, to a clear and elevated entry point to the building, through a spacious and light-filled lobby, to functional interior spaces that represent a consistent design intent.

6. A design that draws inspiration from local architectural precedent and from the local natural landscape while providing a distinctive and notable new public landmark.

7. A public destination that is accessible, transparent, and inspirational to those participating in the judicial process.

The method used for the delivery of the Courthouse will be Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc). Under the CMc approach, the government awards a separate contract to an Architect/Engineer (A/E) and the CMc, with the CMc contract being awarded prior to the completion of design documents. During the design phase, the CMc collaborates with the A/E to provide constructability reviews and cost estimating validation and help inform design decisions. The CMc will help to ensure that the design and construction documents will enable the Government to exercise the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Option for construction phase services at a price that is at or below the GMP.

SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of professional services will require at a minimum: Professional architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, interior design, and related consulting services for the development of design documents, required specifications, cost estimates, computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), building information modeling (BIM) and other consultant services for a new courthouse including inside secured parking and site development. The project will meet the GSA design standards for secure facilities Level IV in conformance with the P-100 (Facility Standards for Public Buildings), LEED Gold and SITES Silver certifications; and customer agency requirements including the U.S. Courts Design Guide and USMS Publication 64.

SELECTION PROCESS

This is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) of A/E Firms/Lead Designers interested in contracting for this work. The A/E Firm as used in this RFQ means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity permitted by law to practice the profession of architecture or engineering that will have contractual responsibility for the project design. The architect or engineer of record must be licensed in the state where the facility is located and the license must be in place at all times during the procurement and through project completion. The Lead Designer is the individual or the team of designers who will have primary responsibility to develop the design. The Lead Designer will also be involved in commissioning an artist or artists for this project and in assisting with the successful integration of works of arts into the architectural design. A/E firms are advised that at least 35% of the level of contract effort must be performed within 500 miles of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. The A/E firm will address the contractual relationship with the Lead Designer and project team in Stage II.

The A/E selection will be completed in two stages as follows: In Stage I, interested firms will submit portfolios of accomplishment that establish the design capabilities of the Lead Designer and Design Firm. In Stage II, shortlisted Lead Designer-A/E teams will be interviewed.

Stage I

The Stage I submission will be submitted as a PDF attachment electronically to the Contracting Officer at william.peterson@gsa.gov by the date and time indicated below. The PDF portfolio should include the following: a cover letter referencing the Sam.gov announcement and briefly describing the firm and its location, organizational makeup, and noteworthy accomplishments; Standard Form 330 Architect Engineer Qualifications Part II, and responses to the submission requirements and evaluation criteria listed below and must not exceed 50 pages of content. A page is described as a single one sided piece of paper if the PDF were to be printed out. Table of contents and cover sheets do not count towards the 50 page limit. An A/E Evaluation Board consisting of a private sector peer, a representative of the client, and GSA will evaluate the submissions. The Board will establish a short-list of three to six firms.

Identification of team members, other than the Lead Designer(s), is not required at this stage. Consultant and “production firm” (if different from the Design Firm) information should not be included in the Stage I portfolio.

Submission Requirements And Evaluation Criteria:

PAST PERFORMANCE ON DESIGN (35%)

The design firm must include portfolio narratives for five projects of similar size, program, or significance, constructed within the past 10 years, which describe architecture and engineering challenges and their design solutions. Each text should convey a thorough understanding of a project’s physical location and social context, as well as site strategies, regional design and character, and environmental factors and sustainable-performance opportunities specific to the site. Past performance regarding cost control, quality of work, and performance schedules should be easily found within the narratives, as well. The firm must also show the personnel capacity, specialized experience, and technical competencies committed to the work described. In turn, the Evaluation Board must confirm that documented solutions address specific challenges, demonstrate creativity, indicate a clear design approach, and suit context. The board will also review any copies of certificates, awards, or other applicable evidence of peer recognition.

LEAD DESIGNER PORTFOLIO (25%)

Submit a portfolio of up to three constructed projects completed by the lead designer within the past 10 years. Identify the individual’s specific role in the project, as well as the methods proposed for integrating client and local community input into the design. The portfolio should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the issues that the GSA project must address. Individual exhibits should portray creative and appropriate responses to client criteria and needs, site conditions, local community, regional character, and sustainable performance. The portfolio must also demonstrate leadership and an integrative approach whose vision is commensurate with the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture. If the lead designer is a team of two people, then the portfolio must include two constructed projects per lead designer, completed within the past 10 years; each exhibit should abide the page-count limit for the overall submission, and its text must identify each individual’s specific role.

