January 16, 2018

DDC Design and Construction Excellence 2.0 Program to Add New Tier For Projects Over $50 Million

Contact:
Ian Michaels
718-391-1589

Long Island City, NY – NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio announced today that DDC will expand its Design and Construction Excellence 2.0 program by adding a new “Mega” category to cover projects projected to cost over $50 million.

The redesign of Times Square was performed by a firm in the DDC’s Design and Construction Excellence 2.0 Program

Architecture firms in DDC’s Design and Construction Excellence 2.0 (DCE) program are selected through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Once they are found to have the requisite experience and abilities, they then participate in a competition (known as the “mini RFP” process) to provide design services for specific DDC projects. Firms are invited to submit proposals for the design of a variety of new building types, as well as major additions and renovations. A selection committee then ranks the proposals, and the highest-ranked firm is awarded the project.

The DCE program, which began in 2004, minimizes the timeline for the design procurement process while ensuring the highest levels of quality and professionalism in design and construction projects managed by the agency. The program currently has 26 firms enlisted in four tiers, arranged by project size, that respond to mini-RFPs for design services for DDC projects where construction costs are projected to be $50 million or under.

“The expansion of Design and Construction Excellence 2.0 to projects over $50 million represents an extraordinary opportunity for firms across the country to work on large-scale projects in New York,” said Acting Commissioner Barrio. “We are seeking the most talented and creative design professionals who want their work to be noticed, and who can meet the commitment of the de Blasio administration to make the City more equitable, healthy, sustainable and resilient.”

Firms wishing to join the new Mega tier of Design and Construction Excellence should download to Request for Proposals on the DDC website, attend a Pre-Proposal Conference on February 28th at 1:30 PM at DDC headquarters in Queens and respond to the RFP with all necessary and required information. Joint ventures may respond. Architectural licensure in New York State is required.

For more information, firms can contact the DDC Office of Diversity & Industry Relations at 718-391-2127; the Agency Chief Contracting Officer at 718-391-1556; or the Office of the Chief Architect at 718-391-2778.

“We strongly encourage WMBEs – Minority- or Women-owned Business Enterprises – to respond to the RFP to qualify for Design and Construction Excellence,” said Acting Commissioner Barrio. “Working through our Office of Diversity & Industry Relations, DDC in the City’s last fiscal year awarded over $570 million in contracts to MWBEs.”

Thirteen of the 26 firms currently in DCE qualify as MWBEs. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently set the goal that the City should award 30 percent of the dollar amount of City contracts to MWBE firms by 2021.

The NYC Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager, and works with 26 client agencies to design and build new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, correctional facilities and homeless shelters. DDC also designs and builds infrastructure projects including roadways, public plazas, sewers, and water mains in all of New York City’s neighborhoods.

Firms in DCE have worked on many high-visibility projects in New York City recently, including the reconstruction of Times Square pedestrian plaza, and the new homes for FDNY’s Rescue Company 2 and the NYPD’s 40th Precinct.

Examples of larger projects with budgets over $50 million that have recently been completed by DDC include the New York Police Academy in Queens and Public Safety Answering Center II in the Bronx.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to city projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.