Request for Qualifications for Architectural Services

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Real Estate and Construction Services Division is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for architectural services to design and construct new athletic fields at H.C. Wilcox Technical High School located at 298 Oregon Road in Meriden, Connecticut. The project involves the removal and demolition of existing amenities including playing fields, pedestrian pathways, bleachers, press box, concession building, lavatory facilities, tennis courts, fencing, backstops, and scoreboards, with replacement by new synthetic surface playing fields and associated amenities accommodating football, soccer, baseball, softball, and tennis. The new athletic complex will include a field house structure of approximately 4,000 gross square feet containing public restrooms, home and visitor locker rooms with prep areas, equipment storage, officials' changing rooms, ticket booth, and utility rooms, along with grandstands providing approximately 1,000 seats with handicapped accessible seating, a raised press box, and associated site infrastructure including drainage improvements, water and sewer services, dedicated electrical service, and data connectivity. Qualified architectural teams must submit a QBS Submittal Booklet not exceeding 10 megabytes through the CTsource portal, with responses due on April 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT. The solicitation opened on March 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT. All vendors are eligible to respond, and inquiries should be directed to Ronald Wilfinger at DAS Construction Services, 450 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, or Ronald.Wilfinger@ct.gov. Submissions must comply with the Connecticut QBS process requirements, including specific formatting in PDF/A format, bookmarks, searchable functionality, and pagination, with all materials organized into six divisions covering firm qualifications, team composition, key personnel resumes, example projects, and past performance records.

The RFQ does not identify specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises in the available documentation; however, respondents must submit SBE/MBE certifications if applicable to their firm's status. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the solicitation materials. The project budget establishes a construction cost estimate of approximately $9,250,000 with a total project cost not to exceed $15,500,000. Payment terms are Net 30 Days following contract award. The project classification as a Category One Project under Connecticut state regulations requires mandatory instructional programs in compliance with Title IX of the U.S. Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1972. Conditionally selected firms must submit professional documents, business credentials, and insurance verification within 14 calendar days of notification, and key personnel changes require submission no later than 24 hours before scheduled selection interviews.