KSU DCS and Technical_Specs_Update RFQ_RFP_26.pdf

Kennesaw State University, 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update RFQ

Kennesaw State University Request for Qualifications

(Step I) and

Request for Fee Proposal & Interviews (Step II)

To Provide

Professional Consultant Services for

Project No. 555-27-058 “Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update”

Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia

Solicitation Issue Date: September 22, 2026

Qualifications Packages Due: October 15, 2026

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STEP I - REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

1. GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION

2. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

3. SCOPE OF SERVICES

4. QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW PROCESS

5. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (STEP I)

6. SUBMITTAL OF QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATIONS

7. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

8. STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

9. SUBMITTAL OF STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

10. FINALIST NOTIFICATION

STEP II – REQUEST FOR FEE PROPOSALS (from Qualified Finalists) & INTERVIEWS

1. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (STEP II)

2. PRE-PROPOSAL SITE VISIT

3. SELECTION PROCESS

4. SUBMITTAL OF FEE PROPOSALS

5. PRESENTATION / INTERVIEW INFORMATION

6. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

EXHIBITS

a. Exhibit A - Certification Form

b. Exhibit B - Certificate of Insurance and Minority Status

c. Exhibit C - Project Team Composition

d. Exhibit D - Design Professional Fee Proposal Form

e. Exhibit E - Contractor Affidavit

f. Exhibit F – Proposer’s Disclosure Statement

g. Exhibit G – KSU USG Building and Room Summary

h. Exhibit H – Current KSU Design and Construction Standards

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 2

STEP I

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Professional Consultant Services

Project No. 555-25-341 “Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update”

Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia

Kennesaw State University (“KSU”) as (“Owner”), is soliciting statements of Qualifications from firms interested in providing Professional Consultant (“PC”) services for master planning for a project known as Project No. 555- 25-341, “Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update” at Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks to identify potential providers of the above-mentioned services. Some firms that respond to this RFQ, who are determined by the Owner to be especially qualified, may be deemed eligible and may be invited to interview for these services. All respondents to this RFQ are subject to instructions communicated in this document and are cautioned to completely review the entire RFQ and follow instructions carefully. KSU reserves the right to reject any or all statements of qualifications or proposals, and to waive technicalities and informalities at their discretion.

1. GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION

Project Background

Kennesaw State University (KSU) maintains Design and Construction Standards and Technical Specifications that establish requirements for the planning, design, construction, renovation, and turnover of campus facilities and infrastructure. The current standards program was developed in 2019 and received limited updates in 2025. The program consists of approximately 400 pages of design standards, CSI MasterFormat specifications, appendices, and supporting documentation maintained in Microsoft Word and PDF formats.

As the University's facilities, technologies, operational requirements, and sustainability initiatives have evolved, KSU has identified the need to comprehensively evaluate and modernize its standards program.

Several sections of the existing standards require significant review and updating, including information technology infrastructure, audiovisual systems, electronic access control, life safety systems, and special conditions requirements. Additionally, portions of the University's CSI MasterFormat specifications are outdated, incomplete, and inconsistently maintained.

The University intends to utilize a balanced standards approach that incorporates both prescriptive and performance-based requirements. While consistency across campus is a primary objective, many projects involve renovations, additions, and modifications to existing facilities where flexibility is necessary to accommodate existing building conditions, infrastructure constraints, and operational needs.

KSU recognizes that many aspects of the existing standards program continue to provide value and support University operations. Accordingly, the intent of this project is not simply to replace existing standards but to thoughtfully evaluate and modernize them. The University seeks a standards program that builds upon successful existing practices while incorporating current industry best practices and maintaining flexibility

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 3 to accommodate future advancements in technology, sustainability, facility operations, and project delivery.

The updated standards program shall align with and support the University's Campus Master Plan and Sustainability Master Plan. The consultant should also consider anticipated utility, stormwater, and landscape master planning initiatives that are expected to be completed in Summer 2027 and incorporate recommendations that support future integration of those planning efforts into the standards program.

The University seeks to transition from a document-based standards library to a living, web-based standards platform utilizing Microsoft SharePoint. The updated program shall include a sustainable governance framework, version control procedures, annual review processes, and administrative tools that support the ongoing maintenance and continuous improvement of the standards program.

Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) will serve as the owner and administrator of the standards program, with guidance and input provided through a permanent Standards Review Committee representing key campus stakeholders.

Project Goals and Objectives

The primary objective of this project is to create a comprehensive, consistent, and maintainable Design and Construction Standards program that establishes clear expectations at the beginning of each project and supports informed decision-making throughout planning, design, construction, and operations.

The updated standards program should:

Establish clear and consistent requirements for design consultants, contractors, and University stakeholders.

Reduce project risk, late-stage design changes, and construction change orders resulting from evolving requirements, improving campus-wide user experience across facilities and infrastructure.

Support consistency in building systems, materials, equipment, finishes, and operational practices where appropriate.

Reduce total cost of ownership by balancing initial construction costs with long-term maintenance, repair, replacement, and operational considerations.

Improve facility maintainability and support the long-term stewardship of University assets.

Modernize and standardize CSI MasterFormat technical specifications.

Support current operational needs while remaining adaptable to future technologies, sustainability initiatives, and industry best practices.

Establish a structured process for evaluating design exceptions and future standards revisions.

Sustainable Approach The project will incorporate the requirements of the Energy Efficiency & Sustainable Construction Act of 2008 (O.C.G.A. 50-8-18) and it is the desire of the Owner to incorporate sustainable design and construction concepts in the project where feasible to do so. KSU Sustainability Master Plan is provided for reference for finalists.

Professional Consultant Fee The Professional Consultant Base Fee is expected to fall between $250,000 and $325,000. Anticipated Professional Consultant service requirements include the services listed in Item 3 below, “Scope of Services”. Shortlisted firms must submit a fee proposal that includes anticipated fees for any specialty consultants needed and all reimbursable expenses, such as printing and travel, prior to scheduled Finalist Interviews.

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 4

Project Schedule The Consultant shall complete all services and final deliverables within six (6) months of Notice to Proceed.

The Professional’s services are anticipated to commence prior to December 7, 2026, with final standards documents, technical specifications, governance framework, and associated deliverables anticipated for completion by June 7, 2027. (All of the dates above are estimates which are subject to change. The fee structure for Professional Consultant services relative to the schedule and fee amounts will be agreed upon by the Owner and the Professional Consultant prior to the start of professional services.)

2. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT SERVICES REQUIREMENTS

The Owner is seeking the services of a multidisciplinary consulting team (the “Consultant”) to provide all services, including the initial analysis, standards development, process documentation, and final documents. The successful Professional Consultant will contract with the Owner in a timely manner. The consultant team is expected to be in person for major milestone engagements and presentations.

3. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Base Scope Kennesaw State University ("KSU" or "the University") seeks qualified consulting services to conduct a comprehensive evaluation, update, modernization, and implementation planning effort for the University's Design and Construction Standards and Technical Specifications program.

Given the scale and diversity of the University's facilities portfolio, consisting of approximately 137 buildings across two campuses encompassing almost 8.5 million gross square feet, KSU has determined that it is appropriate to engage a professional services firm with demonstrated experience in higher education standards development, stakeholder engagement, facilities planning, technical specification development, and standards governance.

This effort aims to establish a comprehensive and sustainable standards program that supports consistent project delivery and long-term asset stewardship. The resulting standards shall support the planning, design, construction, renovation, commissioning, turnover, operation, maintenance, and future renewal of university facilities and infrastructure.

A primary objective of this effort is to establish and document stakeholder requirements early in the project delivery process to reduce uncertainty, minimize redesign, and decrease change orders resulting from evolving requirements during design and construction. The selected consultant shall perform a comprehensive, ground-up assessment of the University's existing Design and Construction Standards, Technical Specifications, procedures, supporting documentation, and related processes through a structured discovery and stakeholder engagement process. The effort shall include document review, stakeholder interviews, facilitated workshops, benchmarking, gap analysis, and development of recommendations to identify current requirements, operational priorities, conflicts, redundancies, and opportunities for improvement.

