01_CEEC-MOD_RFP_IntroDoc-General.pdf

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

University of Massachusetts Amherst Unified Procurement Services Team

Request for Proposals For

New Center for Early Education and Care

UMA 27-07

Proposals Due: 11:00 a.m., October 14, 2027

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. General Information Page 3

2. Bid Specifications Attachment A

3. Price Proposal Submission Form Attachment B

4. Certificate of Tax Compliance Attachment C

5. Certificate of Non-Collusion Attachment C

6. Certificate of Contractor Debarment Attachment C

7. OSHA Training Attachment C

8. UMass Contract for Services Attachment D

9. Additional Terms and Conditions Attachment E

10. Performance Bond Attachment F

11. Payment Bond Attachment F

12. Certificate of Contractor Eligibility Attachment G

13. DCAMM Update Statement Form Attachment H

14. Prevailing Wage Rate Schedule Attachment I

15. Project 100% DD Drawings Attachment J

16. Project 100% DD Outline Specifications Attachment K

17. Site Geotechnical Report Attachment L

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

FOR

New Center for Early Education and Care

UMA 27-07

I. General Information and Proposal Submission Requirements.

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst is soliciting bids/proposals (Proposals) for the above listed item(s) and/or service(s). The specifications for said item(s) and/or service(s) are attached hereto in Attachment A.

The total estimated construction cost is $8,000,000.

Every Proposal submission must include a DCAMM Certificate of Eligibility in the category of General Building Construction or Modular Construction/Prefab.

This procurement is undertaken in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 149, § 44E(4).

On or before October 14, 2026 @ 11:00 A.M., at which time all proposals shall be recorded publicly. Bids will be accepted until that date and time.

All proposals for this project must be prepared and submitted electronically through the UMass BuyWays portal. Hard copy bids and Late proposals will not be accepted.

The electronic submission process in the UMass BuyWays portal will require the Proposer to upload a series of individual files containing information outlined in this RFP in response to a series of questions.

Each Proposer shall review the BuyWays portal to better understand how they should plan and organization their proposal documentation into the series of files prior to submitting their final proposal documents to avoid running into issues or not getting their proposal submitted on time. The following is a list of the proposal file submission questions from the BuyWays portal for general guidance, but you shall refer to the BuyWays portal directly to confirm the questions remain the same:

1. 5% Bid Deposit. Name your file using the following format:

“[VendorName]_CEEC-UMA27-07_BID BOND”.;

2. DCAMM Update Statement. Name your file using the following format:

“[VendorName]_CEEC-UMA27-07_DCAMM UPDATE STATEMENT”.;

3. DCAMM Certificate. Name your file using the following format:

“[VendorName]_CEEC-UMA27-07_DCAMM CERTIFICATE”.;

4. Your Price Proposal (Attachment B). Name your file using the following format:

“[VendorName]_CEEC-UMA27-07_PRICE PROPOSAL”.;

5. Technical Non-Price Proposal. Name your file using the following format:

“[VendorName]_CEEC-UMA27-07_TECHNICAL NON-PRICE PROPOSAL”.;

6. Technical Proposal Drawings & Specifications. Name your file using the following format:

“[VendorName]_CEEC-UMA27-07_DRAWINGS AND SPECS”.;

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

7. Completed Attachment C. Name your file using the following format:

“[VendorName]_CEEC-UMA27-07_ATTACHMENT C”.;

8. Optional Additional Documentation. If you have additional files or if a file is too large to submit as part of one of above questions, please split the file and upload the secondary file in response to this question as needed. Name your file using the following format:

“[VendorName]_CEEC-UMA27-07_ADDITIONAL DOCS”.

Each file submitted shall include a cover sheet as page 1 that clearly notes the proposer’s name, address, primary contact person, phone number & email, along with the text, “Proposal for New Center for Early Education and Care UMA 27-07”, and the subject matter covered by that file.

Please note that the BuyWays portal does have a file name character length limit of ~100 characters as well as an individual file upload size limit of ~200 MB. Adjust your file names and compress or split your files as needed to complete your proposal submissions.

Proposers shall only include price proposal cost information in the Price Proposal file outlined above.

NO PRICE PROPOSAL COST INFO SHALL BE INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE OTHER

PROPOSAL FILES SUBMITTED. Proposals must be received as indicated above prior to the submission deadline. The proposer shall be solely responsible for the timely delivery of its proposal.

