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Contract Opportunity

THIS IS A PRESOLICITATION NOTICE ONLY. This is not a request for offers or proposals. This notice does not represent a committment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract.

The project is a new United States Courthouse to be erected in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The building will measure approximately 190,478 gross square feet, including 40 inside secured parking spaces. The new courthouse will meet the long-term needs of the courts providing separate circulation for the public, judges and prisoners thereby improving security and the efficiency of courts’ operations as well as accommodating the ten-year space requirements of the courts and court related agencies and expandable to meet the thirty-year housing needs. The new courthouse will include seven (7) courtrooms and nine (9) judges’ chambers. Once built, the facility will provide workspace for the following tenant agencies: Eastern District of Tennessee U.S. District Court, U.S. Magistrate Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court as well as other federal tenant agencies which include GSA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Trustees and Congressional offices.

The site for the new courthouse has not yet been identified. GSA is currently evaluating parcels of land in and around downtown Chattanooga around 3 - 5 acres in size and anticipates the site may be identified prior to finalizing the contract with the Lead Designer.

Desired outcomes of this project include the following:

1. A design that reflects the tradition, strength, and stability of the American Government.


2. Building massing that is monumental in nature while maintaining appropriate proportions, a balanced composition, and a hierarchy of elements.


3. Detailing that contributes to rhythm, order, and relatability at a human scale, while avoiding pure decoration. Texture and relief should be used strategically to avoid a one-dimensional appearance.


4. Material selections that represent permanence, durability, and solemnity.


5. A clear sense of wayfinding and progression for visitors, from a site arrival point that offers a public amenity, to a clear and elevated entry point to the building, through a spacious and light-filled lobby, to functional interior spaces that represent a consistent design intent.


6. A design that draws inspiration from local architectural precedent and from the local natural landscape while providing a distinctive and notable new public landmark.


7. A public destination that is accessible, transparent, and inspirational to those participating in the judicial process.

The method used for the delivery of the Courthouse will be Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc). Under the CMc approach, the government awards a separate contract to an Architect/Engineer (A/E) and the CMc, with the CMc contract being awarded prior to the completion of design documents. During the design phase, the CMc collaborates with the A/E to provide constructability reviews and cost estimating validation and help inform design decisions. The CMc will help to ensure that the design and construction documents will enable the Government to exercise the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Option for construction phase services at a price that is at or below the GMP.

The scope of professional services will require at a minimum: Professional architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, interior design, and related consulting services for the development of design documents, required specifications, cost estimates, computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), building information modeling (BIM) and other consultant services for a new courthouse including inside secured parking and site development. The project will meet the GSA design standards for secure facilities Level IV in conformance with the P-100 (Facility Standards for Public Buildings), LEED Gold and SITES Silver certifications; and customer agency requirements including the U.S. Courts Design Guide and USMS Publication 64.

The A/E Firm as used in this procurement means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity permitted by law to practice the profession of architecture or engineering that will have contractual responsibility for the project design. The architect or engineer of record must be licensed in the state where the facility is located and the license must be in place at all times during the procurement and through project completion. The Lead Designer is the individual or the team of designers who will have primary responsibility to develop the design. The Lead Designer will also be involved in commissioning an artist or artists for this project and in assisting with the successful integration of works of arts into the architectural design.

The AE selection will be completed in two stages as follows: In Stage I, interested firms A/Es will submit portfolios of accomplishment that establish the design capabilities of the Lead Designer and Design Firm. In Stage II, shortlisted Lead Designer-AEs teams will be interviewed.

GSA intends to hold a small business networking session in Chattanooga, TN after the shortlist is developed. The date, time and location will be announced with the short list. This session is intended to assist short-listed lead designers in assembling their full teams, and someone from the shortlisted lead designers’ firms should be in attendance at this session to meet with the representatives from the small businesses in attendance.

This contract will be procured under the Brooks A/E Act and FAR Part 36. The government will not allow payment for travel, living expenses, computer time or hookups for the prime or the consultants during the selection process. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP).

This will be a negotiated procurement and there will not be a public bid opening. Award of a Firm Fixed Price contract is anticipated. GSA anticipates the award of the contract to the selected A/E firm in the first quarter of 2025. The Request for Stage 1 submissions will be available on www.sam.gov on or about March 1, 2024.

Any amendments will only be available from the SAM website. Offerors are responsible for checking the SAM website frequently for any update(s) to this Pre-Solicitation Announcement or amendments to the Solicitation. The website is occasionally inaccessible due to maintenance. The government is not responsible for any loss of internet connectivity or for an offeror's inability to access the document at the referenced website.

Prospective contractors shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award of a contract. SAM registration is available online at the SAM website at http://sam.gov/ Annual Representations and Certifications (by FAR 52.204-8 -Jan 2014) must be filled-in online at http://sam.gov/.

The point-of-contact for administrative or contractual questions is William Peterson, email: william.peterson@gsa.gov. Please provide all questions via email for a prompt response.

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