Architectural Design Services - Continuing Contract

Marion County Public School District is seeking architectural design services through a continuing contract procurement process for fiscal year 2025-2026. The district will select multiple architectural firms to provide design services for various school-related projects, with each individual project valued at no more than $7.5 million. Firms must be licensed and qualified in their respective areas and will be expected to sign the District's Continuing Design Professional Services Agreement. The procurement follows the 2025 Design Services (RFQ) Selection Process Manual, with a comprehensive two-step selection process involving initial written response screening and subsequent oral presentations. Qualified firms must submit their qualifications through the VendorLink portal by May 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, with submittals limited to 20 pages. The selection committee will evaluate submissions based on project experience (maximum 70 points), project team capabilities (maximum 20 points), office location (maximum 10 points), and minority/woman-owned business certification (5 points). A mandatory pre-bid conference was held on April 22, 2025, with a questions submittal deadline of April 24, 2025, at 12:00 PM.

The procurement process includes specific provisions for minority-, woman-, and small-business enterprises, with points awarded for primary firms having such certifications. Firms are required to provide proof of licensure, insurance, bondability, and professional references, with minimum insurance coverage of $1,000,000 for professional liability, general liability, and auto insurance. The current list of pre-qualified design professional firms includes five architectural firms, with companies such as Monarch Design Group potentially being part of the professional services pool. The contract will be an initial one-year agreement with the potential for one-year extensions, and project assignments will be determined by factors including current workload, project location, firm expertise, and vendor preference. Compensation will be based on hourly rates determined by the School Board to be fair, competitive, and reasonable. The district reserves the right to reject any submissions, and all proposal development costs will be the sole responsibility of the applicants. The total contract value is not explicitly stated, but individual projects are capped at $7.5 million.