Replacement of HVAC equipment at the City’s Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center Request for Qualifications (2026021-PR-DB)

The City of Harrisonburg, Virginia is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a Design-Build contract to replace HVAC equipment at the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center located at 620 Simms Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. The scope of work includes replacement of one 200-ton air-cooled chiller with 30% propylene glycol, two 2,400,000 BTU natural gas boilers, twenty-eight fan coil units with additional units to address heating and cooling issues in the historical section of the building, a control system upgrade with space temperature adjustment and remote connectivity, replacement of associated hot water pumps and variable frequency drives, and mitigation of excessive noise levels from the HVAC system in the auditorium. The facility, built in 1938 and reconstructed in 2004, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and currently houses the Boys and Girls Club and The Arc, requiring National Park Service approval prior to construction. Qualified offerors must demonstrate that their team includes a licensed Class A contractor and a registered Architect or Engineer in Virginia as key personnel, with resumes required for the Design-Build Project Manager, Engineer/Architect in Charge, Quality Control Manager, Design Manager, and Construction Manager, along with work history documentation for three relevant projects by both the Lead Contractor and Lead Designer. Evaluation will be based on a 100-point scale consisting of Experience of Offeror's Team (40 points), Offeror's Team Structure (20 points), Project Risks (20 points), and experience with at least three similar projects delivered via Design-Build methodology (20 points). A mandatory project information meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., the deadline for submitting questions is June 8, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. local time, and Statements of Qualifications are due June 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. through the eVA platform, with short-list announcement anticipated for June 30, 2026, RFP release on July 2, 2026, technical and cost proposals due August 5, 2026, and Design-Build contract award anticipated for September 1, 2026.

MEI Engineering Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies are prohibited from participating due to conflict of interest, representing a specific restriction on eligible respondents beyond standard business qualifications. All Statements of Qualifications must be submitted electronically through the eVA platform with no page limits, and offerors must provide proof of ability to obtain general liability insurance, workers compensation insurance, builder's risk insurance, performance and payment bonds, and a 100% performance and payment bond. This RFQ does not include specific budget or award value information, as pricing is not requested at this qualification phase and will only be submitted by short-listed offerors during the second phase Request for Proposals. The City reserves the right to cancel the solicitation, reject any or all submissions, or negotiate with the most qualified offeror. No set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or small business preferences are mentioned in the procurement documents. The project follows the City of Harrisonburg's Design-Build Procedures as adopted by City Council Resolution effective January 1, 2022, and is being conducted in accordance with Virginia Code 2.2, Chapter 43.1.