Critical Classroom and Office Life-Safety Security Upgrade

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is requesting proposals for a Design/Build Entity to provide architectural and engineering design, construction management, and general contracting for a Critical Classroom and Office Life-Safety Security Upgrade project, with prequalification submittals due October 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM MDT and oral interviews with sealed fee proposals due October 16, 2026. Colorado prevailing wage rates apply; Colorado labor must perform at least 80 percent of the work.

The scope encompasses modernization of door hardware, keying systems, electronic access-control equipment, and related building systems across multiple occupied academic and administrative facilities. The project is structured as a two-phase delivery: Phase 1 with an estimated cost of $2.3 million and hard costs exceeding $2 million, followed by subsequent phases. The Design/Build Entity must design, manage, and construct the project as a Design/Build Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) agreement with lump-sum design and construction management fees plus not-to-exceed reimbursable expenses.

Respondents must demonstrate a minimum of two projects exceeding $2.3 million in hard costs within the past two years, bonding capacity up to $2.3 million, and successful completion of at least two projects involving electronic access-control systems or similar complexity within the last ten years. Qualifications are weighted at 70 percent and fee proposals at 30 percent in selection. Payment and performance bonds are required at 50 percent of the contract value. Buy Clean Colorado Act requirements apply, requiring Environmental Product Declarations for eligible materials. Apprenticeship program participation is mandatory for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and related trades subcontractors with contract values of $250,000 or more.

A mandatory pre-proposal conference and site tour is scheduled for September 23, 2026 at 9:00 AM at the Campus Services Building, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs. Award is anticipated October 23, 2026, with contract negotiation beginning October 27, 2026. Design work is expected to begin November 9, 2026, and construction on May 14, 2027, with completion targeted September 30, 2027.