Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Design-Build Services for a New United States Courthouse in Hartford, CT

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Public Buildings Service Region 2 is seeking a highly qualified Design-Build Firm to provide comprehensive site development, design, and construction services for a new U.S. Courthouse in Hartford, Connecticut. The proposed facility will encompass a maximum total area of 281,000 gross square feet and must accommodate up to eleven courtrooms, eighteen judicial chambers, and supporting offices for multiple federal agencies including the U.S. District Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney's Office. The design must incorporate classical or traditional architecture in accordance with Executive Order 14344. This is a two-phase procurement using design-build-to-budget methodology, with Phase 1 proposals due on November 5, 2025, and the government planning to shortlist a maximum of three offerors for Phase 2 competition. Phase 2 proposals are due April 15, 2026, with a planned award date of August 2026. Evaluation criteria emphasize technical qualifications (60 percent), approach to design-build (20 percent), and lead designer qualifications (20 percent), with special consideration given to past performance, management capability, and the firm's ability to deliver within the prescribed budget of $292,000,000.

There is no set-aside designation for this solicitation. The project has a firm fixed-price budget of $292,000,000 with a total period of performance of 48 months from the Notice to Proceed, featuring a performance period of 1,381 calendar days for construction completion plus 60 additional days for contract close-out. Liquidated damages are set at $14,163.79 per calendar day for delays, and the contract requires a Project Labor Agreement and performance bonds. The site is a 2.19-acre parcel located at 180 Allyn Street in Hartford, Connecticut (06103), currently operating as a parking lot with complex environmental conditions including contaminated soil from historical commercial and industrial uses, requiring remediation under Connecticut regulations. Unsuccessful Phase 2 offerors may receive stipends of up to $300,000, and the project includes significant geotechnical challenges with complex subsurface conditions requiring specialized foundation solutions. Key project milestones include final design concept approval by February 2027, substantial construction completion by August 2030, and agency occupancy by December 2030.