RFQ Festival Park.pdf

METROPARKS TOLEDO,

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR

DESIGN - BUILD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Dated: July 24, 2026

Project Owner: The Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area (Metroparks Toledo)

Project Name: Festival Park Renovation

Project Location: 408 North Summit St., Toledo, OH 43604

Delivery Method: Design-Build

Owner Budget - Design and Construction: $950,000 for Phase One

Deadline to Submit: 1:00 p.m. local time, August 7, 2026, via PlanetBids

Metroparks Toledo (the “Owner”) is soliciting Statements of Qualifications (“SOQs”) from qualified Design-Build Teams (“Teams”) to provide Design-Build Professional Services for the Festival Park Renovation Project, 408 North Summit St., Toledo, OH 43604 (the “Project”). The Owner will be using a design-build delivery model for the design and construction of the Project.

THE SCOPE OF WORK consists of the design, oversight and implementation of a renovation of the Festival Park site, owned by the City of Toledo and leased to Toledo Science Center dba Imagination Station (“Imagination Station”). By mutual agreement, Metroparks Toledo is acting as the Project Owner in cooperation with these entities.

Bidders may obtain the Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) document and additional information by visiting www.metroparkstoledo.com/bids and following the Current Opportunities link.

Teams not registered on the PlanetBids Metroparks Toledo Vendor Portal must first create a free Vendor Profile by clicking New Vendor Registration. For additional guidance regarding electronic bidding, Teams can click the Help Center (Headset icon in the upper right of the Vendor Portal) to review the frequently asked questions, get the PlanetBids contact information, or open a support ticket with PlanetBids. Each Team shall be responsible for submitting its electronic SOQ before the bid deadline.

Submittals:

Interested Teams must submit (1) electronic copy in PDF format via PlanetBids as instructed herein.

Teams must analyze and respond to all articles of this RFQ and provide sufficient information to allow the Owner and Imagination Station to evaluate the SOQ. Team, by submitting its SOQ, agrees that any costs incurred in responding to this RFQ are to be borne by the Team and may not be billed to the Owner.

Based upon the SOQs received, the Owner and Imagination Station intend to select a short-list of Teams who will then be invited to respond to a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) and participate in interviews. The Owner and Imagination Station will award the Project contract to a Team based upon those proposals and interviews. The Team ultimately awarded the contract will complete a site design, obtain all necessary regulatory permits required, and complete constructed improvements for the Project.

The Owner and Imagination Station shall make Team selections at The Owner’s and Imagination Station’s sole discretion. The Owner and Imagination Station reserve the right to reject any and all SOQs for any reason and to pursue Team selection in a manner that is in the best interest of the organizations and that is in compliance with any and all grant requirements that are financing this Project.

The Owner and Imagination Station reserve the right to waive any defect or technicality in any SOQ received or to eliminate any Team that submits an incomplete or inadequate SOQ or that is not responsive to the requirements of this RFQ.

Questions, Clarifications and Addenda:

All questions concerning this RFQ shall be directed online via PlanetBids by 1:00 p.m., 7 days prior to the submittal deadline. Questions will be reviewed, and the Owner will determine whether any addenda should be issued as a result of any pertinent or substantive inquiries. Addenda will be issued via PlanetBids to all Teams that have registered on PlanetBids as a prospective “bidder” for this specific Project. Teams shall not rely on any oral instructions or answers.

Background:

The Project consists of one Project area, Festival Park: 408 North Summit St Toledo, OH 43604, which is adjacent to Imagination Station, ProMedica Headquarters, and Glass City Riverwalk. During the 1980s, Festival Park was constructed as part of the Portside development. ProMedica subsequently took ownership of the parcel as part of relocating its headquarters to the Steam Plant and adjacent buildings in 2017. The City will now be reacquiring the site and leasing it to Imagination Station for the purpose of constructing a playground and other public space amenities.

A. Project Description

The overall goals of the renovation Project are to create a destination-quality playground and public space for use by Imagination Station visitors and the general public, and to improve ADA accessibility between the Summit Street level entrance to Imagination Station and the Riverwalk below. The Project will include the design and construction of the site features referenced below and in Exhibits A and B, or suggested alternatives:

1. Science- and nature-themed playground, including premanufactured and custom sculptural play equipment

2. Lower level (Riverwalk level) plaza renovations

3. Rerouting an existing fire lane to increase usable space

4. Renovation of the existing amphitheater into a more flexible play and public space

5. ADA-accessible path connecting the upper and lower levels of the park

6. Eye-catching, engaging upper level (Summit Street level) entrance feature

7. Larger-than-life heron sculpture, or similar iconic sculpture

8. Reinstallation of “The Family” sculpture

9. Low-maintenance landscaping throughout, predominantly using locally-native plant species

The project components described above are anticipated to be completed in three phases as follows:

