Office of the Architect of the Capitol, Procurement Division, Room H2-262, Ford House Office Building, 2nd and D Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20515

C -- ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER SERVICES FOR MODERNIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT BUILDING DUE 050598 POC Contact Procurement Division, (202) 226-2557 The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) contemplates awarding a Time and Materials contract for Architect-Engineer services to complete a study to produce a conceptual design approach, a prospective project schedule, and an anticipated cost range for modernizing the U.S. Supreme Court Building (USSCB). The estimated dollar value of the contract is between $100,000 and $250,000. A&E disciplines will be required to address the following concerns: 1) Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC): a) Age & Capacity -- The current HVAC system serving the USSCB is over 60 years old and designed for a peak capacity that has been exceeded through the current demands on the USSCB, including the ability to meet enhanced indoor air quality standards, b) Flexibility & Functionality -- Increased flexibility and functionality of the HVAC system is required to accommodate variable air flow and evacuation criteria and to respond to security concerns and anticipated increasingly stringent indoor air quality standards, and c) Monitoring & Control -- Improved monitoring and control are required to meet the varied demands of a modern, multipurpose facility. Individual automatic temperature control should be provided for each room; 2) Fire Protection and Life Safety: OSHA/ADA Issues -- Outstanding issues related to safety and functionality of the USSCB and its auxiliary spaces need to be resolved. Expansion and upgrade of the existing smoke detection, sprinkler system and evacuation support processes and systems (such as strobe lights to facilitate emergency egress) are required. Accessibility and accommodations for the hearing and visually impaired need to be upgraded and incorporated into the USSCB and in a more appropriate and functional manner. (Problems present include the deployment of an induction loop signaling system to support an enhanced element of the sound system for the hearing impaired which interferes with the magnetometers requiring constant monitoring for false readings and adjustment.); 3) Security: Improvements to existing systems will be necessary. An ongoing evaluation of equipment, response procedures and related security processes is underway to determine the long term security goals for the USSCB and its surrounding support spaces. Air evacuation functions must be incorporated into the HVAC system upgrades and other improved security measures and equipment should be incorporated into the modernization design; 4) Sound/Audio System Integration: Suitability -- The building currently has no building wide public address system. Current sound/audio systems are in need of replacement with new equipment; 5) Electrical: Capacity -- The existing electrical distribution system serving the USSCB is in need of a complete modernization. There is limited additional capacity in the system to allow any significant expansion or increase in electrical service from the existing load centers; 6) Lighting: a) Suitability -- Fluorescent or other energy efficient lighting will help resolve several problems with the existing lighting systems such as inadequate lighting levels, glare, heat generation, and extremely difficult maintenance procedures, b) Flexibility -- The current system lacks the flexibility to easily accommodate the various operational modes of the USSCB, and c) Controls -- The current control and dimmer systems are inadequate; 7) Telecommunications: a) Expanded Connectivity -- With ever expanding demands for functionality, bandwidth and reliance on telecommunications resources, expanded connectivity and functionality is required for the USSCB, Chambers, Cloakrooms, etc., b) Wireless Communications -- Wireless technologies for both voice and data transmissions are rapidly emerging as primary vehicles for day-to-day communications. The USSCB is currently not capable of supporting a fully secured, digitally based, wireless telecommunications networks, particularly as it pertains to complete coverage throughout the USSCB. This is an emerging requirement that needs to be examined; 8) Television Broadcast and Media Requirements: a) TV Friendly Requirements -- Though the Court does not currently have plans for TV and video production of the Court's proceedings, planning for such a potential functionality will be evaluated. Advances in TV and video camera technology, together with a possible new lighting system, will permit a substantially enhanced TV production from the USSCB. Production capability can be developed that allows for the business of the Court to be conducted in a comfortable and functional atmosphere while eliminating existing encumbrances required for TV/video production, b) Future Technologies -- Digital and High Definition (HD) TV are fast emerging technologies that may have the potential of dramatically affecting the production and distribution methodologies considered by the Court for use in the future. Evaluation of the USSCB for restoration will have to take these technologies into account; 9) Historic Interiors: System Integration -- Incorporating critical support systems with interior design elements will facilitate the development of a variety of options for "pathways" and built-in equipment storage areas to meet future needs for increased ventilation, power and telecommunications systems, camera concealment and the like, in the context of the historic interiors, thus minimizing the visual impact of equipping the USSCB with modern production and communications systems; 10) Plumbing Systems: The existing plumbing system is essentially unchanged from the original 1935 construction. The system must be upgraded to meet all current code requirements and current safety standards; and 11) Other: The USSCB was originally designed to support approximately 160 Court personnel. The building currently houses over 380 employees in addition to hundreds of daily visitors. This condition has not only stressed building systems but has created difficult space utilization challenges. The proposed study will included an evaluation of this critical condition and propose options for addressing current and future space requirements. With respect to the potential modernization, particular emphasis will be placed on a sensitive coordination of the new systems in an historic architectural setting. System modernizations should respect the original 1929 Cass Gilbert design for the USSCB, the character, shape and plan of which have not been significantly altered. As a function of the conceptual design, all of the support systems and critical design elements will be fully evaluated, and conceptual approaches to the modernization of these systems and elements will be developed while integrating them with the architectural restoration design. The final report of the study will outline all design issues, develop programing requirements for future operations of the Court, describe a conceptual approach to the resolution and integration of the functional requirements into the historic restoration design, describe the anticipated design and construction strategies and proposed schedule for theproject, as well as provide an order-of-magnitude cost estimate for the design and construction phases to follow. Considerable documentation exists about the USSCB including the original design and construction drawings, vouchers, letters, etc. as well as black and white and construction photographs. All such documentation will be made available to the successful offeror. The expected delivery date of the final report of this study would be six months from the award of contract. Pending the review and approval by the appropriate authorities within the Court and Congress and the availability of funds, the AOC anticipates engaging the Contractor performing the study effort to pursue the schematic design for the proposed improvements leading to the development of construction documentation, followed by a phased implementation of the recommended improvements. Architect-Engineer firms which meet the requirements described in this announcement are invited to submit: (1) a Standard Form 254, Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire, and (2) a Standard Form 255, Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire for Specific Project. Following an initial evaluation of the qualifications and performance data submitted, three or more firms considered to be the most highly qualified to provide the type of services required will be chosen for negotiation. Selection of firms for negotiation shall be through an order of preference based on demonstrated competence and qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the type of professional services required that include: (1) a description of the offeror's proposed study approach, schedule, and anticipated final report; (2) a description of the firm's professional capabilities to complete the study, including the both personnel it will assign to the project and any subcontractors; (3) the offeror's prior experience relevant to this project, in terms of its size, scope and complexity, particularly with respect to modernization and integration of A&E systems and telecommunications in historic settings, and with respect to cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules; (4) a description of the firm's experiences and methods of working constructively with diverse clients, constituencies, consultants, and subcontractors; and (5) geographical location and knowledge of the locality of the project, provided that application of the criterion leaves an appropriate number of qualified firms, given the nature and size of the project. The submittal package must be received in Bid Room H2-262, Procurement Division, Ford House Office Building, Second and "D" Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20515 by not later than 3:00 P.M., Eastern Time, Tuesday, May 5, 1998. Submittals received after this date and time will not be considered. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. (0093)

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