Professional Services for Replace Buchanan and Tazewell Halls at SVCC

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is requesting proposals for architectural and engineering services to design a replacement administrative and classroom facility at Southwest Virginia Community College, with sealed electronic proposals due September 30, 2026. The firm must be authorized to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Virginia and demonstrate experience designing academic facilities for higher education institutions.

The scope encompasses a new 75,000 gross square foot, two-story facility to replace the 1968-era Buchanan and Tazewell Halls on a constrained site in Cedar Bluff. Services include on-site surveys, field investigations, schematic and preliminary design development, complete construction contract documents, coordination with state agencies and local utilities, cost estimations, environmental impact reporting, geotechnical engineering services, and full construction phase administration. The target construction budget for the Schematic Design Phase is $46 million, with final project budgets and Design-Not-To-Exceed amounts to be established following Division of Engineering and Buildings review and independent cost estimates at subsequent phases. Fees will be negotiated on a lump sum basis considering estimated manhours and labor rates across various skill levels and disciplines.

VCCS has established a minimum 42% small business participation goal for discretionary spending with DSBSD-certified businesses. Proposers must submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan; those meeting or exceeding this goal receive maximum evaluation points.

Evaluation criteria are firm experience and past performance (20 points), project manager qualifications (15 points), team member expertise and consultant qualifications (25 points), workload and timely completion ability (10 points), professional liability insurance coverage (5 points), geographic location of performing office (10 points), firm size relative to project size (5 points), and small business subcontracting plan (10 points). The evaluation process includes interviews with two or more qualified proposers, with negotiation conducted first with the highest-ranked firm. No pre-proposal conference will be held. This engagement is pool-funded for detailed planning only.