1. Phase 1:

a. Design development plans for the entire project site

b. Construction of enough lower level amenities to complete a functional playground that can stand alone until subsequent phases are completed

c. Fabrication and installation of at least one iconic sculptural feature

2. Phase 2 (pending acquisition of sufficient funds):

a. Further build-out of lower level playground and amenities

b. Rerouting of existing fire lane

c. Reinstallation of “The Family” sculpture

3. Phase 3 (pending acquisition of sufficient funds):

a. Amphitheater renovations

b. Upper level entrance feature

c. ADA-accessible path

The scope of the phases may be adjusted as design and cost estimation progress.

A site map of the Project area is attached as Exhibit A to this RFQ. Conceptual plans and graphics conveying the Project intent are attached as Exhibit B.

This Project will include the production of design development plans, engineering, final design, and construction of the final design. A topographic survey of the area has already been obtained and will be provided to the selected Team. The selected Team will assist the Owner with local, state and federal agency coordination and permitting, as necessary. The Team shall furnish all necessary drawings, plans, permits (local, state, and federal), labor, facilities, materials, equipment, incidentals, and construction oversight services to complete the Project scope of services as defined herein and the Design-Build Contract entered into with the Owner.

The total maximum cost for the Project is $950,000 for Phase One. This maximum amount of $950,000 shall not be exceeded under any circumstances. The Owner and Imagination Station intend to utilize the entire $950,000 for the Project to maximize the public benefit of the Project area. The Owner and Imagination Station intend to pursue additional funding for Phases Two and Three of the Project. In the event that additional funding becomes available after the contract has been awarded, the Owner and Imagination Station reserve the right to work with the contract award winner to increase the project scope and budget;

however, such increase (if any) shall be at the Owner’s and Imagination Station’s sole and absolute discretion.

The Project is funded in part through a grant already obtained by Imagination Station.

Additional grants may be secured after the contract has been awarded. In the event that additional grants are secured after the contract has been awarded, the Owner will provide copies of grant agreements, rules, and regulations to the contract award winner. The Contractor awarded the Project will be required to agree to any and all terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Agreements.

B. Scope of Services

The Team awarded the contract will be required to complete the following tasks for the Project:

1. Create/utilize existing conceptual designs and topographical data to provide plans for and construct playground areas, overlooks, plazas, paths, vehicular barriers, landscape beds, sculptural site elements, and other site amenities as described herein and as depicted conceptually in the attached appendices. If the proposed design creates a need for any specialized engineering, environmental, or geotechnical services, the Team’s proposal shall address each service.

2. Complete a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (“SWPPP”) for the proposed design. Erosion and sediment must be controlled throughout the construction process in accordance with the current Ohio EPA construction general permit.

a. No fill or spoil shall be placed in a stream, river, or wetland area, either on-site or off-site, unless specifically designated as a part of the approved and final Project design and permitting.

b. Coconut coir erosion control matting (or similar product preapproved by the Owner) must be utilized for all erosion control measures. Use of any nylon or polyester materials for erosion control is strictly prohibited.

c. Any areas disturbed or spoil areas must be cleaned up, graded naturally, mulched and seeded or planted in accordance with reasonable timeframes or as required by the Ohio EPA general permit and/or the SWPPP.

3. Conduct frequent communications on project progress via in-person or virtual meetings, phone calls, or email with designated Owner’s staff.

4. Provide cloud-based file sharing access for file storage. Cloud-based services shall not require the Owner’s staff to sign up or enroll in service to obtain access.

5. Project Construction: The selected Team shall perform construction of this

Project per the design and specifications as approved by the Owner and per the terms and conditions of the Contract.

a. The Team shall be responsible to repair, replace, or restore any part of the property outside of the Project boundaries that are damaged or changed by the Team or subcontractors doing work on the Project.

6. Data shall be collected and formatted in a manner consistent with common standard engineering practices. All records (original tracings, maps, field sketches, graphics originals, design calculations, electronic files including model input and output files, etc.) generated by the Project shall be the property of the Owner and shall be turned over to the Owner upon completion or as directed.

Any survey data collected during the Project shall be delivered in raw data form with coordinate information, survey codes, benchmark control and/or other GPS data. The data shall be delivered on a transferable drive or similar format in DWG (AutoCAD 2018 or later) format.

