Bid Notice-Union Block Building- Dangerous Building Conditions Abatement Project (PWE 1085).pdf

RFQ2026-098 Union Block Building: Dangerous Building Conditions Abatement Project

(PWE 1085)

Project Information, SOQ Requirements and Evaluation & Selection Process

1. Project Information

Project Overview

The Boise City Public Works Department is soliciting Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from experienced Design-Build Teams to provide investigation, design, permitting, preconstruction, and construction services for the abatement of identified dangerous building conditions and associated public safety impacts at the historic Union Block Building in downtown Boise.

Background Information

The Union Block Building is a historically significant commercial building in downtown Boise, representing the city’s growth and commercial development around the turn of the 20th century. Designed by prominent Idaho architect John E. Tourtellotte in 1899 and completed in 1902, it is an example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, featuring substantial masonry construction, prominent arches, and large arched windows. The building was constructed primarily of brick and locally quarried Table Rock sandstone.

Its architectural character, historic materials, and contribution to the downtown streetscape led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. A significant 1995 renovation retained important historic features, including portions of the original office configuration, woodwork, and windows. A more recent renovation has been ongoing since approximately 2018. In November 2023, Planning and Development Services (PDS) deemed the structure a dangerous building and ordered it vacated. The building remains unoccupied while the identified conditions are addressed.

In 2024, Public Works engaged an engineering and construction team to evaluate existing conditions and potential stabilization measures. The effort focused on conceptual requirements to stabilize and secure the historic front façade and support reopening the adjacent sidewalk, on-street parking, and one lane of traffic, which have remained closed since the 2023 notice. Given the building’s historic significance and current condition, abatement will require careful consideration of existing conditions, historic materials, and character-defining features. The Design- Build team will be expected to prioritize public and worker safety, abatement of dangerous building conditions, restoration of public access, structural stabilization and life-safety measures and minimizing impacts to the historic fabric to the extent practicable.

Scope of Services

The selected Design-Build Team will be responsible for advancing the City’s conceptual approach for abatement of identified dangerous building conditions through investigation, design, permitting, preconstruction, construction, and project closeout. The Design-Build Team shall provide the qualified design professionals, contractors, and specialty expertise necessary to perform assessments, engineering analyses, prepare construction documents, obtain required permits, and provide construction-phase services in accordance with applicable codes, engineering standards, permitting requirements, and historic preservation requirements.

Pre-construction services will include review of available existing building drawings, previous renovation and permit documents, applicable building notices and orders, existing-condition documentation, photographs and video, and prior engineering and construction observations and recommendations related to the identified dangerous building conditions. These documents will serve as the basis for field verification and development of design documents necessary to abate identified dangerous building conditions and address associated public safety impacts.

The Design-Build Team will work collaboratively with the City to validate existing conditions, identify required structural and life-safety measures, evaluate constructability and sequencing, develop temporary protection measures, address historic preservation considerations, and identify opportunities to restore access to affected public areas as early as practicable. Constructability, schedule, risk, and cost considerations shall be evaluated throughout design development to confirm feasibility and alignment with the City’s project objectives and established budget.

Given the public safety conditions associated with the property, the work shall be phased and prioritized to address the most critical dangerous building conditions and restore affected public access as early as safely practicable. The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Existing Conditions & Investigation: Review available existing drawings, prior improvement and permit documents, applicable building notices and orders, reports, photographs and video documentation, prior engineering and construction observations, conceptual abatement recommendations, and other City-provided project information. Perform field investigations necessary to document and validate existing conditions and advance the design for abatement.

Structural Measures: Design and construct structural stabilization, shoring, bracing, repair, or other measures necessary to abate identified dangerous structural conditions, provide safe access for construction activities, and protect the building and surrounding areas. Work may include floor structures, diaphragms, masonry walls, façades, foundations, and associated structural elements.

