Georgetown Steam Plant Reimagination & Renovation

The Georgetown Steam Plant Community Development Authority (GTSPCDA) invites Statements of Qualifications (“SOQ”) from qualified construction firms interested in providing preconstruction services for the Georgetown Steam Plant Reimagination and Renovation. GTSPCDA’s intent is to select a general contractor partner to be an integral team member throughout the design and build process.

PURPOSE
GTSPCDA is seeking a qualified general contractor meeting the goals laid out in this RFQ. To provide a uniform basis for evaluating the qualification statements, we ask that your submittal clearly address each of the requirements outlined in this request.

MISSION
“The Georgetown Steam Plant empowers Seattle using history, sciences, arts and culture as catalysts for equity, preservation, education and community centered activation.”

VISION
Our vision for the Georgetown Steam Plant begins with the historic structure and the context in which it was created, establishing it not only as a Landmark in history but a catalyst for change and community action throughout its life.

The Steam Plant is a bridge from the past to the present, across communities that have been divided, to a prosperous and equitable future. Through the transition from Indigenous lands to an industrial hub, from supplying power for an expanding City, to inspiring a neighborhood of residents and makers, to powering future generations with knowledge; this place will engage the community to be a resource for all.

We see the Steam Plant as an engine to empower the local community and beyond, using historic interpretation and immersion to inspire understanding and innovation; fostering education in the sciences and arts to propel our youth, especially the underserved, to the careers of the future; and activating this building and grounds for the communal benefit of the Georgetown and South Park neighborhoods, with a focus on environmental and quality of life initiatives.

The Georgetown Steam Plant will be a sustainable asset for the community with our combined investments returned as a resource for existing service organizations, history, arts and cultural programming, and educational engagement opportunities for the region.

PROJECT BACKGROUND
Located in the Georgetown neighborhood, The Georgetown Steam Plant was built by the Seattle Electric Company in 1906 to energize the region’s growing electric streetcar system. It was designed and constructed by Frank Gilbreth, a nationally recognized reinforced concrete expert and scientific management pioneer. The Georgetown Steam Plant is a National Historic Landmark, a National Science and Engineering Landmark, and a Seattle Landmark. Alterations are subject to review by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board as well as the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections. The property is owned and managed by Seattle City Light (SCL). In 2019 SCL and the Client began negotiating a Partner Use Agreement/Lease to manage and operate the facility as a long-term tenant.

The building will become a museum, arts and sciences education facility, event venue and community centered community center.

Daily and weekly educational programming can activate the building for the neighborhood, South Seattle and beyond. Educational partnerships will bring this building alive for all our youth through science, history, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (SHTEAM). Workshops and ongoing educational programming can provide consistent access to educational opportunities and funding possibilities.

Private event rental will also expose the history of the site to a diverse audience. Existing open spaces among the machinery and boilers as well as the potential to create usable venue space in the ash room and outside, will accommodate a wide array of event types and uses.

Through partnerships with Seattle Public Schools and other municipal school systems, as well as regional private and charter schools, we can build curriculum to inspire tomorrow’s artists, scientists, engineers, and historians.

The building is also well suited for higher education opportunities and we intend to seek partnerships with colleges, technical schools, the unions and others for training, mentoring, apprenticing and interning possibilities. Preserving the building and creating interpretive experiences for the public to engage the history are complementary objectives.

TEAM
GTSPCDA has built a team of structural and architectural consultants for design and services for this phase of work. Design services will not be required of the respondent.

SCOPE OF WORK
Adapting the Georgetown Steam Plant for use as a community space will be a substantial alteration requiring seismic, life safety, and systems improvements complying with relevant codes. Given the multiple Landmarks status, all elements of the interior and exterior are considered “character-defining”, care in design and construction will be paramount. An outline of modifications could include:
-Seismic retrofit
-Access and egress routes between levels (interior and exterior stairs)
-Elevator Fire suppression
-ADA accessibility improvements
-Interior improvements to facilitate education programming
-Replacement of existing portable classroom with comfort station
-New Visitor Center
-Potential new classroom and covered outdoor gathering space building

I. Objectives
The objective of this request is to select up to five (5) general contractors to present their approaches to partnering with the team to realize the project. In addition to transforming the building, the intent is to utilize sustainable practices in all aspects of the design and construction, and to develop partnerships within the local community. The selected general contractors will be invited to make a presentation introducing the project team, qualifications, and approach to the project and have an opportunity for questions for and from, and conversation with, the selection committee.

