Progressive Design Build for New Emergency Operation Center

County of Orange, California is soliciting Statements of Qualifications from qualified Design-Build Entities to provide design and construction services for a new Emergency Operations Center at 1382 Bell Avenue in Tustin, with SOQs due July 30, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. and a mandatory pre-submittal meeting and site visit scheduled for July 15, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

Respondents must hold a Class B General Building Contractor's license issued by the California State Contractor's License Board. The design-build entity comprises either a Class B general contractor or lead design firm, or a joint venture of both. The County intends to award based on best-value evaluation of qualifications and interview performance; SOQ scoring carries a maximum of 600 points, with Phase 2 interviews potentially worth an additional 400 points.

The scope encompasses a four- to five-story parking structure with 425 to 520 stalls, approximately 17,250 square feet of new second-floor Emergency Operations Center space, renovation of approximately 840 square feet of ground-floor storage, infrastructure relocations, and landscape enhancements at an Essential Services Building classified under California's Essential Services Buildings Seismic Safety Act. The design-build entity must maintain uninterrupted operations of the existing occupied facility throughout all demolition and construction. The project must comply with California Building Standards Code Title 24, California Building Code Chapter 11B accessibility, CalOSHA, federal ADA standards, ASTM E2668, DOD Antiterrorism Minimum Standards, FEMA guidelines, and NFPA 1225. Fenestration openings are limited to a maximum of 10% of exterior wall area per 2025 CBC Section 503.4 unless additional structural seismic study is performed and funded by the design-build entity. The design-build entity is responsible for site investigation, geotechnical analysis, code analysis, and all engineering and design solutions.

The expected contract cost is $45 million to $50 million under a Guaranteed Maximum Price structure with two phases: Phase 1 covers design and preconstruction services; Phase 2 addresses construction. Phase 1 fees represent 80 percent of agreed compensation, with 20 percent included in Phase 2 GMP amendment if awarded. Respondents must demonstrate bonding capacity of at least $50 million, maintain experience modification rates of 1.00 or less, and comply with California prevailing wage and contractor registration requirements under Labor Code Section 1771.1(a). The contract term runs from Phase 1 Notice to Proceed through project completion with liquidated damages assessed for late completion. SOQ responses must remain valid for 365 calendar days. Questions are due July 24, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. through the County's OpenGov Procurement portal; interviews are tentatively scheduled for September 1, 2026.