Design/build exterior expansion joint replacement and façade restoration services

The Washington Convention and Sports Authority, operating as Events DC, is soliciting design/build proposals for Exterior Expansion Joint Replacement and Facade Restoration Services at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the District of Columbia. This design/build procurement encompasses comprehensive exterior restoration work including plaza-level and structural deck expansion joint replacement (4,050 linear feet), sealant joint installation (145,400 linear feet), facade cleaning (502,000 square feet), steel painting, wet glazing, precast stone patching (96 replacement panels), selective repointing, exterior insulated finish system (EIFS) repairs, and site paving restoration, with work divided into twelve phases spanning design, permitting, demolition, installation, testing, and site cleanup. The facility will remain fully operational during construction, requiring coordinated phased work to maintain public access and ADA compliance. Proposals must be submitted by May 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST, with a pre-proposal conference scheduled for April 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM EST and written questions due by April 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST. The contract base term extends from award through September 30, 2028, with four optional one-year renewal periods available. Contractors must demonstrate a minimum of 15 years of similar expansion joint and facade restoration experience, possess Sika Emseal installer certification, maintain active membership in the Sealant Water Restoration Institute, maintain $1,000,000 commercial general liability insurance and $5,000,000 umbrella liability coverage, and provide fixed-price bids by phase with fixed hourly rates for personnel. Evaluation criteria allocate a maximum of 65 technical points and 25 price points, with an additional 12 preference points available for certified District Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) status.

The procurement includes a 35 percent mandatory subcontracting set-aside requirement for District Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) and Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), with exemptions available only when the prime contractor is a CBE performing the entire project without subcontracting. Additional preference points and eligibility are available to resident-owned businesses, longtime resident businesses, local business enterprises, disadvantaged business enterprises, veteran-owned businesses, and local manufacturing enterprises. A First Source Employment Agreement requirement mandates that contractors hire District of Columbia residents for at least 51 percent of all new jobs created by the project and ensure that 35 percent of all apprenticeship hours are worked by DC residents registered in District of Columbia Apprenticeship Council-approved programs, with monthly compliance reporting and potential penalties of 5 percent of direct and indirect labor costs for non-compliance. The contract is structured as a Firm-Fixed Price award with Service Contract Act wage determinations (Wage Determination No. 2015-4281, Revision 35) applying throughout the contract term. Contractors must comply with comprehensive jobsite rules including submission of detailed Site Logistics Plans, work scheduling outside normal business hours (8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday) with 72-hour advance written approval for any overtime, maintenance of daily cleanup, documentation of existing site conditions with time-stamped photographs, and strict conduct and safety requirements for all personnel. No specific budget or award value range is disclosed in the solicitation documents.