Construction Management Services - Belleview Middle School HVAC Upgrades

Marion County Public Schools in Florida, through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process under the Consultant's Competitive Negotiations Act, is procuring comprehensive architectural and engineering design services for a campus-wide HVAC system replacement at Belleview Middle School located at 10500 SE 36th Avenue, Ocala, Florida. The project scope encompasses replacing the existing water-to-air package heat pump system with a modern, energy-efficient chilled water system, including design of a new Central Energy Plant (CEP), cooling tower yard, piping distribution, electrical upgrades, fire alarm system modifications, and a new Direct Digital Controls (DDC) system. The procurement is structured in two phases: Phase I (January 2027 through August 2027) with a $6 million budget available in September 2026, and Phase II (June 2028 through August 2028) with a $6 million budget available in September 2027. Qualified firms must be licensed to practice in Florida, maintain General Liability and Auto Insurance of $1,000,000 minimum and statutory Workers' Compensation Insurance, and submit qualifications through the VendorLink portal by 2:00 p.m. EST on February 26, 2026. Critical deadlines include a mandatory pre-bid meeting on February 12, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the Purchasing Department Conference Room (2091 NE 35th Street, Ocala, Florida 34479)—attendance is required for eligibility—with a questions submittal deadline of February 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., bid opening on February 27, 2026, shortlist notification on March 14, 2026, and finalist interviews on April 1, 2026. Design deliverables include bid documents by October 2026 and permit documents by December 2026. The RFQ evaluation process utilizes a two-step selection framework: Step 1 assesses written responses on a maximum of 105 points based on related project experience (70 points across three categories), project team capabilities (20 points), office location (10 points), and minority/woman-owned or small business certification (5 points), with a minimum of three highest-scoring firms advancing to Step 2, where shortlisted firms present to a five to nine-member Selection Committee scored on a maximum of 100 points based on project team qualifications, approach and methodology, timeline and quality control, cost controls and value engineering, and knowledge of site and local conditions.

The RFQ does not impose set-aside designations but does provide scoring preference for minority/woman-owned or small business certifications. All respondents must comply with a "cone of silence" restriction prohibiting vendor communication with Board members and District personnel from RFQ advertisement until Board action on the contract award, with all applicant correspondence directed to Purchasing Specialist Garrett McCallum at Garrett.McCallum@marion.k12.fl.us. Firms are required to provide proof of Florida licensure and insurance, professional reference letters for at least three school projects, and demonstrate capability to perform electrical analysis to ensure adequate power capacity for the new system, with any necessary electrical upgrades to be included in the proposal package. No incumbent vendors are identified in the procurement documents, though the District has noted that the cafeteria dining area is currently operating on a temporary rented unit due to kitchen equipment failure, suggesting coordination with existing temporary infrastructure may be necessary. The District is open to cost savings recommendations and will evaluate redundant IT room systems as part of the design process. The selected design professional will execute the District's Standard Design Professional Service Agreement and will be responsible for providing all related design services and coordinating with all necessary consultants, with contract negotiations and final fee establishment occurring after Board approval of the highest-ranking firm.