The consultant shall engage representatives from Planning, Design and Construction, IT, AV, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Door Access and Security Systems, Facilities and Plant Operations, Grounds and Landscaping, Fire and Life Safety, Interior Design, Environmental Graphics, the Office of

Sustainability, Parking and Transportation, Space Strategy, the Office of Research, Public Safety, and other campus units identified during the discovery process. The standards should establish requirements that are:

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 5

1. Compatible with the architectural character and planning objectives of the University.

2. Consistent with the design guidelines established in the Campus Master Plan.

3. Energy-efficient, resilient, and supportive of the University's sustainability goals.

4. Efficient and economical to construct, operate, maintain, repair, and replace.

5. Durable, comfortable, safe, secure, and capable of delivering long-term value.

6. Adaptable to emerging technologies and evolving academic, operational, and facility requirements.

7. Consistent with the University's goals for maintenance, operations, lifecycle performance, and user experience.

The scope shall include the review, development, organization, and modernization of standards for both new construction and renovation projects, including but not limited to:

Architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems.

Utility and site infrastructure systems.

Sustainability, resiliency, and energy performance requirements.

Commissioning, building turnover, warranty management, and project closeout requirements.

Space standards for offices, classrooms, and building support spaces such as storage, custodial, cleaning equipment storage, MDF, IDF, and other spaces for operations and maintenance.

Restroom design standards and accessibility requirements.

Information technology, telecommunications, audiovisual, security, and low-voltage infrastructure.

Door hardware, electronic access control, and life safety systems.

Room numbering, wayfinding, and interior and exterior signage standards.

Landscaping, irrigation, site furnishings, sidewalks, pavers, hardscape elements, and site development standards.

Materials and systems selection criteria emphasizing durability, maintainability, lifecycle value, and campus consistency.

Deliverable requirements, BIM/CAD standards, record documents, and digital project documentation.

Owner-furnished and contractor-furnished equipment coordination requirements.

CSI MasterFormat Technical Specifications, including the development, modernization, organization, and completion of University requirements and preferred products where appropriate.

The consultant shall develop complete CSI MasterFormat-based technical specifications and associated design standards for incorporation into future University construction projects. Recommendations shall identify preferred products, manufacturers, systems, and design approaches where appropriate to improve consistency and overall campus operations. The resulting standards shall establish a consistent framework for project delivery while allowing appropriate flexibility to address existing building conditions, phased renovations, infrastructure limitations, and project-specific circumstances.

In addition to technical standards and specifications, the consultant shall provide recommendations, tools, and implementation strategies to support the long-term governance and administration of the standards program, including:

Development of a framework for a living standards platform utilizing Microsoft SharePoint or a similar application that allows the University to maintain and edit the standards moving forward

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 6

Version control, document management, and standards update procedures.

Standards governance structure, ownership responsibilities, and administrative processes.

Annual review, maintenance, and continuous improvement procedures.

Design exception request forms, variance request forms, standards revision request forms, approval workflows, and supporting documentation templates.

Change management and implementation planning.

User training and adoption strategies for University staff.

Draft Review The Consultant shall submit deliverables at established milestones and conduct stakeholder review workshops to present findings, obtain feedback, and refine proposed standards and specifications.

The Consultant shall document comments received during each review cycle and provide a comment disposition matrix identifying how comments were incorporated, modified, or rejected in subsequent submissions.

4. QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW PROCESS

Selection of the PC will be a multi-step process generally following the steps outlined in the State

Construction Manual.

Qualifications Review is initiated with this RFQ for the purpose of acquiring Statements of Qualifications from prospective PC firms. A selection of finalist firms will be made by a Selection Committee consisting of representatives of the Owner. The Selection Committee will receive and review Statements of Qualifications submitted in response to this RFQ and then evaluate the submittals based on the criteria for evaluation listed below:

Criteria for Evaluation of Statements of Qualifications 25% Factor: Stability of the firm, including the firm’s corporate history, growth, resources, form of ownership, litigation history, financial information, and other evidence of stability.

45% Factor: Firm’s relevant project experience and qualifications, including the quality of services, client satisfaction, ability to meet established schedules and budgets, effectiveness of stakeholder engagement, development of design and construction standards, technical specifications, governance frameworks, and implementation of comparable institutional standards programs.

30% Factor: Firm’s apparent suitability to provide services for project the firm’s apparent fit to the project type and/or needs of the Owner, contract administration plan, proposed timeline, any unique qualifications for the project, current and projected workloads, and the proximity of office to project location. Experience supporting higher education institutions and other complex organizations through the development of standards programs, technical specifications, facilities guidelines, governance frameworks, and stakeholder engagement initiatives

A. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - (STEP I)

The following Schedule of Events represents the Owner’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed. All times indicated are prevailing times in Atlanta, Georgia. The Owner reserves the right to adjust the schedule as the Owner deems necessary.

