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Commissioners Brown and Johnson - Public Works - To Authorize the County Manager, or Her Designee, to Execute a Professional Services Design Contract with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture for the Health Department Major Renovation Programming & Planning Totaling $246,300.00
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STAFF CONTACT
Dan Ziehm, PE - Public Works - 704-862-6795
BUDGET IMPACT
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No additional County funds.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The existing Public Health facility consists of many small office spaces, long corridors, and inadequate wayfinding. The environment is institutional in nature and has a clinical feeling to the customers and staff. There is little flexible space that would allow Public Health to accommodate the new healthcare delivery needs identified over the past 2+ years. To provide high-quality clinical care, programs, and services to efficiently protect the public’s health, Gaston County has solicited McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture (MPS) to perform a Programming Study. The County also requested that MPS complete a schematic design that complements the findings of the Study.
North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) §143-64.31 requires the initial solicitation and evaluation of firms to perform architectural, engineering, surveying, construction management-at-risk services, and design-build services (collectively “design services”) to be based on qualifications and without regard to fee. NCGS §143-64.32 authorizes units of local government to exempt contracts for design services from the qualifications-based selection requirements of G.S. §143-64.31 if the estimated fee is less than $50,000. However, the design fee for this project will exceed the $50,000 cap for exemption thereby requiring the architect/engineer to be selected through the qualifications-based process. Gaston County Public Works staff developed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) packet on August 13, 2021 in accordance with the statutory requirements and publicly advertised the project beginning August 13, 2021. Statements of Qualification (SOQ) submittals were received on September 8, 2021. Four firms submitted an SOQ.
• McMillian Pazdan Smith Architecture, Charlotte, North Carolina
• LS3P, Charlotte, North Carolina
• SGA NarmourWright Design, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Stewart Cooper Newell Architects, Gastonia, North Carolina
After reviewing and ranking the SOQ’s submitted, as well as in-person presentations, the architecture firm McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture was deemed to be the best qualified for this project. Approval of this Board Action officially selects McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture as the designer of record for the Health Department Major Renovation Programming & Planning Project. Further, approval of this Board Action authorizes the County Attorney to draft any necessary contract documents and the County Manager, or her designee, to execute said contract documents in the amount of $246,300.
POLICY IMPACT
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ATTACHMENTS
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