Historic Front Façade: Design and construct measures necessary to address identified dangerous conditions associated with the historic Idaho Street façade, including stabilization, bracing, and connection of the façade to the building’s primary structure as required. Work shall consider the historic significance of the façade and comply with applicable historic preservation requirements and easements.

Building Protection & Weatherproofing: Provide temporary and permanent measures necessary to secure building openings, protect exposed conditions, limit unauthorized access, manage weather exposure, and reduce further deterioration that could affect completion of the abatement work or public safety.

Rear Façade & Alley Conditions: Address identified dangerous conditions along the rear of the building and adjacent alley, including masonry stabilization, wall openings, drainage, excavation/backfill, waterproofing, and other measures necessary to protect public safety and support safe reopening and use of the alley.

Public Right-of-Way & Access: Design and construct measures necessary to address dangerous conditions affecting the adjacent sidewalk, on-street parking, travel lane, and alley and support the safe reopening of these public areas. Temporary protection measures shall be prioritized as early as feasible to establish a safe, protected pedestrian walkway along the north side of Idaho Street, with the goal of restoring pedestrian access at the earliest practicable point during the work. The Design-Build Team shall coordinate sequencing and protection measures necessary to support phased reopening of other affected portions of the public right-of-way when conditions allow.

Life Safety: Evaluate and incorporate life-safety measures appropriate and necessary to complete the dangerous building condition abatement work, protect workers and the public, and avoid creating or exacerbating hazardous conditions. The project is not intended to rehabilitate or restore the building to a condition suitable for occupancy.

Agency & Stakeholder Coordination: Coordinate design and construction activities with the City’s Project Manager, Owner’s Representative, applicable City departments, ACHD, historic preservation representatives, utility providers, permitting authorities, and other agencies having jurisdiction.

Design & Permitting: Prepare required investigations, calculations, construction documents, specifications, cost estimates, schedules, permit submittals, and other documentation necessary to obtain regulatory approvals and complete the authorized abatement work.

Preconstruction & Constructability: Provide ongoing cost estimating, scheduling, phasing, constructability review, risk identification, and value analysis throughout design development. Consider unknown existing conditions, structural and construction sequencing, public protection, historic preservation, and opportunities to restore affected public access while maintaining alignment with the City’s established project budget and objectives.

Construction & Closeout: Provide all labor, materials, equipment, temporary protections, testing coordination, construction management, documentation, and other services necessary to complete the authorized abatement work. Document final conditions, work performed, and remaining conditions outside the City’s defined project scope, as appropriate.

The purpose of this project is the abatement of identified dangerous building conditions and associated public safety impacts, not comprehensive rehabilitation, restoration, or preparation of the building for occupancy. The Design-Build Team shall promptly communicate conditions encountered during investigation, design, or construction that may materially affect the authorized scope, cost, schedule, public safety, or proposed abatement approach before proceeding with work outside the authorized scope.

Owner’s Representative

The City intends to separately procure an Owner's Representative to support the City with overall project management, coordination, schedule and cost oversight, documentation, and administration throughout design and construction. The Owner's Representative will serve in an advisory and project management capacity to the City and will coordinate closely with the City's Project Manager and selected Design-Build Team.

Project Budget

The City has established an overall project budget of approximately $2.8 million, inclusive of design, permitting, construction, contingencies, special testing, and associated project costs. A preliminary conceptual estimate identified approximately $1.73 million in direct construction costs. These figures are preliminary and are based on currently available information. The selected Design-Build team will be responsible for validating and refining anticipated costs as additional investigation is completed and the design progresses. A relatively complete construction cost estimate will be required following the Schematic Design Phase and must be updated at each additional design phase. The Construction budget and construction of the project is fully conditioned and contingent on the approval by the City prior to proceeding to the Construction Phase.

Project Objectives

The objective of this project is to abate identified dangerous building conditions, address associated public safety impacts and facilitate the safe reopening of affected portions of the adjacent public right-of-way, while protecting the building's historic character and significant architectural features to the extent practicable.