7. All materials and each part or detail of work shall be subject to inspection by the

Owner. The Owner or its representatives shall be allowed access to all parts of the work and shall be furnished with such information and assistance by the Team as required making a complete and detailed inspection at any and all times.

8. Provide as-built drawings of the completed construction Project, including a red-line mark-up version compared to the design plan.

Deliverables: Deliver the following to the Owner:

1. USB drive or other digital media copies of all data, plans and regulatory permits gathered and generated in a format acceptable to the Owner.

2. As-Built drawings: Prior to submission of a final application for payment, as built drawings shall be provided to the Owner showing final site conditions. A set of red-line as-built drawings shall also be submitted displaying deviations from the approved design plan.

3. Construction photographs: The Team shall furnish a series of digital construction photos to show the progress of work. Photos must be provided on a USB drive or other digital media.

C. Schedule

Teams should assume a commencement date of October 13, 2026 following Metroparks Toledo Board of Park Commissioners approval. All Phase One Project activities must be completed by December 31, 2027, with substantial completion of Phase One by October 1, 2027. The schedule for the completion of later phases will be contingent upon the acquisition of sufficient funds.

D. Statement of Qualifications - Instruction to Offerors:

The total size of the PDF document submitted to the Owner under this RFQ should be no more than twelve (12) single-sided pages in length. The document should be in a commonly used 12 point font formatted at 8.5” x 11”. Any plans provided in conjunction with the document can be sized for 11”x17” paper and will count for only 1 page, but cannot be double-sided. Cover letter and attached resumes of key personnel shall not be counted towards the document length. The Owner and Imagination Station shall score submitted SOQs using a 75-point scale. Maximum points assigned to each area of the SOQ are indicated in parentheses below.

In responding to this request, please include the following items:

1. Cover Letter (3 points): Provide a cover letter including an executive summary of the key SOQ elements, not to exceed two (2) pages in length. The cover letter shall be signed by a representative of the Team who holds signatory authority to execute agreements.

2. Summary of Qualifications (40 total points): Demonstrate the Teams’s experience and abilities in completing work similar to this Project. This section should include the following:

a. Description of Project Team (10 points): List and describe each entity, including proposed subcontractors, that are a part of the Project Team, including each entity’s design-build experience and experience with projects similar in nature to the subject Project. Identify key Project Team personnel, including key subcontractor personnel, who will be involved in the Project, including the experience, knowledge, technical expertise, certifications and licenses, and resumes of key personnel (limited to one page each). If proposed subcontractors are not identified in the SOQ, a rationale for how those subcontractors will be selected should be provided.

b. Project Examples (30 total points; up to 10 points for each project): Provide a summary of three (3) examples of design-build park construction or other projects completed over the past five (5) years that have similarities and relevance to this proposed Project and scope of services. Scoring emphasis shall be placed on projects completed within urban settings that include custom playground equipment and site amenities, renovations to existing hardscapes, and work completed around complex existing utility systems to remain.

3. References (5 points): Provide five (5) references, including contact information and a brief Project description of the work completed for them. At least two (2) of the references must be from among the three (3) design-build project examples provided in Section 2(b) above.

4. Primary Office Location (4 points): Provide a statement of the Team’s primary office location. Designate the office location where the primary work, other than the project fieldwork, will be performed. Higher priority will be given to local offices.

5. Understanding of Regulatory Requirements (3 points): Provide a statement of the

Team’s familiarity with and understanding of any local, state and federal permits and regulations required to implement this Project, and a brief communication plan for the Project.

6. Past Performance (15 Points): Demonstrate that the Team has delivered previous Metroparks and other local Projects on schedule, controlled project budgets, provided accurate and quality designs, incurred minimal problems or extras, and taken responsibility and resolved issues to complete projects.

7. Current Workload (5 points): Describe the Team’s current workload including the availability of the Team to immediately commence this project upon receipt of a Notice to Proceed.

Design-Build Agreement/Contract:

The Owner and Imagination Station shall not be required to select for short-list any of the entities that submit a SOQ in response to this RFQ. The Owner and Imagination Station shall, at their sole and absolute discretion, determine which entities, if any, shall be invited to submit a proposal and participate in an interview for consideration in the award of the Project. Reasons for non-selection may include, but are not limited to, Owner’s and

Imagination Station’s dissatisfaction with the submitted SOQs, insufficient interest from teams, withdrawal of the grants being used to fund the Project, and/or inability to procure one or more permits necessary to complete the Project. The final award of the Project is conditional on the Team executing a written Contract acceptable to the Owner, in its sole and absolute discretion.

