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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
Architect Services
Head Start Operation Center,
1433 Bacharach Blvd. Atlantic City, NJ
Client: Gateway Community Action Partnership
I. PROPOSAL PARAMATERS AND GUIDELINES
A. Submission Requirements. All proposals must be presented in accordance with the requirements, format, and guidelines described in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) document.
B. Submission Deadline. Interested entities must submit (3) copies of proposals no later than 4:30 p.m., Friday, February 21, 2014. Submittals should be addressed and delivered to:
Edward Bethea, Sr. Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Gateway Community Action Partnership 110 Cohansey Street 08302
(856) 451-6330, Ext. 6655
C. Interpretation and Addenda. All questions, requests for interpretation, and comments shall be prepared in writing and submitted to Edward Bethea (ebethea@gatewaycap.org) via email by February 10, 2014. Question and clarification responses will be sent to all parties having submitted questions. All responses will be binding. If a respondent has no questions please state so via email so that responses will be forwarded. Oral and other interpretations will be without legal effect.
II. Overview.
Gateway Community Action Partnership was founded in 1987. The organization is the federally-designated Community Action Agency for Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. At present, Gateway CAP offers more than 50 programs throughout seven counties in southern New Jersey, having served more than 53,000 clients in the past year. The Head Start program is an integral part of the agency, and has more than doubled its service area and number of children served over the past two decades. Effective Nov. 1, 2013, Gateway CAP became the permanent grantee for Atlantic & Cape May County Head Start Programs. This RFQ is presented with the intention of fulfilling an identified regional need for Head Start services.
Gateway Community Action Partnership’s interest is in the vacant building located at 1433 Bacharach Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ Block 293/Lot 1, currently owned by Atlantic County. Gateway believes this site can be turned into an Early Head Start/Head Start center for Atlantic City families. Because this site is situated between AtlantiCare, the library, county and city governmental offices, churches, and a community college, as well as the only supermarket in town, it is an ideal location for our Head Start Program. As an added benefit, tenants such as the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and AtlantiCare Family Services program are considering leasing space within this facility and, thus, offer additional, valuable and convenient services to the community.
III. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is issued by Gateway Community Action Partnership (GCAP), a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt nonprofit corporation.
IV. Role of the Designated Architectural Firm. The designated Architectural Firm will work closely with GCAP staff on an as-needed basis to provide services related to a development project at 1433 Bacharach Boulevard in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Block 293, Lot 1. The project entails complete demolition and new construction. An approximate 44,000 square foot structure is envisioned, with five levels from the ground up. An elevated structure may be needed to satisfy FEMA flood regulations, as the site is three blocks from the shoreline and is in a flood zone.
The entire parcel of land is 15,290 square feet in size. Parking is envisioned at ground level; floors one and two would include classrooms for Gateway Community Action Partnership’s Head Start and Early Head Start program; floor three would be utilized for Gateway office space; floor four would be designated as leased tenant space; and, finally, a playground is desired on the rooftop for students in the Head Start program (ages three to five). A safely cordoned, yet outdoor, playground for infants and toddlers in the Early Head Start program is preferred for location on the first floor above the garage.
As part of the RFQ response, preliminary program conceptual designs and site test fit are required in response to this request. A site aerial photo and tax map / site survey is available upon request. Variations in floor sizes and common area space distribution are acceptable to Gateway, as long as specified needs are incorporated. Those particular needs are listed below:
Parking: At Least twenty parking spaces are requested for the ground level.
First and second floors for Head Start and Early Head Start:
• Four (4) Early Head Start classrooms, 750 square feet each in size, with water closets with toddler size toilets and adult and child sinks in the classrooms, for location on the first floor above the garage. As mentioned, the outdoor play area for Early Head Start children is best positioned for this floor, as well.
• Sixteen (16) Head Start classrooms, 1,000 square feet each in size, water closets adjoining classrooms with two toilets per classroom, shall be dispersed between the first and second floors above the garage.
• Observation rooms, about 200 square feet, which look into at least two classrooms, as well as hallway observation windows that look into each classroom.
• A multi-purpose indoor play space of 1,000 sq. ft. is required on each of the first and second floors.
• A kitchen, approximately 1,000 square feet in size, may be placed on either the first or second floor, to prepare meals for Head Start/Early Head Start program participants. Meals are eaten in the classrooms, as per Head Start requirements; no cafeteria is needed.
Third Floor: Ten (10) Gateway offices, average size 500 square feet each, are requested for the third floor. Additionally, we will need 3,000 sq. ft. of open space for cubical workstations (with enough space to house a minimum of twelve staff) and 2,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose (conference and training) space.