Scope Limitation / Clarifications

The purpose of this project is to abate identified dangerous building conditions and address associated public safety impacts within the defined and authorized project scope. The project is not intended to constitute a comprehensive rehabilitation, restoration, or tenant improvement of the Union Block Building; address all existing conditions that may be present within the property; or restore the building to a condition suitable for occupancy.

The Design-Build team shall evaluate and incorporate appropriate structural, life-safety, temporary protection, and other measures necessary to complete the authorized abatement work, protect workers and the public, and avoid creating or exacerbating hazardous conditions. Such measures shall be consistent with the limited scope of the project and should not be interpreted as requiring the City to address all building deficiencies or improvements that may be necessary for future rehabilitation or occupancy.

The Design-Build team shall limit its services and construction activities to the scope authorized by the City's project management team and shall document existing conditions, field observations, assumptions, changes in conditions, and work performed throughout the project. Conditions encountered during investigation, design, or construction that may materially affect the scope, cost, schedule, public safety, or proposed abatement approach shall be promptly communicated to the City for review and direction prior to proceeding with work outside the authorized scope.

Completion of the City's project shall be understood as completion of the authorized dangerous building condition abatement work and shall not represent or imply that all conditions within the building have been corrected or that the building is approved or suitable for occupancy.

Licensing: At the time of SOQ submittal, the Design Professionals and required consultants must be properly licensed to practice in the State of Idaho for their specific disciplines. The SOQ must: (1) identify the individual architect who will supervise architectural services proposed to be provided by the Design-Build team, and (2) include a clear indication that such individual is currently licensed as required by Title 54, Chapter 3, Idaho Code. In addition, an Idaho public works license is required at the time of SOQ submission in accordance with Title 54, Chapter 19, Idaho Code (federal funds will not be used for project financing). An SOQ that fails to comply with the foregoing licensing requirements will be deemed non-responsive and excluded from consideration.

Additional Information

The City reserves the right to request clarification of information submitted or to request additional information about any SOQ as it may reasonably require. The City reserves the right to require interviews. The City reserves the right to reject any or all SOQs, to waive minor technicalities and to take whatever action is in the best interest of the City. The City reserves the right not to hold discussion after award of the contract.

Project Timeline: Design work will commence immediately upon contract award, with the goal of beginning construction in 2027. The anticipated overall project duration is approximately 12–18 months, including investigation, design, permitting, and construction from Notice to Proceed.

2. SOQ Requirements

SOQ Format

Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) shall be submitted in a format that allows for uniform review and easy access to information by the Evaluation Committee. SOQs should be clear, concise, and focused on the qualifications and experience most relevant to the Union Block Dangerous Building Conditions Abatement Project.

Emphasis should be placed on the qualifications of the key personnel who will directly perform and manage the work, the team's experience with complex existing building conditions, and its ability to successfully deliver the project within the City's established scope, schedule, and budget.

SOQs shall be limited to 40 pages maximum. The Signature Page, Cover Letter, Appendix (including resumes, brochures, and letters of recommendation), and any forms provided by the City shall not count toward the forty-page limit. Proposals that do not comply with the required format specifications may, at the City's sole discretion, be deemed non-responsive and disqualified from further consideration.

SOQs shall contain the following information:

Cover Letter and Signature Page (Pass/Fail):

Provide a signed cover letter that:

Demonstrates an understanding of the scope, objectives, and time-sensitive nature of the project.

Confirms the team's commitment and availability to complete the work within the anticipated project schedule.

Provides a concise statement explaining why the proposed Design-Build Team is particularly qualified for this project.

Identifies the primary contact, including name, title, mailing address, email address, and telephone number.

Proposal Criteria

SOQs should include the following information under the following headings:

Basic Qualifications / 100 Points

Provide information regarding the Design-Build Team's size, history, organizational structure, personnel, and specialized expertise relevant to this project.

