New York Construction Report staff writer
The NYC Dept. of Design and Construction (DDC) will reissue an RFQ for the Manhattan jail project in response to construction industry feedback, according to a notice of intent released Aug. 14.
“There have been numerous developments in the construction market, in the overall economy and in the Borough-Based Jails Program since we started the process of identifying the design-build team that will design and build the new jail in Manhattan,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “We’ve heard from new industry partners who would like the opportunity to participate and that’s very helpful to our program; the more firms that compete for the contract, the better we are able to deliver the more humane jail.”
DDC anticipates issuing a new Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in September, followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP) to short-listed vendors in early-2024. DDC continues its collaboration on this procurement with various agencies including the Department of Correction (DOC), Correctional Health Services (CHS) and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ).
The renewal process will also allow the city to re-engage with the community on the design guidelines, which are a key part of the RFP process and which have been developed for each of the four borough-based jail sites.
Guidelines for the Manhattan facility will help define physical building attributes, and the community will have input on streetscape and open space, the building’s exterior, community space and public areas, all within the constraints of the ULURP approved building envelope.
Procurement for all work requires a two-step process: the submittal of a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) in response to an RFQ, followed by submittal of a Proposal by short-listed vendors in response to an RFP.
SOQs will be evaluated to create short-lists of firms that are deemed qualified to respond to the follow-up RFP. Up to three vendors will be short-listed for the Manhattan Facility project. Responses to the RFP will then be evaluated and will lead to contracting with the design-build team that will design and construct the Manhattan Facility.
DDC will utilize a best-value selection that prioritizes design, quality, past performance and qualifications. In selecting the teams and carrying out a collaborative design-build approach to project delivery, DDC is using best practices as defined by the Design-Build Institute of America. DDC will also make available stipends to short-listed firms that participate in the RFP process but are not selected to be awarded a design-build contract.