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 7

6. SUBMITTAL OF QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATIONS

Each respondent must examine the entire RFQ, seek clarification in writing, and review its submittal for accuracy before submitting the document. Once the submittal deadline has passed, all submissions will be final. The Owner will not request clarification from individual proposers regarding their submission but reserves the right to ask for additional information from all parties who have submitted qualifications.

Questions about any aspect of the RFQ, or the project, shall be submitted by email to: Whitney Kemp, Senior Capital Planner, email: wkemp7@kennesaw.edu

The deadline for submission of questions relating to the RFQ is the time and date shown in the Schedule of Events (Section 5). All relevant questions and requests for clarification received by the Institution in writing, prior to the deadline will be compiled, and answers will be posted on the Georgia Procurement Registry as an addendum to the original solicitation for services at http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/.

7. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

Interested firms shall submit/upload one (1) electronic copy in .pdf format of the complete Qualifications package to a “Filedrop” file transfer website (see #8 below). Submittals must be prepared in a manner that fits a standard 8 ½” x 11” paper format when printed. Responses are limited to using a minimum of an 11-point font. The entire response shall not exceed 40 pages, including exhibits, affidavits or other enclosure information that may be included in an appendix. All pages count regardless of content. Submittals that include qualifications of more than one firm shall not exceed page limits. Submittals that exceed the page limit will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered by the Selection Committee.

8. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

(DELIVERABLES “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” ) Emphasis should be on completeness, relevance, and clarity of content. The content of all Statement of Qualifications must be categorized and numbered as outlined below, and responsive to all requested information.

A. Description and Resources of Firm A1. Provide basic company information: Company’s legal name, address, name of primary contact, telephone number, fax number, email address, and company website (if available). If the firm has multiple offices, the qualification statement shall include information about the parent company and branch office separately. Identify the office from which the project will be managed and this office’s proximity to the project site. If applicable, indicate the year the local office was established and the number of persons staffing that office and their disciplines. Provide form of ownership, including state of residency or incorporation, and number of years in business. Is the offeror a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), or other structure?

RFQ Estimated Timeline

a. Owner issues public advertisement of RFQ 09/22/26 -----

b. Deadline for written questions/requests for clarification (see Section 6). 10/1/26 10:00am

c. Response to questions 10/08/26

d. Deadline for submission of Statements of Qualifications 10/15/26 10:00am

e. Owner completes evaluation, post results, and issues notification to finalist firms

10/22/26 -----

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 8

A2. Briefly describe the history and growth of your firm(s). Provide general information about the firm's personnel resources, including disciplines and numbers of employees and locations and staffing of offices.

A3. Has the firm been involved in any litigation in the past five (5) years? Describe your experience with litigation with Owners and/or Contractors. List any active or pending litigation and explain. List any claims against your firm or against Owners where your firm is named.

A4. Provide the name of the insurance carrier, types of coverage and deductible amounts per claim.

A5. List the firm’s annual revenue for the past 5 years. List the parent office and the local office revenues separately, if applicable.

A6. Supply financial references and main banking references.

A7. Has the firm ever been removed from a design services contract or failed to complete a contract as assigned? If yes, provide an explanation.

A8. Complete and submit the Certification Form (Exhibit “A” provided with RFQ) and provide a scanned notarized copy with response with the firm’s Statement of Qualifications.

A9. Complete and submit a Certificate of Insurance and Minority Status Form (Exhibit “B” provided with RFQ) and provide a scanned notarized copy with the response and the firm’s Statement of Qualifications.

A10. Complete and submit the Project Team Composition Form, including subconsultants (Exhibit “C” provided with RFQ). This identifies the composition of the project team.

A11. Complete the Contractor Affidavit Form (Exhibit “E” provided with RFQ) and provide a scanned notarized copy with response with the firm’s Statement of Qualifications in compliance with the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act.

GEORGIA SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION COMPLIANCE ACT AFFIDAVIT(S)

“Contractor” in the following Affidavits shall mean “General Contractor”/ ”Contractor” for the purpose of compliance with O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91, (b).

For the purpose of completing the attached Affidavits, please insert the following:

“Name of Public Employer” shall mean “Kennesaw State University, Owner”.

