Los Alamitos Battalion Headquarters Readiness Center

The California Department of General Services, Real Estate Services Division is requesting qualifications for architectural and engineering design services for a new approximately 59,000-square-foot, two-story Battalion Headquarters Readiness Center at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos in Orange County, with statements of qualifications due October 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

The scope encompasses integrated architecture, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, telecommunications, security electronics, geotechnical, environmental, and sustainability engineering for a design-bid-build project. The facility will include mission-critical spaces such as an assembly hall, classrooms, learning center, training rooms, arms vault, locker rooms, and administrative offices on approximately 5.6 acres, with site development encompassing demolition of existing Navy housing, new roadways, utilities extensions, EV-capable parking, and landscaping. All design professionals must be licensed in California. The project must comply with Department of Defense Unified Facilities Criteria, Antiterrorism/Force Protection standards, California Title 24, and LEED v5 Gold certification. Geotechnical considerations include shallow groundwater, liquefaction susceptibility, and corrosive soils.

The estimated construction cost is approximately $99.579 million with an estimated contract duration of five years. All firms and subcontractors must comply with prevailing wage requirements under Labor Code 1774, register with the Department of Industrial Relations as public works contractors, and submit electronic certified payroll reports as applicable. Ten percent retention will be held on progress payments, with retentions exceeding $10,000 that continue beyond 60 days of project completion eligible for escrow payment upon written request.

Evaluation will be based on written SOQ submissions addressing eleven criteria including firm and principal experience, key personnel qualifications, resource availability, collaboration capabilities, problem-solving demonstrated through past projects, public works support experience, regulatory knowledge, sustainability expertise, cost analysis capabilities, and specific experience with California Military Department construction projects. The top three firms will be invited for oral interviews, followed by fee proposal submission and contract negotiations with the highest-ranked firm. Selected firms and all sub-consultants are precluded from participating in any construction or other competitively bid contract work on the project.