The proposal must be signed as outlined in Attachment A, and as follows:

1) if the bidder is an individual, by him/her personally, or,

2) if the bidder is a partnership, by the name of the partnership, followed by the signature of each general partner, or,

3) if the bidder is a corporation, by the authorized officer, whose signature must be attested to by the Clerk/Secretary of the corporation and the corporate sealed affixed with the signature.

Pre-Bid Conference - There will be a Pre-Bid meeting for proposers interested in visiting the project site on Tuesday September 22, 2026 @ 10:00 A.M. at 972 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003. The Pre-Bid Conference is expected to last approximately one hour. Visitors may park their vehicles at one of the University Village parking lots and walk to the project site.

References - proposers must submit a list of references of clients who they have provided similar item(s) and/or service(s) over the past five (5) years. The list must include contact names, telephone numbers, and email addresses. This information should be included in your Technical Non-Price Proposal file. The University is to have express permission to contact these people, either by phone, written correspondence or in person, as to past performance. The University reserves the right to contact any entity that the proposer has conducted business with or for, either currently or in the past, for the purpose of reviewing past work history. Any negative references received may be grounds for the rejection of a proposal.

Tax Exempt – As an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the University is tax-exempt under the doctrine of intergovernmental tax immunity. As provided by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 64H, section 6(d), purchases made by the University are exempt from the payment of Federal Excise Taxes and Massachusetts Sales Tax; any such taxes must not be included in the proposal pricing.

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Debarment - By execution of the RFP/contract documents, the proposer and all of its principals and owners certifies under penalties of law that they are not presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for the award of any contract by any governmental body or institution within and including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Federal Government; and that all subcontractors used in the performance of this contract meet these same qualifications.

Compliance Forms - In addition to the above-referenced Non-Price/Technical and Price Proposal form (Attachment B), proposers shall submit each of the following forms in their applicable files in response to respective questions in the BuyWays portal as outlined above: Certificate of Tax Compliance, Certificate of Non-Collusion, Certificate of Public Contractor Debarment, and Certificate of OSHA Training (Attachment C), Performance Bond and Payment Bond Forms (Attachment F), Certificate of Contractor Eligibility (Attachment G), and DCAMM Update Statement Form (Attachment H).

Proposal Withdrawals and Modifications - A proposer may withdraw or modify a previously submitted proposal prior to the date and time stated in the proposal for the opening of proposals.

Such withdrawal or modifications must be made within the subject event and performed though the BuyWays portal.

After proposals are opened, a proposer may not change any provision of the proposal in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the University or fair competition. Minor informalities will be waived, or the proposer will be permitted to correct them. If a mistake and the intended proposal are clearly evident on the face of the proposal forms, the mistake will be corrected to reflect the intended correct proposal, and the proposer will be notified in writing; the proposer may not withdraw the proposal. A proposer may withdraw its proposal if a mistake is clearly evident on the face of the proposal forms, but the intended correct proposal is not similarly evident.

The contract will be awarded as expeditiously as possible but no later than sixty (60) days after the proposal’s due date. The time for the award may be extended for up to forty-five (45) additional days by mutual agreement between the University and the most advantageous proposer.

Proposal Questions - Questions concerning the terms or specifications of this RFP must be submitted no later than September 28, 2026. Questions can be submitted through the BuyWays portal via selecting tools and quotes and Q&A Board. Responses to any such questions that affect the RFP terms will be issued as an “Addendum” to the RFP and will be posted on the BuyWays portal prior to the Proposal submission deadline.

The successful proposer must execute the contract within ten (10) business days of the University’s delivery of the contract in substantially the forms attached hereto as (Attachment D) and (Attachment E). In the event the successful proposer fails to execute the contract in a timely manner, the University reserves the right to rescind the award, and to make a new award to the next most advantageous proposer.

II. Purchase Description

This project will construct a new facility to be the new home of the Center of Early Education and Care (CEEC) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The new CEEC is located at 972 North Pleasant Street in Amherst, MA. The new facility contains 10 classrooms: (6 toddler classrooms, each accommodating 9 children, and 4 preschool classrooms, each accommodating 20 children). Shared

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 program spaces, administration offices, and support spaces are sized to support a total of 134 children enrollment. The total building size of the new program is 12,800 SF. The project site includes three outdoor play areas as well as guest parking. Refer to Attachment J and Attachment K for design development level building and site drawings and outline technical specifications.