“Name of Project” shall mean “Project No. 555-27-058” and “Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update”

A12. Complete the Proposer’s Disclosure Statement (Exhibit “F” provided with RFQ) and include with firm’s Statement of Qualifications.

B. Experience and Qualifications

B1. Describe your proposed project team (including project partners) and include an organizational chart of the team indicating the percentages of time the individual will be committed to the project. Identify the primary point of contact. Designate the specific individuals who will fill key roles on the team. Provide a resume for each of the proposed team members highlighting relevant project experience.

B2. Provide information on three (3) to five (5) projects demonstrating the firm's experience developing, updating, implementing, or governing design standards, construction standards, technical specifications, or similar institutional guidelines. Projects should be listed from most relevant to least relevant. If performed by personnel at a previous firm, indicate the individual's role and former employer. For each project, provide:

Project Information: Project name, client, location, and completion date.

Project Description: Brief overview of the engagement, including the size and complexity of the institution or organization served.

Services Provided: Describe services performed, including standards assessment, stakeholder engagement, benchmarking, standards development, CSI specification development, governance frameworks, web-based standards platforms, and implementation support, as applicable.

Stakeholder Engagement: Summarize stakeholder groups involved and the firm's approach to gathering input and building consensus.

Outcomes: Describe measurable results, such as improved consistency, reduced change orders, standardized systems, improved maintainability, or reduced lifecycle costs.

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 9

Client Reference: Provide the client's representative name, title, organization, phone number, and email address.

C. Project Approach

C1. Project Approach and Stakeholder Engagement: Provide a statement describing your firm's overall approach to evaluating, updating, and implementing the University's Design and Construction Standards and Technical Specifications program. Describe your proposed methodology for conducting stakeholder engagement, facilitating workshops, gathering and reconciling requirements, benchmarking peer institutions, and building consensus among diverse campus stakeholders. Describe your approach for identifying, prioritizing, and resolving conflicting requirements while maintaining project objectives, schedule commitments, and alignment with University operational needs. Include your proposed communication plan, meeting structure, and procedures for documenting and tracking stakeholder input, decisions, and action items.

C2. Work Plan and Schedule: Provide a detailed work plan and project schedule identifying the major tasks, milestones, deliverables, review periods, and stakeholder workshops associated with the project. The schedule should clearly identify activities related to discovery, document review, benchmarking, standards development, technical specification development, governance framework development, draft reviews, implementation planning, and training. Describe the systems, tools, and procedures your firm uses to manage project schedules, track deliverables, and incorporate stakeholder feedback throughout the standards development process.

C3. Standards Development, Governance, and Future Readiness: Describe your approach to developing a standards program that balances current University requirements with evolving industry best practices, emerging technologies, sustainability initiatives, operational needs, and future trends in higher education facilities. Explain how your firm evaluates existing standards to determine which requirements should be retained, revised, consolidated, or replaced. Describe your experience developing governance frameworks, standards maintenance procedures, version control processes, exception management workflows, and web-based standards programs designed to support long-term administration and continuous improvement.

C4. Sustainability and Lifecycle Value: Describe your approach for incorporating sustainability, resiliency, maintainability, lifecycle cost considerations, and long-term asset stewardship into the standards development process. Explain how your recommendations will support the University's goals of reducing total cost of ownership, improving operational efficiency, and promoting consistency across campus.

D. Statement of Suitability

D1. Unique Qualifications: Describe the characteristics, resources, and experience that distinguish your firm and make it particularly qualified to provide the services required for this project. Include any experience with higher education institutions, standards development programs, technical specification modernization, stakeholder-driven standards initiatives, standards governance, and implementation of web-based standards platforms. Identify any subconsultants and describe how the combined team is uniquely positioned to meet the University's objectives.

D2. Relevant Specialized Experience: Describe your firm's experience with projects involving the development, administration, or modernization of:

Design and Construction Standards

CSI MasterFormat Technical Specifications

Facilities Design Guidelines

Standards Governance Programs

Standards Review Committees

Exception and Variance Management Processes

Asset Management, Maintainability, and Lifecycle Cost Planning

Sustainability and Resiliency Requirements

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 10

D3. Capacity and Availability: Provide information regarding the availability of the proposed project team, current workload, and ability to meet the University's anticipated schedule. Identify the office location responsible for the work and describe how the project team will support stakeholder engagement, standards development, and implementation activities throughout the project duration.