The Agreement used shall be furnished by the Team and approved as to form by the Owner.

AIA Document A141-2024 Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Design- Builder is typical; however, the Owner is open to alternative forms of agreement. The Owner reserves the right to modify any document as necessary to protect their lawful rights and responsibilities. Both parties will act in good faith to achieve consensus on the Agreement’s final form.

Applicable Requirements:

In the performance of the Project, the Team shall comply with all applicable:

1. Ohio Governor Executive Orders;

2. Federal, state, and local laws, regulations (rules, ordinances), assurances, orders, and Ohio Department of Commerce Prevailing Wage Guidelines, regarding current prevailing wages, deductions, worker compensation, taxes, social security and unemployment, compensation, and any contributions thereto;

a. Davis-Bacon Act,

b. Contract Work Hours Standard Act,

c. The Copeland Act (Anti-Kickback), and

d. Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 4115.03 et seq., the Project requires all construction contractors and construction subcontractors to pay prevailing wages and provide certified payroll as defined under Ohio law.

3. Federal, state, and local laws and regulations (rules, ordinances), assurances, and orders, whether or not specifically referenced herein.

4. Any and all terms and conditions of Grant Agreements to which the Project is subject.

5. The selected Team will be required to enter into separate payment agreements with Metroparks and Imagination Station. Direct payments may be made by either party.

6. The selected Team and their construction subcontractors will be required to enter into a Project Labor Agreement with the Northwest Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council for the Work on the Project. All Metroparks construction projects with contract values $50,000 and above require a PLA. The Project Labor Agreement shall be substantially similar to the agreement on file with Metroparks and available upon request.

7. The selected Team will carry and provide a certificate of insurance for public liability insurance with a combined single limit of not less than one million ($1,000,000.00) and vehicular public liability and property damage in a combined single limit sum of not less than one million ($1,000,000.00). The Team hereby agrees to name the Owner as an additional insured on the Contractor’s insurance policy. Contractor must also carry an errors and omissions insurance policy.

Contractor will supply the Owner with a notice of cancellation of the insurance policy not less than thirty (30) days prior to said cancellation.

8. The selected Team shall be required to provide a 100% performance and payment bond, conditioned on the faithful performance of the contract, the completion of the work within the time specified and prompt payment of all persons furnishing labor and materials necessary for all work. The performance and payment bond shall be drawn in favor of the Owner and shall be by a surety company acceptable to the Owner.

All bonds must be issued by a surety company authorized by the Ohio Department of Insurance to transact business in the State of Ohio and acceptable to the Owner. The bond must be issued by a surety capable of demonstrating a record of competent underwriting, efficient management, adequate reserves, and sound investments. These criteria will be deemed to be met if the surety currently has an A.M. Best Company Policyholders Rating of “A-“ or better and has or exceeds the Best Financial Size Category of Class VI. Other sureties may be acceptable to the Owner, in its sole discretion.

Restricted Communications:

In order to avoid situations in which a potential or perceived conflict of interest could occur or an unfair competitive advantage could be obtained or perceived, all inquiries or other communications regarding this RFQ shall be exclusively directed to the Metroparks Toledo Planning & Construction team at: bids@metroparkstoledo.com. Once Teams have registered and obtained the RFQ packet via PlanetBids, all inquiries are to be posted within the PlanetBids website. Teams are hereby expressly instructed not to otherwise communicate with the Owner or Imagination Station regarding this RFQ. This prohibition is also applicable to Team’s affiliates, officers, employees, agents, subcontractors, consultants and proposing team members.

Evaluation & Selection:

The selection process will involve screening of submitted SOQs as detailed in Section D above. The Owner and Imagination Station will select a short-list of Teams on the basis of adherence to the RFQ, Team qualifications and experience, understanding of the scope of services, and design-build experience with similar projects. Prior design-build experience is deemed critical to the success of this Project. As such, the selected Team must detail previous design-build experience as noted throughout this RFQ in order to receive consideration for this contract. While each SOQ will be considered objectively, the Owner and Imagination Station assume no obligation to accept or take action on any SOQ;

however, the Team must indicate the availability of their team to meet the schedule in this RFQ. The availability of the consultant to commence work on short notice and meet the schedule for completion may be a factor in evaluating the SOQs and subsequent proposals.

Final contract award will be subject to the review and approval by way of legislation through Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners.

Attachments:

Exhibit A – Project Area Map (1 Page) Exhibit B – Conceptual Design Documents (6 Pages) Exhibit C – RFQ Scoring & Ranking Sheet (1 Page)