Fourth Floor: 10,000 square feet of unfinished shell space is requested.
Services and support spaces such as janitorial closets and public restrooms shall be arranged on each floor, as needed.
The building should be designed in terms of safety and security. Ground level entrances for the Head Start Program, Administration and potential Tenant space must be separate.
Following the RFQ submission, the selected Architectural Firm will work closely with GCAP staff, Board, and General Counsel to ensure consistency with overall operating guidelines and requirements of Gateway CAP.
An architectural services agreement will be negotiated between GCAP and the successful respondent. Subject to these negotiations, and subsequent Board approvals, the role of the Architectural Firm shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Schematic Design and Land Use Approvals (Agreement 1): Working with GCAP staff and partners, the selected firm will prepare schematic documents and assist in any approval document preparation during the planning, zoning and land use processes related to real estate transactions and development projects, including preparing for and appearance (if needed) before Planning Boards, Zoning Boards, and other public entities for required approvals.
Architectural Design and Documentation (Agreement 2): During or following land use approvals, the selected firm will submit a second proposal for full architectural documentation: Schematic Design (SD) (confirm the SD from approvals), Design Development (DD), Construction Documents (CD), Construction Administration (CA).
Notes:
- In addition to Architectural design, typical architectural services include Structural and MEP/FP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing / fire protection) services. These services are not required until a firm is selected and Agreement 1 is negotiated.
- The selection of a civil engineer is the responsibility of GCAP.
V. RFQ Submissions Requirements. Respondent’s submissions must include the following core components, in order to be considered responsive to this solicitation;
• The firm’s general background and any experience with non-profit/government organizations or related entities
• The firm’s experience with the new FEMA elevation requirements, child care licensing regulations related to facilities, Head Start and Early Head Start facilities requirements and applicable building codes and the applicable Head Start and Early Head Start performancestandards,particularly45CFR§1304.53: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/standards/HeadStartRequirements/1304/1304.53 Facilities,materials,andequipment..htm and the various information found on ECLKC related to facilities: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/operations/facilities
• The firm’s experience with commercial development projects, including preparation for required approvals by Planning Boards, Zoning Boards and other public entities related to development and/or real estate projects
• The depth of professional qualifications of the firm’s principals and staff – provide resumes
• A current client list for related projects
• Name and qualifications of individuals who will be assigned the responsibility of working directly with Gateway Community Action Partnership
• A fee schedule(s) showing billing rates for the various categories of employees employed by the firm and a schedule of the reimbursable expenses is to be included with the qualification submittal. Cost proposals or cost estimates are not required, but would be accepted, at this time. The contracted firm will be required to submit a cost proposal for each task of work prior to authorization to perform the task.
• The firm’s Business Registration, Insurance Certificate, Affirmative Action Compliance Certification.
• Concept sketch design and site test fit as described above. (GCAP is not seeking an elaborate design. A simple, to-scale site plan and test-fit floor plans are adequate. Elevations and sections are optional.)
V. CONDITIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL
All proposals in response to this request must meet the following conditions to be considered:
• 3 copies of the submission: spiral bound 8.5x11 format; 11x17 fold-outs are permitted
• Proposals must be received by the date and time specified; late proposals will be disqualified.
• In order to be considered for selection, applicants must submit a complete
proposal. Incomplete proposals may not be considered.
• Proposals must include a Cover Sheet or Letter clearly stating the name of the applicant, address and telephone number of the applicant representative.
The funding award for these services and project shall be made at the sole discretion of the Gateway Community Action Partnership Board of Directors. Gateway Community Action Partnership is under no obligation to select any presented proposals. Funding is subject to all necessary approvals by Federal, State and local agencies and their representatives. GCAP reserves the right to request additional information from all applicants. GCAP reserves the right and anticipates inviting top respondents to engage in an interview process to obtain additional information that will be used during the selection process. GCAP reserves the right to reject any and all proposals submitted, and to negotiate portions thereof.
VI. APPLICATION RANKING CRITERIA. All submissions shall be initially reviewed to determine if they are responsive to the submission requirements. Those not meeting the minimum requirements set forth herein will be deemed non-responsive, and will not be subject to further review.
The responsive submissions shall be evaluated and ranked in accordance with the scoring criteria, based upon a 25-point system.
5 points – Previous history, working with non-profits and government agencies and your direct experience with Head Start, childcare and commercial projects.
10 points – Overall professional qualifications, experience, proven capacity of the organization and its key personnel and staff
10 points – Preliminary program conceptual designs and site test fit
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