II. Selection Schedule
GTSPCDA and design team will review and evaluate contractor qualifications presented in the submittal responses.

The selection schedule is as follows:

October 26, 2020. RFQ release. November 2-5, 2020. Project walk-through tours. Please see below for details.
November 6, 2020, 3:00PM PST. Questions due via email
November 13, 2020, 3:00PM PST. Statement of Qualifications due via email.
November 20, 2020. The selection committee will select and notify up to five firms.
December 1, 2020 Selected firms presentation and interview.
December 4, 2020. Selection of general contractor.

III. Request for Qualifications Criteria
The SOQ should fully represent the team’s capabilities to provide pre-construction phase services and provide examples of previous experience with cultural facilities, renovations of historic structures, and team collaboration.

The selected general contractor will be expected to exemplify a spirit of teamwork and collaboration with the entire team.

General contractor’s teams should demonstrate the following capabilities and experience in the RFQ, and will be scored accordingly.
-Ability to collaborate and support the team in defining the final scope for the Project.
-Ability to establish accurate cost estimates for the identified improvements at each design phase. Proven ability to manage cost by utilizing Lean Principles such as Target Value Design.
-Familiarity and experience with IPD, GC/CM, design-build, or similar collaborative contractual arrangements.
-Experience with landmarked properties and projects.
-Experience with sustainable building practices. Experience with non-profit cultural and educational organizations.
-Methodology and technology used to investigate existing buildings.
-Approach to local hiring, equity, inclusion, training, apprenticeship

The goal is to have the general contractor to join the team as soon as possible, to advise and collaborate on design and constructibility, provide construction cost estimating and scheduling. An initial pre-construction / project definition contract will be negotiated to facilitate this first task.

IV. Request for Qualifications Requirements
Please include the following documents in your response:

Project Approach:  Describe how you would propose to work with the team based on the project scope, goals and the GTSPCDA’s mission.
Project Team: Identify key staff, corporate executive, project manager, estimator, business equity lead. Identify who will be the day-to-day point of contact.
Project References:  Provide information for three recent projects that the firm has completed. Include: project name, location, size, and date completed, brief description of the project scope, owner’s name, contact person, and phone number.
Workplan:  Outline tasks your team expects to occur during the preconstruction/project definition phase.
Equity, Inclusion, and Outreach plan:  Describe how you intend to perform outreach in the community to provide contracting opportunities to historically disadvantaged communities, BIPOC, woman, and LGBTQ owned businesses. Include a description of any training or apprenticeship programs offered by your company.
Proposed Project Milestone Schedule Dates:
Contractor selection - December 4, 2020
Preconstruction/Project Definition services duration – approximately 6 months
Construction -Schedule dependent on budgeting, phasing, fundraising

V. Project Information
See links below for the following relevant document
1.  Georgetown Steam Plant HABS/HAER Report
2. Georgetown Steam Plant Historic Structure and Cultural Landscape Report, October 9, 2013
3. 6755023-CN 6605 13 AV Pre-submittal Conference Minutes
4. GTSPCDA Proposal to Seattle City Light
5. Georgetown Steam Plant Phased Development V2
6. 20-0924 GTSP Site Planning Diagrams_s

VI. Tours
Limited tours of the Georgetown Steam Plant will take place November 2-5, 2020. Due to Covid19 restrictions and current construction on the site, we may not be able to accommodate all tour requests. Please request a tour/project walk through via email to GTSP@Equinoxunlimited.com.

VII. Questions
All questions should be submitted via email to GTSP@Equinoxunlimited.com by 3:00PM November 6, 2020

VIII. Submittal Deadline
Statement of Qualifications shall be submitted via email to GTSP@Equinoxunlimited.com by 3:00PM PST November 13, 2020 
The SOQ should be in PDF (pdf) format and should be no longer than 20 pages.

GTSPCDA reserves the right to reject any or all submittals. The basis of qualification will be solely within GTSPCDA’s discretion.

Thank you for your interest in the Georgetown Steam Plan Reimagination and Renovation Project.

Sincerely,
Sam Farrazaino
President
Georgetown Steam Plant Community Development Authority