The University is soliciting proposals for the above-named item(s) and/or service(s) stated in the proposal title that meet the bid specifications which are included herein as Attachment A. This project is for the design, prefabrication, delivery, on-site assembly/installation, and all services required to complete the necessary number of modular units. The project also includes the design and construction of the project site, access, parking, grading, drainage, utilities, and landscaping as specified in this RFP.

On-site installation shall include all necessary enabling site work, demolition, new foundations, and utility connections. All interior rooms shall include heating, ventilation, cooling, MEP systems, equipment, and fixtures, fire protection, fire alarm, data and security, as well as insulation, casework and finishes as required. All construction is expected to apply to all applicable codes and regulations, and the Proposer shall obtain all necessary permits for the project.

Insurance - The successful bidder shall obtain and maintain during the term of the contract Workers’ Compensation insurance as required by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The successful bidder shall also provide the insurance policies at the minimum limits all as set forth in the form of contract attached hereto as Attachment E. All insurers providing coverage pursuant to the contract shall be companies licensed to do business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and acceptable to the University. All policies shall identify the University as an additional insured (except Workers' Compensation) and shall provide that the University shall receive written notification at least 30 days prior to the effective date of any amendment or cancellation of coverage. Certificates evidencing all such coverages shall be provided to the University upon the execution of the contract.

Each such certificate shall specifically refer to the contract and shall state that such insurance is as required by the contract. Failure to provide or to continue in force such insurance shall be deemed a material breach of the contract and shall be grounds for immediate termination at the discretion of the University.

This resulting contract, including all documents incorporated herein by reference, constitutes the entire integrated agreement between the parties with respect to the matters described.

Contract Changes - The Contract will not be modified or amended except by a written document executed by the parties hereto. The University is expecting the Contractor to execute the contract without changes or modifications.

III. Technical Qualifications

Each of the following criteria must be fully addressed in the submitted Technical Non-Price Proposal file in order to be considered responsive. The responses should reflect detailed consideration of the issues and opportunities presented by this proposal request. Proposals that do not discuss the minimum criteria set forth below will be rejected as non-responsive.

A. Contact Information. Firm/individual name, contact name, address, telephone number, and contact person email.

B. Experience. Firm/individual history, including length of time the firm/individual has

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 been in business, and at least three prior customers that may be contacted as references, as well as any other relevant information that demonstrates the firm or individual’s understanding of and experience providing the item(s) and/or service(s) described in this

RFP.

C. Officers. Names and titles of firm partners and/or officers, as well as their degrees, licenses, professional designations, individual experience, and any comparable projects the individual has worked on.

D. Staff. Key personnel that will be assigned to the project including applicable registration numbers, resumes, professional designations, licenses held, and information on experience with similar projects.

E. Past Projects. List of completed and comparable projects that would best illustrate qualifications for the services called for in this RFP.

F. Existing Projects. List of all ongoing projects with anticipated schedule(s) for completion, including a statement of how such projects will impact the firm or individual’s availability and staff to provide the services required by this RFP.

G. Subconsultants & Subcontractors. Provide a list & organizational chart showing all key subconsultants and subcontractors that will be part of the proposer’s team. For each subconsultant and/or subcontractor proposed as part of the team, provide the same information noted in subparagraphs B – F above.

H. Services Offered. Statement of the scope and type of services that the firm, individual, subconsultant, and/or subcontractor may provide relative to the services called for in this RFP. The applicant should describe the process and methodology to be used in the completion of services with specific reference to examples of similar projects in which this methodology has been used, and the firm or individual’s philosophy with respect to services identified in this RFP.

I. Legal History. Statement of any legal or administrative proceedings pending or concluded adversely to the applicant within the past five (5) years that relate to the applicant’s performance of this type of work.

J. Construction Safety Overview. Overview of the proposer’s safety record and insurance risk metrics for the past three (3) years. Provide copies of your Experience Modification Rate (EMR) for the current year and prior two (2) years. Also, provide a list of any OSHA citations, fines, or active investigations in the past three (3) years along with a brief explanation of the corrective actions taken.

K. Technology. A description of the technologies, mapping, architectural tools and software available and utilized by the firm or individual for engineering, planning, and design purposes, the benefits of which would be available to the University, if any.

II. Purchase Description