Exhibit A – Scope of Services

SCOPE OF SERVICES

INTRODUCTION

West Virginia University ("WVU" or “University”) is requesting Proposals from qualified architectural and engineering consulting teams specializing in vivarium planning and design to provide professional consulting services for the renovation and potential expansion of the existing vivarium within the Health Sciences Center ("HSC") in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Phase 1 – The Feasibility and Planning Study will evaluate existing conditions, assess current and future program needs, identify renovation and expansion alternatives, evaluate infrastructure requirements, and develop planning-level cost estimates to establish a recommended path forward for the University.

If the project is determined to be viable and funding becomes available, the University may elect to authorize Phase 2 – Architectural and Engineering Design Services. At a minimum, the University anticipates initiating Phase 2 for the development of large animal research facilities. Authorization of Phase 2 services is at the sole discretion of the University and is not guaranteed as part of this solicitation.

The selected Proposer shall be a qualified architectural and engineering team with demonstrated experience in the planning, design, and implementation of vivarium facilities. Experience with AAALAC-accredited facilities, large animal research environments, and specialized HVAC and environmental control systems is highly desirable.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

The Health Sciences Center contains an approximately 47,000-square-foot vivarium that supports animal research activities for the University. The facility consists of an approximately 25,000-square-foot original section constructed around 1960 and an approximately 22,000-square-foot addition completed in 2015. The 2015 addition provides modern animal housing and support spaces that continue to meet current operational needs and AAALAC standards; however, the older section contains significant deficiencies, including aging infrastructure, HVAC limitations, inadequate cage wash and autoclave capacity, utility failures, and facility configurations that no longer support current animal care and research requirements. As a result, portions of the original vivarium are unusable, underutilized, or incapable of supporting certain research activities. These deficiencies limit the University's ability to accommodate evolving research needs, recruit new investigators, and expand its research enterprise.

Demand for vivarium space and enhanced research capabilities continues to increase due to several factors, including:

• WVU Medicine's pursuit of National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center designation.

• Anticipated growth in research programs and personnel.

• Increasing demand for large animal research capabilities.

• The loss of the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) vivarium, which previously provided approximately 7,000 square feet of animal research space.

COORDINATION WITH WVU’S USE

The vivarium is a critical research facility that must remain operational throughout this study and during any future renovation or expansion activities resulting from the study's recommendations. Accordingly, the selected Proposer shall consider operational continuity as a key planning objective when evaluating alternatives and developing recommendations.

The selected Proposer shall coordinate closely with representatives from the Health Sciences Center, WVU Research Office, WVU Facilities Management, WVU Environmental Health and Safety, vivarium staff, and other stakeholders. Site visits, investigations, field verification activities, and stakeholder interviews shall be coordinated to minimize disruption to ongoing research operations.

Operational continuity during future renovation or expansion activities shall be an important consideration in the evaluation of alternatives and development of recommendations.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of this project is to determine the most feasible long-term strategy for restoring, modernizing, and expanding vivarium capacity within the Health Sciences Center.

In addition, a key objective of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of establishing large animal research capabilities within the Health Sciences Center. The study shall assess the facility, infrastructure, operational, and regulatory requirements necessary to support large animal models, including specialized housing, procedure, imaging, and support spaces. Expansion of large animal research capabilities is anticipated to be an early implementation priority.

The study shall establish a framework for future capital investment by identifying space and infrastructure needs, implementation considerations, and planning-level cost estimates while recommending the most practical and sustainable path forward. The results will support future funding decisions and position the University to efficiently advance into Phase 2 – Architectural and Engineering Design Services, should the project be determined to be viable and funding become available.

PROJECT BUDGET

WVU has established a total project budget of approximately $380,000 for Phase 1 – Feasibility and Planning Study. This amount represents the anticipated funding available for Phase 1 consultant services. No funding has been identified for Phase 2 – Architectural and Engineering Design Services at this time.

The stated Phase 1 budget is provided to assist Proposers in developing an appropriate Scope of Services and level of effort and does not guarantee a contract award in that amount.

SCHEDULE

WVU anticipates completion of Phase 1 – Feasibility and Planning Study and submission of the final deliverables during Fall 2026.

