title
Commissioner Philbeck - Public Works - To Authorize the County Manager to Execute an Architect/Engineering Design Contract with Stewart Cooper Newell Architects for the Child Advocacy Center at a Cost Not to Exceed $151,975
body
STAFF CONTACT
Dan Ziehm, PE - Public Works - 704-862-6795
BUDGET IMPACT
budget
Design Estimate - $151,975
body
BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The Child Advocacy Center (The Lighthouse) is located on the lower level of the Highland Health Center at 609 North Highland Street, Gastonia, North Carolina. The current 1,000 square foot space is not adequate to provide the services that are needed. In 2018, The Lighthouse conducted 390 forensic interviews of children who are victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic or family violence, neglect, or human trafficking. To meet the growing needs of The Lighthouse, the Bethlehem Baptist Church of Gastonia has agreed to lease a parcel of land to Gaston County to accommodate the construction of a new facility. This land is located at 3100 Bethlehem Church Road, Gastonia, North Carolina 28056. The new facility will allow space for law enforcement, social services workers, prosecutors, counselors, and Child Advocacy Center staff to help children and families heal.
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. Building Inspectio...
Click here for full text