Provide one to three examples of projects completed within the last ten (10) years demonstrating experience relevant to one or more of the following:

Dangerous or unsafe building condition abatement;

Structural stabilization, shoring, or repair of existing buildings;

Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic masonry structures;

Investigation and construction involving incomplete, damaged, or uncertain existing conditions;

Construction within constrained downtown or urban environments;

Maintenance of pedestrian, vehicular, and adjacent property safety during construction; and

Design-Build or other collaborative project delivery involving accelerated schedules, complex phasing, or evolving conditions.

Examples should demonstrate the past performance of the firms and, where possible, the key personnel proposed for the Union Block project.

Specific Qualifications / 250 Points

Identify the key personnel and consultants expected to perform the work.

Describe each team member's role, anticipated level of involvement, responsibilities, qualifications, and relevant project experience.

Include applicable State of Idaho professional license numbers for design professionals providing regulated professional services.

At a minimum, the city anticipates evaluating qualifications for the following key roles:

Key Team Member’s Pts.

Design Builder’s Project Manager 40

Construction Superintendent / Field Lead 35

Structural Engineer 45

Architect 25

Historic Preservation Architect / Specialist 25

Civil / Site Engineering Support 10

Other Specialty Consultants proposed for the work 10

Overall team strength, integration, and demonstrated history of successfully working together and teams ability to coordinate with City’s Project Manager and separately contracted Owner’s Representative

Total 250

For key personnel, provide relevant project examples demonstrating experience appropriate to their proposed role. Consideration will be given to experience involving historic structures, existing masonry construction, structural shoring and stabilization, dangerous building conditions, occupied or constrained urban sites, public protection, and construction involving significant unknown existing conditions.

The City recognizes that the final composition of specialty consultants may evolve as existing conditions are further investigated. Respondents should identify the disciplines they believe are necessary to successfully deliver the project and explain their anticipated role.

Understanding and Approach to Project / 200 Points

Provide a narrative demonstrating the team's understanding of the Union Block project and proposed approach to delivering the work. The narrative should be organized under the following headings:

Understanding of the Project, Existing Conditions, and Scope Limitations

Approach to Abatement of Identified Dangerous Building Conditions and Protection of the Historic Structure

Approach to Public Safety, Site Logistics, and Restoration of Adjacent Pedestrian and Vehicular Access

Approach to Design-Build Delivery, Existing-Condition Verification, Decision-Making, and Management of Unknown Conditions

The response should demonstrate an understanding that the City's project is intended to abate identified dangerous building conditions and associated public safety impacts and is not intended to rehabilitate the building for occupancy. The main objective is to safely open the sidewalk, parking, and lane closures on Idaho Street.

Respondents should specifically describe how their approach will balance structural and life-safety requirements, historic preservation considerations, constructability, schedule, cost, public protection, and the need to restore affected public access as early as safely practicable.

Management Plan / 250 Points

Describe the Design-Build Team's management approach for coordinating investigation, design, permitting, preconstruction, and construction.

At a minimum, address:

Project leadership and lines of responsibility;

Integration of the contractor, architect, structural engineer, historic preservation expertise, and specialty consultants;

Existing-condition investigation and field verification;

Documentation and management of assumptions and unknown conditions;

Design and constructability review;

Quality assurance and quality control;

Cost estimating and budget management;

Schedule development and management;

Risk identification and mitigation;

Permitting and agency coordination;

Historic preservation coordination;

Site safety and temporary protection measures;

Construction sequencing and site logistics; and

Communication and coordination with the city and other stakeholders.

Provide representative examples from comparable projects of a project schedule, progressive cost estimate, and proposed construction cost/GMP development process.

Describe the team's approach to value analysis and provide an example demonstrating how the team evaluated cost, constructability, schedule, risk, and project objectives without compromising critical structural, public-safety, or historic preservation requirements

Design-Build/Relevant Project Examples of Work /200 Points

Provide photographs, drawings, or other concise documentation of two (2) Design-Build or similarly relevant projects demonstrating the team's ability to successfully deliver work comparable to the Union Block project.

