(Long Island City, NY – June 29, 2020) The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), New York City government’s leading construction management agency, today issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) seeking an Owner’s Representative to support public buildings projects in its new and emerging Design-Build program. Responses to the RFP, which can be downloaded at DDC’s RFP web page, are due by August 4, 2020.

Parties that are interested in responding to the RFP can sign up for a pre-proposal conference, which will take place virtually by remote video conferencing on July 14. More information about the pre-proposal conference will be released in an addendum to the RFP in the coming days.

“Design-Build heralds a new era in public infrastructure delivery in New York, and will reduce the time and money it takes to complete projects,” said DDC Commissioner Lorraine Grillo. “In evaluating responses from firms that want to help DDC develop its new Design-Build program, DDC will look for a history of exceptional performance and innovation along with the capacity to stand-up a sophisticated program like this to ensure its long-term success. The response to our recent Design-Build opportunities indicates that there’s great interest in our program in the industry.”

Design-Build brings designers and contractors together as a team at the beginning of a project, leading to enhanced collaboration and greater levels of innovation. It is anticipated that the use of Design-Build for major City capital projects will result in a significant reduction of project timelines and costs as well as a more seamless delivery process from start to finish.

City agencies that manage capital construction programs had for years requested clearance from New York State to use Design-Build instead of the traditional Design-Bid-Build approach. Broad authorization was granted in at the end of 2019, and DDC has been preparing for the launch since then. DDC had previously been given authorization by the State to use Design-Build only for the construction of the four new borough-based jails that will be needed to close and replace Rikers Island.

In establishing its new, more comprehensive Design-Build program, DDC is currently evaluating its internal management resources as well as its pipeline of upcoming projects to see which would be best served by using Design-Build. An Owner’s Representative, the subject of today’s RFP, is a professional services consultant that will support the development and implementation of Design-Build resources and tools to ensure an effective Design-Build program. Design-Build program consulting services may be related to program-level activities not in connection with any specific Design-Build project, as well as to specific projects themselves.

The DDC Owner's Representative RFP will be an on-call contract with task orders, and will include a Design-Build advisor and program manager as well as a design project manager responsible for providing design and technical leadership across DDC’s program.

Duties may include developing, coordinating and advising on all design-related criteria for future Design-Build RFPs and Requests For Qualifications (RFQs), including: preparing performance specifications, design guidelines and standards; preparing programming and space requirements; and coordinating quality and conformity reviews post-contract award. Firms may also be required to perform scope verification and coordinate peer reviews for future projects. Additional responsibilities may include establishing processes for procurement, stakeholder engagement, payment review and contract modification approval.

In selecting an Owner’s Representative as well as the future Design-Build teams that will carry out a new and collaborative approach to project delivery, DDC is committed to incorporating industry best practices as defined by the Design-Build Institute of America, using a best-value selection process that prioritizes quality, past performance and qualifications over price alone.

DDC highly encourages participation in its Design-Build program by Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and will set significant requirements for M/WBE participation in Design-Build contracts. To learn more about how eligible firms can become certified as an M/WBE, please visit Certify With the City.

A separate RFP to identify an Owner’s Representative for DDC’s infrastructure projects is anticipated to be issued later this year.

The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $14 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.