D4. Value-Added Services: Describe any tools, resources, technologies, lessons learned, benchmarking databases, templates, training programs, or other value-added services your firm may provide that would benefit the University beyond the minimum requirements of the Scope of Services.

9. SUBMITTAL OF STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

The Qualifications shall be uploaded as a one (1) complete package in .pdf format onto Kennesaw State University’s “Filedrop” file transfer website:

https://sendafile.kennesaw.edu/filedrop/~4qb4cb Please do not send individual documents or sections separately. The file shall be titled in the format below:

EXAMPLE: (555-27-058-PC, ABC Company, Qualifications)

See the Liquid Files website https://docs.liquidfiles.com/ for User Guide instructions to transfer files.

Please be advised there is a 250MB file size limitation.

Statements of Qualifications must be received electronically by the Owner prior to the deadline indicated in the Schedule of Events (Section 5 of the RFQ). Printed copies will not be accepted.

If difficulty is encountered during upload, contact Whitney Kemp at wkemp7@kennesaw.edu for assistance or confirmation that the file was received. Firms are encouraged to verify their upload was successful at least 45 minutes prior to the deadline. (Experience with the ftp site indicates that uploads do not always receive the confirmation statement that the file was successfully uploaded. For files ranging in size over 10mb, it could take more than two minutes to complete the upload.)

It is the sole responsibility of the Proposer to assure delivery by the specified deadlines; the Owner cannot accept responsibility for incorrect delivery, regardless of reason. No submittals will be accepted after the time stipulated above. Submittals will not be accepted via mail, courier, or fax.

Proposers are further reminded to include a completed CONTRACTOR AFFIDAVIT UNDER O.C.G.A. §13-10- 91 (b)(1) with the Statement of Qualifications (See Exhibit “E”). FAILURE TO PROVIDE THIS AFFIDAVIT WILL

RESULT IN REJECTION OF PROPOSAL.

All expenses for preparing and submitting responses are the sole cost of the party submitting the response.

The Owner is not obligated to any party to reimburse such expenses. All submittals upon receipt become the property of the Owner. Labeling information provided in submittals “proprietary” or “confidential” or any other designation of restricted use will not protect the information from public view. Subject to the provisions of the Open Records Act, the details of the proposal documents will remain confidential until final award.

A list of firms submitting responsive Statements of Qualifications will be published on the Georgia Procurement Registry site.

10. FINALIST NOTIFICATION

Once the Selection Committee has completed the evaluation of the Statements of Qualifications, the finalist firms will be notified in writing. The shortlisted firms will be posted at the RFQ solicitation on the Georgia Procurement Registry.

STEP II

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 11

REQUEST FOR FEE PROPOSALS & INTERVIEWS

(From Finalist Firms)

Step II- PC Selection, will be initiated by invitation to finalists to submit Fee Proposals as instructed in the Owner’s Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Finalists will be those firms determined by the Selection Committee to be especially qualified to perform as the Professional Consultant for this Project in accordance with the qualification criteria herein. The Owner will issue a notice to finalists to participate in an oral presentation/interview. The successful PC will be determined from the interviews and proposals received.

B. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (STEP II)

The following Schedule of Events represents the Owner’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed. All times indicated are prevailing times in Atlanta. The Owner reserves the right to adjust the schedule as the Owner deems necessary.

1. PRE-PROPOSAL VIRTUAL MEETING

A pre-proposal virtual meeting to review the project goals will be conducted by the Owner, and attendance of finalist firms is mandatory. The meeting time is given in the Schedule of Events (Step II). A virtual meeting invitation will be sent to the finalist firms. At the pre-proposal meeting, all finalist firms may be given any relevant available information that has previously been developed. The Owner reserves the right to disqualify a proposer from the selection process due to a failure by a proposer to arrive for the project review meeting by the scheduled time. Failure to attend a mandatory site review meeting will automatically result in disqualification from the selection process.

3. SELECTION PROCESS

The Selection Committee will evaluate the finalist firms according to the criteria for the evaluation below:

Criteria for the Evaluation of Finalist Interviews:

50% Factor- Team Qualifications and Experience: Evaluation of the qualifications, relevant experience, and availability of the proposed project team. Consideration will be given to experience developing design and construction standards and technical specifications; past performance and client satisfaction; ability to manage scope, schedule, and budget; and the team's capacity to deliver the project within the University's timeframe.

