A previously approved District Facilities Five Year Work Program provides for remodeling of Van Buren Middle School to convert excess middle school capacity to elementary student stations to accommodate the termination of the MOSI Partnership lease and reduce crowding at other elementary schools in the north Hillsborough County area.  The project scope includes reconfiguration of some classrooms and the addition of individual toilet rooms to classrooms designated for kindergarten through third grade.  Minor renovations to the cafeteria heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system and some exterior improvements are also planned.  Appointment of a qualified design professional and construction manager for the project is required.

Florida Statutes and School Board policy outline the process and requirements for selection of architects, engineers, and construction managers.  Attachment A summarizes the process.  The process provides for the identification of the most highly qualified firms by a Professional Services Selection Committee that includes representatives from several District divisions and the community.  Attachment C identifies the specific committee members participating in each selection for Van Buren Middle School and the organization represented by each.

Fifteen design professionals and thirteen construction managers responded to the solicitation.  The solicitation is included in Attachment B.  Attachments D and E record the results of the Committee's evaluation of these firms at each phase of the process.

Staff has successfully concluded negotiations with the firms deemed most highly qualified by the Selection Committee to provide the required services.  Based on the Selection Committee ranking and successful negotiations, staff recommends appointment of the firms and award of the corresponding fees as indicated below.

     - Long & Associates Architects Engineers, Inc. to provide design services for a fixed fee of $200,000.
     - Williams Company Tampa to provide construction management services for a fixed fee of $137,500.