Request for Qualifications - Architectural Services for New Fire Station

The City of Madison, Georgia is conducting a Request for Qualifications (RFQ 2026-3500-01) to procure comprehensive architectural design and construction administration services for a new fire station facility supporting both full-time and volunteer firefighters. The proposed facility will be approximately 12,000 to 16,000 square feet, designed as a single-story structure with provisions for future second-floor expansion, and will include four apparatus bays, administrative offices, living quarters, kitchen, training areas, exercise facilities, storage, a SCBA filling station, and a decon room. The selected architectural firm must provide complete services from preliminary planning through construction completion, including schematic design (35% submittal), design development with opinion of probable construction cost (65% submittal), construction documents (95% submittal), and final coordinated documents ready for bidding (100% submittal), with all construction documents required for permitting submission within six months of Notice to Proceed. The evaluation committee will assess proposals based on experience and references (30%), suitability of design approach (25%), financial stability (20%), price competitiveness (15%), and proposal responsiveness (10%), with up to five qualified firms selected for interviews where pricing proposals will be opened. Key deadlines include the inquiry deadline of November 14, 2025; written responses to inquiries posted by November 21, 2025; proposal submittal deadline of December 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. local time; evaluation completion by December 10, 2025; presentations and interviews scheduled for December 18-19, 2025; and final selection expected December 22, 2025. Required qualifications include proven expertise in fire station design and construction documentation, Georgia professional licensure with E-Verify verification, audited financial statements for the past two years (or acceptable unaudited statements), and insurance coverage including $1,000,000 combined single limit commercial general liability, $1,000,000 comprehensive automobile liability, $1,000,000 umbrella coverage, and workers' compensation with specified limits.

The RFQ does not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular types of organizations, nor does it identify disadvantaged enterprise requirements. Firms may submit from any office location provided they demonstrate capacity to meet project needs and maintain coordination with City staff. The procurement documents do not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors, as this represents a new service engagement for the fire station project. The City will procure civil engineering services directly, while the selected design team will coordinate with separately contracted testing and investigation vendors and an established security vendor. Respondents may propose either lump-sum or hourly not-to-exceed per-phase pricing structures corresponding to design milestones and deliverables, though the RFQ documents do not specify a total contract value, budget range, or anticipated construction cost. No performance or payment bonds are required for this architectural services engagement. The final selection announcement indicates that 2WR Architects was selected as the successful firm following the evaluation process, though this selection does not constitute a formal contract award pending final agreement execution.