PCS RFQ DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES for TOPSAIL MIDDLE SCHOOL

Pender County Schools (PCS) in North Carolina is soliciting Design-Build teams through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to repurpose the former Topsail Middle School into the Topsail High Upper and Lower Campus. The procurement seeks integrated architectural, engineering, planning, and construction services, with deliverables including facility evaluation, program validation, conceptual and detailed design, budgeting, value engineering, phasing, implementation planning, and full construction delivery. Key project objectives include reducing overcrowding, expanding academic and workforce development programs, eliminating temporary modular classrooms, improving campus safety and circulation, and maximizing the use of existing facilities and infrastructure. The adaptive reuse project will transform the existing 111,000-square-foot middle school facility to support a satellite high school campus with academic spaces, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, dual enrollment opportunities through CFCC, and dedicated CGROTC facilities, with scope encompassing interior renovations, selective infrastructure upgrades, site and circulation improvements, MEP systems enhancements, technology integration, life safety improvements, and phased removal of modular classroom units. Qualified Design-Build teams must submit Statements of Qualifications by the March 31, 2026 deadline, with PCS selecting approximately three teams for a mandatory site visit phase where shortlisted firms may request additional facility documentation. Following Board of Education approval of the selected team, design activities will commence immediately, with construction anticipated to begin June 1, 2027 (upon conclusion of the 2026-27 academic year), lasting approximately 12 months, and achieving substantial completion by June 1, 2028, prior to the 2028-29 school year start date in August 2028. The RFQ document, Questions and Responses document, and Addendum No. 2 contain complete specifications, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria.

The procurement documents do not specify set-aside designations, restrictions on respondent type, or disadvantaged enterprise requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The existing facility includes a cafeteria and kitchen that may require modifications during design, with potential changes to be determined during the design phase. The selected Design-Build team will be responsible for procuring subcontractors and managing construction pricing as part of overall project delivery, with early procurement and phased construction planning potentially utilized to support the accelerated schedule. No known environmental issues such as mold, asbestos, or lead have been identified; however, the selected team will conduct a comprehensive facility assessment during pre-construction, with any unforeseen conditions addressed in coordination with PCS. Sustainability goals for the project have not yet been established and will be defined during the selection and design process. The procurement documents do not disclose a specific award value or budget range for this Design-Build Services opportunity.