Relevant examples may include:

Historic building rehabilitation or preservation;

Structural stabilization or emergency structural work;

Dangerous or unsafe building condition abatement;

Historic masonry repair or façade stabilization;

Complex renovation involving significant unknown existing conditions;

Construction immediately adjacent to active public rights-of-way; or

Projects requiring significant coordination among owners, regulatory agencies, design professionals, contractors, and preservation stakeholders.

At least one example should include the proposed architect and/or structural engineer, clearly identifying the proposed team members who participated and their roles

References (Pass/Fail):

Provide a minimum of three references for at least two different projects identified in the relevant project experience sections.

For each reference, provide:

Name, organization/agency, current title, and title during the referenced project;

Telephone number and email address;

Applicable project(s); and

The reference's role and involvement in the project.

The City may contact submitted references and may contact other parties familiar with the respondents’ previous work.

Reference checks will not be separately scored but may be used to validate information contained within the SOQ and may be considered by the Evaluation Committee when evaluating the respondent's qualifications and past performance.

3. Evaluation and Selection Process

Evaluation, Selection Process and Award of Contract:

Responsive SOQs will be evaluated and scored by the City's Evaluation Committee based on the criteria established in this RFQ. Design-Build Teams will be ranked based on their qualifications and evaluation scores. The City reserves the right to request additional information or clarification and may select the highest-ranked team based solely on the SOQs or, in its sole discretion, decide to conduct interviews with one or more of the highest-ranked teams.

The Evaluation committee will use a point formula during the review process to score SOQs. Each member of the Evaluation Committee will first score each SOQ by the criteria described herein. The full Evaluation Committee will then convene to review and discuss these evaluations and to combine the individual scores to arrive at a composite score for each Design Build Team. At this point Design Build Teams with an unacceptable low score will be eliminated from further consideration. If more than one Design Build Team remains under consideration, the Evaluation team can elect to interview such teams and then reach consensus on the best qualified team.

INTERVIEWS AND SCORING

At the City's discretion, one or more of the highest-ranked Design-Build Teams may be invited to participate in an interview. If interviews are conducted, all invited teams will be evaluated using the same interview criteria and substantially similar project-specific questions.

The interview will be scored separately on a 100-point scale and will serve as the final evaluation stage for interviewed teams. The Evaluation Committee will consider the team's project understanding, approach to dangerous building condition abatement and project risk, project management approach, team integration and coordination, responses to project-specific questions, and overall responsiveness.

Following interviews, the Evaluation Committee will establish a final ranking of the interviewed Design-Build Teams and identify the highest-ranked, best-qualified team for contract negotiations.

ANTICIPATED Interview Scoring ANTICIPATED Points Project understanding and priorities 20

Approach to dangerous building condition abatement, unknown conditions, and risk

Project management, schedule, cost, and decision-making approach

Project management, schedule, cost, and decision-making approach

Response to project-specific questions/scenario 15

Clarity and responsiveness of presentation 5 Total Points 100

The City will enter negotiations with the highest-ranked, best-qualified Design-Build Team to establish a fair and reasonable scope, fee, and contract terms. If an agreement cannot be reached, the City may terminate negotiations and proceed with the next highest-ranked team or cancel this procurement.

The City intends to use Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) contract templates revised to reflect the City’s terms and conditions. In particular, the City intends to use revised versions of the following:

DBIA Document No. 530: Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Design-Builder – Cost Plus Fee with an Option for a Guaranteed Maximum Price

DBIA Document No. 535: Standard Form of General Conditions of Contract between Owner and Design-Builder

DBIA Document No. 620: Performance Bond for Design-Build Projects DBIA Document No. 625: Payment Bond for Design-Build Projects

Special insurance considerations will be required. Insurance requirements and sample contract will be provided via a separate addendum.

Any resulting contract is subject to applicable City approvals and shall not take effect unless and until authorized by the Boise City Council and executed by the City’s Mayor.