Proposers shall provide a detailed project schedule identifying major milestones for completion of Phase 1, including stakeholder engagement, existing conditions assessments, infrastructure evaluations, development of conceptual alternatives, a phasing plan, high level cost estimating, and submission of final deliverables.

In addition, Proposers shall provide a conceptual implementation schedule illustrating how Phase 2 – Architectural and Engineering Design Services and subsequent construction activities could be phased, including the potential for development of large animal research facilities as an early implementation package, should Phase 2 be authorized.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

Phase 1 – Feasibility and Planning Study

The selected Proposer shall perform a comprehensive feasibility and planning study focused on the approximately 25,000-square-foot original vivarium within the Health Sciences Center. The study shall evaluate opportunities to renovate and modernize the original facility while considering the operational relationship with the adjacent 2015 vivarium addition and the University's long-term research objectives. Phase 1 shall establish the basis for future capital investment decisions through conceptual alternatives, preliminary phasing plans, and planning-level cost estimates.

Existing Conditions Assessment

• Evaluate the original vivarium for operational limitations, facility deficiencies, and suitability for renovation or expansion.

• Assess existing building systems, infrastructure, and physical constraints.

• Review available documentation, drawings, and facility records.

• Conduct field investigations as necessary to validate existing conditions.

Code and Regulatory Assessment

• Evaluate the facility for code compliance deficiencies and regulatory considerations.

• Identify deficiencies that may impact future renovation or expansion efforts.

• Review applicable animal care, life safety, accessibility, and research facility requirements.

Infrastructure Assessment

• Evaluate HVAC, plumbing, electrical, controls, and emergency power systems serving the original vivarium.

• Assess the ability of existing systems to support future operations and integration with the adjacent 2015 vivarium addition.

• Identify infrastructure improvements necessary to maintain required environmental conditions, including:

o Temperature control o Humidity control o Pressurization requirements o Air change rates o Redundancy and reliability requirements

Programming and Space Needs Assessment

• Work with University stakeholders to establish current and projected space requirements for the renovation and modernization of the original vivarium.

• Identify space needs associated with anticipated growth of approximately twenty additional research personnel.

• Evaluate requirements for:

o Animal holding rooms o Procedure rooms o Cage wash facilities o Imaging and support functions o Staff support spaces o Mechanical and infrastructure support areas

Large Animal Facility Assessment

• Evaluate the feasibility of incorporating large animal research capabilities.

• Identify requirements for porcine, ovine, and other large animal models, as appropriate.

• Assess facility, operational, infrastructure, and regulatory requirements associated with large animal research.

Conceptual Alternatives

• Develop and evaluate multiple conceptual alternatives, including:

o Renovation and modernization of the original 1960 vivarium o Expansion beyond the current building footprint o Combined renovation and expansion approaches

• Identify the advantages, disadvantages, risks, and opportunities associated with each alternative.

Phasing and Operations

• Develop preliminary phasing strategies to maintain vivarium operations during construction.

• Identify temporary relocation requirements, operational impacts, and sequencing considerations.

Cost and Schedule Analysis

• Provide planning-level construction cost estimates for each conceptual alternative.

• Identify major infrastructure investments required for each option.

• Develop preliminary project schedules and implementation timelines.

Recommendations

• Recommend a preferred implementation strategy based on operational, infrastructure, programmatic, and cost considerations.

• Identify key decision points, risks, and implementation considerations.

DELIVERABLES

The selected Proposer shall provide, at a minimum, the following deliverables:

Existing Conditions Report

• Existing facility assessment

• Infrastructure assessment

• Code and regulatory review

• Identification of deficiencies and constraints

Programming Report

• Current and projected space needs

• Functional relationships and adjacencies

• Large animal facility requirements

• Research growth assumptions

Conceptual Options

• Conceptual renovation and expansion options

• Diagrams, plans, and supporting narratives

• Evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of each option

Infrastructure Assessment Report

• HVAC capacity assessment

• Plumbing assessment

• Electrical and emergency power assessment

• Required infrastructure upgrades

Phasing Plan

• Preliminary construction phasing strategies

• Operational continuity considerations

• Sequencing recommendations

Cost Estimates and Schedules

• Planning-level construction cost estimates for each conceptual alternative

• Preliminary implementation schedules

Final Feasibility Study Report

• Executive summary

• Findings and recommendations

• Preferred alternative

• Supporting documentation

• Final presentation to University stakeholders