RFP-48-27 CM/GC KSU Health Sciences Center

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Finance and Administration Cabinet, Division of Engineering and Contract Administration (DECA), is requesting proposals for Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) services for Kentucky State University's Health Sciences Center in Frankfort, with proposals due September 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., and questions due by September 3, 2026.

This is a two-part competitive negotiation: Part 1 (technical qualifications and fee proposal) due September 17; three highest-scoring firms advance to Part 2 oral presentations on October 13, with anticipated award by October 23. The scope encompasses pre-construction services (design review, constructability analysis, cost estimating at each design phase, scheduling, and bid package preparation) and construction services (trade contractor coordination, quality control, site management, and monthly reporting). The project involves a new 58,640-gross-square-foot, three-story health sciences facility housing the College of Nursing, Nutrition Sciences research laboratories, and an outpatient health clinic on a 4.3-acre site at KSU's eastern campus in Frankfort.

The construction budget is $49.3 million. The project schedule targets substantial completion in June 2027 and final completion in Q1 2030, with construction duration estimated at 900 days (30 months) from start of construction. The design team is led by Omni Architects with supporting consultants including KLH Engineers, KPFF Structural, CARMAN Civil, and Hanbury Laboratory Design. Current design status is Phase B; the CM/GC must assess ongoing design work and provide cost estimates at defined intervals. Project scope includes demolition of two existing buildings, environmental remediation (prior automotive storage and coal ash), substantial earthwork due to 34-foot topographic variation, drilled pier deep foundations, geothermal HVAC systems with water-source heat pumps and dedicated outdoor air systems, specialized laboratory infrastructure, wet pipe sprinkler fire protection, emergency generator backup, and stormwater management.

Minimum qualification requirement: five years of demonstrated experience on comparable projects with expertise in advanced laboratory construction, healthcare projects, and educational facilities. Fee proposals must include separate lump-sum amounts for pre-construction and construction services, with construction services fees prorated monthly. Part 1 scoring combines qualifications (200 points maximum) and fee proposal; Part 2 combines qualifications (200 points maximum) with carried-forward fee score. Part 2 finalists must submit a bid guarantee of not less than 5% of proposed fees. The successful CM/GC will provide 100% Performance Bond and 100% Payment Bond. Proposals submitted electronically through Vendor Self Service (VSS) remain valid for three months. Contact: Lori Denhart, 502-892-3493, or DecaDesign@ky.gov.