Design Engineering Services for the Oglethorpe Library Replacement

Chatham County, Georgia is seeking design engineering services for the replacement of the Oglethorpe Library, issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP #25-0086-5) through a Quality-Based Selection (QBS) process. The project involves designing a new 24,000 square foot library facility located at Eisenhower Drive and Waters Avenue, with requirements for LEED silver certification and a focus on creating flexible, modern library spaces. The design must include active circulation areas, children's and adult collections, public access computers, study spaces, and community gathering areas with robust technological infrastructure. Evaluation criteria will consider project manager and team qualifications, resources and workload capacity, technical approach, and past performance, with a selection committee comprising two County representatives and three library staff members. Key dates include a pre-qualification conference on July 24, 2025, initial qualifications due by August 12, 2025, and final proposals due by August 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM.

The procurement encourages participation from Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), with two proposers already identified as MBE (Raymond Global, Inc. and SHAH Architecture & Interiors) and one as WBE (MOSA Architects). The project will be funded through a HUD grant and is subject to comprehensive federal compliance requirements, including Equal Employment Opportunity standards, Davis-Bacon Act wage regulations, and specific procurement guidelines. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the project involves significant design complexity, requiring a minimum of two Team Leaders and detailed technological specifications, including fiber optic networks, wireless technology, and flexible electrical services. The project will require extensive collaboration with the library's Information Technology Director to finalize specific technology types and infrastructure needs. Proposing firms represent a diverse geographical range, including companies from Savannah, Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Greenville, Nashville, and Snellville, indicating robust competition for the design engineering contract.