50% Factor - Work Plan/Methodology Presented: Evaluation of the firm's proposed approach to stakeholder engagement, standards development, technical specification updates, governance framework implementation, and overall project execution. Consideration will be given to the team's understanding of

STEP II (Estimated Timeline)

a. Owner issues notice to finalist firms 10/22/26 ----------

b. Owner conducts Mandatory virtual site review meeting for finalist firms 10/23/26 1:00 PM

c. Deadline for Site Visit written questions/requests for clarification 10/29/26 10:00 AM

d. Responses to questions 11/05/26

d. Deadline for submission of Fee Proposals (day prior to interviews) 11/11/26 10:00 AM

e. Owner interviews with finalist firms 11/12/26- 11/13/26

TBA

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 12 the project, quality of the proposed methodology, and ability to successfully complete the work within the proposed schedule and budget.

4. SUBMITTAL OF FEE PROPOSALS

Fee Proposals will be solicited from the finalists invited to interview. Do not include any project proposal information. Firms must use the “Design Professional Fee Proposal” form (included as an Exhibit to this RFQ). The Fee Proposal shall be password-protected and uploaded as a one (1) complete package in .pdf format onto Kennesaw State University’s “Filedrop” file transfer website:

https://sendafile.kennesaw.edu/filedrop/~4qb4cb

Please do not send individual documents or sections separately. The file shall be titled in the format below:

EXAMPLE: (555-25-341-PC, ABC Company, Fee Proposal)

No fee proposal will be opened until one firm has been judged to be the highest ranked firm. Following the interviews, the highest ranked firm will be contacted to provide the document password. Only the fee proposal from the highest ranked firm will be opened. Please understand that this proposal constitutes a starting point for negotiation toward an eventual agreement on fees.

5. PRESENTATION / INTERVIEW INFORMATION

Interview Format (In-person) Firms selected to make presentations shall be notified by the Invitation to Interview letter issued by the Selection Committee Manager. The Invitation to Interview letter shall designate a place and time for the interview session. The time allotted to each firm to present and be interviewed will be in accordance with the State Construction Manual. The Invitation letter will specify the manner in which the presentations will be conducted.

The interview will last a total of 45 minutes (30 minutes for the presentation, 15 minutes reserved for questions and answers). Teams will have 5 minutes prior to your interview to get your presentation set up. The Selection Committee will consist of Owner representatives.

Electronic presentations, such as PowerPoint presentations, are allowed.

The Owner will typically have a screen and projector available in the interview room, and possibly a laptop computer. Nevertheless, presenters must be prepared with their own flash drive and laptop computer in case unforeseen technical difficulties are encountered.

Firms are not allowed to address any questions to anyone other than the designated contact prior to the interview.

Interview Requirements The primary intent of the formal interview process is to provide the Selection Committee with in-depth and clarifying information about the firm. Information provided should assist the Selection Committee in making an informed decision as to the proposer best suited for the work. All key personnel should be present at the interview.

Firms should focus their presentations on:

Specific roles of your team members, their time devoted to this project, their current workload.

Team members' relevant experience and specific roles on this project.

Proposed timeline covering the scope of design and a detailed work plan for the project. Each milestone must include the detailed steps describing the tasks to be done. Describe systems and procedures your firm uses to manage the design schedule. Describe alternatives that may be explored to shorten the schedule.

Detailed plan for applying any services not specifically mentioned herein and explain the relevance of these services to this project and how they benefit the project.

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 13

Unique characteristics or services the firm offers.

Please bring a copy of your interview presentation on a thumb drive, as well as (1) printed copy of the presentation, to leave with the Selection Committee.

Firms are discouraged from reviewing general company history and past experience as submitted in Statements of Qualifications unless this information is particularly relevant to the presentation. All key personnel should be present at the interview to discuss how the team will successfully complete the project.

Final Selection After the Selection Committee completes the evaluation and interview process, the firms will be ranked in descending order of recommendation. Negotiations will then be initiated with the best-qualified firm to finalize the terms and conditions of the contract. If the Owner cannot reach a satisfactory fee agreement with the highest-ranking firm, the Owner will formally terminate negotiations in writing and enter into negotiations with the second-highest-ranking firm, and so on, until a mutual agreement is established and the Owner awards a professional services contract. The Professional Consultant contract is based upon the General Consultant Contract Between Design Professional and Owner. Refer to the BOR website for the most current version : https://www.usg.edu/facilities/services/contracts_and_agreements .

C. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Restriction of Communication From the issue date of this RFQ and RFP solicitation until a successful proposer is selected and the selection is announced, proposers are not allowed to communicate about this solicitation or this Project for any reason with any members of the Selection Committee, the Institution, or Board of Regents, except for submission of questions as instructed in the RFQ and RFP, or during the proposer's conference (if applicable), or as provided by any existing work agreement(s). For violation of this provision, the Owner reserves the right to reject the proposal of the offending proposer.

Submittal Costs and Confidentiality All expenses for preparing and submitting responses are the sole cost of the party submitting the response.

The Owner is not obligated to any party to reimburse such expenses. All submittals upon receipt become the property of the Owner. Labeling information provided in submittals “proprietary” or “confidential”, or any other designation of restricted use will not protect the information from public view. Subject to the provisions of the Open Records Act, the details of the proposal documents will remain confidential until final award.

Award Conditions

This request is not an offer to contract or a solicitation of bids. This request and any statement of qualifications or proposal submitted in response, regardless of whether the proposal is determined to be the best proposal, is not binding upon the Owner and does not obligate the Owner to procure or contract for any services. Neither the Owner nor any party submitting a response will be bound unless and until a written contract mutually accepted by both parties is negotiated as to its terms and conditions and is signed by the Owner and a party containing such terms and conditions as are negotiated between those parties.

The Owner reserves the right to waive non-compliance with any requirements of this Request for Proposal and to reject any or all proposals submitted in responses. Upon receipt and review of responses, the Owner will determine the party(s) and proposal that in the sole judgment of the Owner is in the best interest of the Owner (if any is so determined), with respect to the evaluation criteria stated herein. The Owner then intends to conduct negotiations with such party(s) to determine if a mutually acceptable contract may be reached.

Reciprocal Preference Law

Kennesaw State University, Project No. 555-27-058-PC, Design, Construction Standards, and Technical Specifications Update PC RFQ 14

For the purposes of evaluation only, a proposer that resides in the State of Georgia will be granted the same preference over proposers that reside in another State in the same manner, on the same basis, and to the same extent that preference is granted in awarding bids for the same goods or services by such other State to proposers that reside therein. For the purposes of this law, the definition of a resident proposer is one who maintains a place of business with at least one employee inside the State of Georgia. A P.O. Box address will not satisfy this requirement.

Joint-Venture Proposals

The Owner does not desire to enter into “joint-venture” agreements with multiple firms. In the event two or more firms desire to “team up” it is strongly recommended that one incorporated firm propose and maintain status as the contracted lead firm with the remaining firms participating as major consultants to the lead firm.

Minority and Small Business Enterprise

It is the policy of the State of Georgia that minority-owned business enterprises (MBE), woman-owned business enterprises (WBE) and small business enterprises (SBE), have a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the State purchasing process. Therefore, the Owner encourages all MBE, WBE and SBE to compete for contracts to provide goods, services, and construction, and encourages contractors to solicit MBE, WBE and SBE in procuring subcontractors and suppliers. This desire on the part of the Owner is not intended to restrict or limit competitive bidding or to increase the cost of the work. The Owner supports a healthy free market system that seeks to include responsible businesses and provides ample opportunity for business growth and development. Contractors and subcontractors who utilize qualified minority subcontractors may qualify for a Georgia state income tax credits for qualified payments made to minority subcontractors. See Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) O.C.G.A. Section 48-7-38. For more information, please contact:

The Governor's Entrepreneur and Small Business Office 75 Fifth Street, Suite 825 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Phone: 404-962-4071 http://www.georgia.org/Business/SmallBusiness/

Statement of Agreement

With submission of a proposal, the Proposer agrees that he/she has carefully examined the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and Request for Proposal (RFP), and the Proposer agrees that it is the Proposer’s responsibility to request clarification on any issues in any section of the RFQ or RFP with which the Proposer disagrees or needs clarified. The Proposer also understands that failure to mention these items in the proposal will be interpreted to mean that the Proposer is in full agreement with the terms, conditions, specifications and requirements in the therein.

END