Architectural and Engineering Services

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, is seeking architectural and engineering services through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for comprehensive facility improvement projects funded by a recent bond issue. The procurement aims to shortlist design professionals capable of executing a wide range of project types, including HVAC upgrades, air conditioning additions, roof repairs, building envelope improvements, structural renovations, new school construction, and site improvements like parking, sidewalks, and playgrounds. Proposers must submit qualifications electronically through the OpenGov Procurement platform by November 16, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., with a questions deadline of November 3, 2025. The primary designer must be a registered architect, landscape architect, or professional engineer licensed in Ohio, and projects will utilize various delivery methods such as Design-Bid-Build, General Contracting, Construction Manager Agent, Construction Manager at Risk, and Design-Build. Evaluation criteria include assessing firm location and workload (10 points), primary firm qualifications (30 points), key consultant qualifications (20 points), overall team qualifications (10 points), and overall team experience (30 points).

The RFQ mandates participation in the District's Community Inclusion Program, requiring firms to identify and include Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certified consultants in their service delivery. Design professional fees are estimated at 6-7 percent of total project cost, with individual project budgets ranging from $50,000 to $20 million. Professional services are scheduled to commence in December 2025, with construction beginning in March 2026 and targeted completion by December 2029. For projects under $5 million, designers must provide a minimum of 5 hours of weekly on-site construction administration, while projects $5 million and above require 10 hours weekly. Proposers must submit comprehensive documentation, including executive summaries, business health information, management methodologies, security policies, risk assessments, and three references of equal or larger project size. Firms will be evaluated on their ability to demonstrate experience with similar projects, budget and schedule management, and knowledge of Ohio Capital Improvements. The projects will be funded through PI/Maintenance Levies and other available funds, with no state funding identified.