The General Services Administration (GSA) Design Excellence Program seeks to commission architects, engineers, and construction professionals to maintain and modernize our legacy federal buildings for the next 50 to 100 years of service. These projects will demonstrate the value of integrated design that balances historic significance with current needs; balances aesthetics, cost, constructability, and reliability; and creates environmentally responsible and superior workplaces for civilian federal employees.
In this context, GSA announces an opportunity for Design and Construction Excellence in public architecture for performance of Architectural Engineering Design and Construction services in accordance with GSA quality standards and requirements. As required by law, regulation or Executive Order, all facilities will meet performance targets and security requirements.
The anticipated project is a new Land Port of Entry (LPOE) within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation about five miles northeast of Grand Portage, Minnesota. The proposed site is adjacent to an existing LPOE of approximately 8.1 acres. The port serves passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and pedestrians crossing between the United States and Neebing, Ontario, Canada. The redesign and modernization of the port, which is the second largest in Minnesota, will provide better support for its national security and international commerce functions. Additional lanes and a wider commercial truck lane will shorten vehicle processing times for tourists and residents accessing local community businesses. The intended delivery method is Design Build (DB).
The existing facility was constructed in 1965, and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. The site is within State Highway 61 and spans the full width of the highway permanent easement. The highway easement is maintained and controlled by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), but is wholly within the Grand Portage Reservation, and both GSA and MnDOT will coordinate with the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa throughout the course of the project. The 30,000 to 33,100 gross square foot requirement includes space for Customs and Border Protection to more effectively and safely process the incoming and outgoing traffic across the border.
The DB scope of work includes all labor and materials required to provide design and construction services for the Grand Portage LPOE project pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Two-Phase Design-Build Selection Procedures and incorporating Art in Architecture Program, and Design - Construction - Operational Excellence policies and procedures. The design for the project will conform to the Federal Building Design Standards, 2021 Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service P-100, and other building codes and standards as applicable to this project. The facility will be designed to be net-zero carbon ready and achieve LEED Gold standards. The resultant contract will be a firm fixed price.
Design services, which will be accomplished through the contract, will be necessary to meet the functional requirements of prospective tenants, fulfill policy and regulatory criteria, and provide state of the art workplaces that help define interior design standards for the building. Designed solutions shall be consistent with the latest objectives of GSA, prospective tenants, and best practices in architectural planning and design. The project is funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
The purpose of Phase I (the request for qualifications) is to select the most highly qualified Offerors from Phase I to participate in Phase II (the request for proposals). At the conclusion of Phase I, GSA will invite the Short-Listed Offerors to submit Phase II proposals. Phase II proposals will require submission of technical and price proposals, which are evaluated separately in accordance with FAR Part 15. Potential Offerors are hereby placed on notice that
GSA will publicly announce the names of the Phase I "short-list" on SAM.gov.
A maximum of three (3) Offerors will be selected to proceed to Phase II. At the conclusion of Phase II, GSA intends to award a contract to a single Offeror for all design and construction services. The procurement will be full and open to all businesses.
A virtual Pre-Proposal meeting will be held on November 9, 2023, at 12:00 PM CT. Prospective attendees are required to RSVP to the Contracting Officer. Proposals are due no later than 4:00 PM CT, on January 3, 2024.
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11/09/2023
Amendment 001 added.
11/30/2023
Amendment 002 added with revised Solicitation, Phase 1 – Request for Qualifications.
12/13/2023
Amendment 003 added and extending the due date to 1/17/2024.
05/14/2024
The following are the firms shortlisted for DB services for the Grand Portage Land Port of Entry Project in Grand Portage, Minnesota:
Cherokee Nation Mechanical, LLC/Gensler
2 W. 2nd St., Suite 1500-24
Tulsa, OK 74103
McGough/ Perkins & Will
34 East Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
M. A. Mortenson Company dba Mortenson Construction/ Snow Kreilich Architects
700 Meadow Lane North
Minneapolis, MN 55422
