A/E Services for GCC Fire Alarm and Systems Replacement

Palm Beach County, Florida is soliciting architectural and engineering (A/E) services through a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Design Professional Consulting Services related to the Governmental Center Building (GCC) Fire Alarm and Systems Replacement Project located at 201 North Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach. The scope of work encompasses comprehensive design, permitting, and construction administration services for replacing the existing fire alarm system in the 12-story, 304,048 square-foot building to meet current NFPA Standards, removing and replacing chemical suppression systems with compliant alternatives, creating a separate fire alarm system for the Government Center Garage, upgrading the Building Automation System, and upgrading smoke evacuation and control systems to address all code and life safety issues. Required qualifications include CCNA certification from the Palm Beach County Engineering Department's Roadway Production Division prior to submission, professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000, and registration in the County's Vendor Self Service system. A mandatory non-binding pre-proposal conference is scheduled for December 4, 2019, at 2:00 P.M. at 2633 Vista Parkway, West Palm Beach, with proposals due by 4:00 P.M. on January 9, 2020. Three firms will be short-listed based on initial proposal evaluation, with final presentations to a Selection Committee to follow. The preliminary schedule indicates design work beginning in March/April 2020, permit submission in October 2020, and construction commencement thereafter. Evaluation criteria include firm qualifications and past performance (35-50 points depending on selection stage), project approach and understanding (35 points for final selection, 20 for short-list), previous work volume awarded by the County in the past four years (10 points), State Certified MBE status (2 points), office location (3 points), and Economic Business Opportunity (EBO) program preferences.

A mandatory minimum of 20% Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation is required on this contract, with 15 evaluation points allocated specifically for SBE Prime respondents on contracts valued below $500,000. The County will utilize a Construction Manager at Risk project delivery approach and will provide all environmental assessments if required. The County will negotiate with the highest-ranked respondent, proceeding to subsequent-ranked firms if negotiations are unsuccessful. All fire alarm system components must comply with NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm Code), NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), Florida Building Code, and Palm Beach County Fire Code, with acceptable Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) manufacturers limited to Honeywell Fire-Lite, Honeywell Notifier, Edwards, and Simplex, all requiring Underwriters Laboratories or ETL certification. Installation personnel must include designers with NICET Level III or IV certification, installers with minimum five years of documented fire alarm experience, and supervisors with NICET Level III or IV credentials, all Florida certified. The estimated construction cost cannot be determined until the existing conditions analysis and scope definition are completed. Proposals must include seven copies plus electronic media submission to the Capital Improvements Division at 2633 Vista Parkway.