PHILOSOPHY AND DESIGN INTENT (25%)

Submit a statement of the lead designer’s philosophy and design intent, not to exceed two pages, that conveys personal understanding of the proposed project’s challenges and opportunities; the statement will also include a vision for the design solution, including a philosophy of architectural expression that is informed by local community desire as well as the vernacular of the region. The lead designer’s statement of philosophy and design intent should be characterized by insight and passion for the project. The statement must demonstrate an awareness of interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability that is appropriate for the client agency and the project, and which champions both the project’s goals and the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture. The statement also should be clear in its prose, to demonstrate the lead designer’s ability to communicate ideas. This statement must be a unique response to this project’s challenges and opportunities and should not be generic or repetitive in nature.

If the lead designer is a team of two people, then the submission must include a statement of philosophy and design intent, not to exceed two pages, that conveys the lead designers’ combined understanding of the proposed project’s design issues as well as a philosophy for approaching the project; each exhibit should abide the page-count limit for the overall submission.

LEAD DESIGNER PROFILE (15%) Submit a biographical profile of the lead designer, not to exceed three pages, that at a minimum encompasses education, professional experience, awards or other recognition, and areas of responsibility. The profile should address how the lead designer’s breadth and depth of education and work experience suits the project as well as how the designer has exercised leadership in delivering works whose complexity and magnitude approximate those of the project.

If the lead designer is a team of two people, then the submission must include a biographical profile of each lead designer; each exhibit should abide the page-count limit for the overall submission.

Stage II

The short-listed firms will be notified and asked to submit more detailed information indicating each member of the design team, including all outside consultants. Sufficient time will be provided for the Lead Designer-A/E Design Firm to establish its team. The firms will be required to complete Standard Form 330 Architect Engineer Qualifications Parts I and II that reflect the entire design team. The Government will establish the detailed evaluation criteria and the date that these submittals are due and provide the selection criteria for the interviews along with the Stage I short-list announcement.

The Board will interview each team. Candidates should be prepared to discuss all aspects of the criteria indicated above and evaluation criteria as established for Stage II, and demonstrate their ability to fulfill all project requirements. Emphasis will be placed on the Lead Designer-A/E Team’s understanding of the unique aspects of the project, their design philosophy, project management process, and quality assurance plan. Responses to the evaluation criteria and interview questions will be used to rank the Lead Designer-A/E Teams.

As part of the management plan describe methods for obtaining client input, outline a community engagement strategy that will get community feedback, and explain the process for integrating this input into the design as appropriate.

As the three required concept options are being developed, there shall be at least one meeting including the lead designer, the regional project management team, and the chief architect or designee to preview the concepts and ensure their viability as federal investments. This discussion will also ensure that the concept options contribute to the local community via collaborative methods described in chapters 2.2 and 2.3 of the PBS-P100, Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service [(P100)].

The goal of the final concept peer review is to understand how the chosen concept has evolved and to identify opportunities for additional improvement, including actions or processes by which client or community goals may be more strongly reflected in the final concept.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STAGE I SUBMITTALS

Firms having the capabilities to perform the services described in this announcement are invited to respond by submitting Standard Form 330 Architect Engineer Qualifications Part II, which must not be dated more than twelve (12) months before the date of this announcement along with letter of interest and the portfolio by Email to: william.peterson@gsa.gov

ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE by 4:00PM Eastern Time on March 28th, 2024.

This contract will be procured under the Brooks A/E Act and FAR Part 36. The government will not allow payment for travel, living expenses, computer time or hookups for the prime or the consultants during the selection process. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP).

GSA intends to hold a small business networking session in Chattanooga, TN after the shortlist is developed. The date, time and location will be announced with the short list. This session is intended to assist short-listed lead designers in assembling their full teams, and someone from the shortlisted lead designers’ firms should be in attendance at this session to meet with the representatives from the small businesses in attendance.

Only Stage I submissions are being requested at this time. For more information on the GSA Design Excellence Program, please visit gsa.gov/designexcellence

Attachments/Links