J-425-CxA STEM Building - University of North Georgia, Dahlonega Campus

The Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC), on behalf of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, is procuring building commissioning services through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Project No. J-425 STEM Building at the University of North Georgia, Dahlonega Campus. The project encompasses commissioning services for a new 51,600 gross square foot STEM facility estimated at $36.7 million that will include wet and dry instructional laboratories for chemistry, physics, and engineering, research laboratories, classrooms, office space, and maker spaces with sustainable features including an educational geothermal well system and solar panel array pursuing Georgia Peach certification. Commissioning services are divided into two phases: Phase One includes development of the Owner's Project Requirements document and review of the design professional's Basis of Design, while Phase Two provides comprehensive commissioning during design, construction, occupancy, and warranty phases covering mechanical, electrical, laboratory, plumbing, renewable energy systems, and building envelope. Qualified firms must maintain current Commercial General Liability Insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and professional liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence. The RFQ issued on September 23, 2025, requires written questions by October 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM and Statements of Qualifications submissions by October 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM, with finalist notification anticipated for October 22, 2025. Selection will be based on stability (25%), experience and qualifications (45%), and suitability (30%), with submittals not to exceed 50 pages in PDF format. Commissioning services are anticipated to commence in October 2025 and continue through occupancy and warranty phases, potentially extending ten months after material project completion.

The RFQ encourages participation from minority-owned business enterprises (MBE), woman-owned business enterprises (WBE), and small business enterprises (SBE), with eligible firms potentially qualifying for Georgia state income tax credits for qualified payments to certified minority subcontractors. The contract will be executed using GSFIC's standard Building Commissioning Services Agreement without modification, and the project delivery method is construction manager at-risk (CM/GC). Salas O'Brien has been identified as the highest-ranked firm selected for the commissioning services contract following the Selection Committee's evaluation process. The RFQ does not specify a total contract value or budget range for the commissioning services. No incumbent vendor information or specific technology integration requirements are detailed in the available procurement documents.