DB Firm Wanted for Tucson Readiness Center

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX 
The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs is looking for a firm to provide design-build services for the 70KSF Rita Road Readiness Center to be located at 7901 S. Rita Road in Tucson. 
A Request for Qualifications was recently issued for the design, permitting, site preparation and construction of the new facility for the Arizona Army National Guard. 
Around the same time last year, the Department issued an RFQ for a firm to provide design build criteria consultants and technical advisory services to help create these solicitation documents along with a geotechnical investigation, evaluation criteria, performance specifications and more. DWL Architect + Planners, Inc. was awarded that contract. (AZBEX, July 26, 2019) 
The proposed $23M facility will include administrative, supply areas, classrooms, lockers, showers/restrooms, training, and kitchen/dining areas for assigned military personnel. “Supporting facilities include military and privately-owned vehicle parking, security fencing, access roads, sidewalks, detached facility sign, and utility connections,” according to the issued RFQ. 
The proposal method will require two steps or phases as noted in the document. Phase one is the Request for Qualifications that was recently issued. Phase two will allow only three selected firms from phase one to submit formal proposals. The formal RFP stage (phase two) will require, at minimum, an engineering solution, pricing and schedule management. 
According to the RFQ, National Guard Design Criteria, Department of Defense Minimum Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection, building code and National Guard Bureau measures must be incorporated into the project and minimum LEED Silver certification is required. 
All statements of qualifications are due no later than 3:00 p.m. on August 28th. The Phase I final list selection and notifications are expected on September 15th. There is no pre-submittal conference scheduled for this RFQ; however, those selected for phase two will attend a site visit currently scheduled for September 23rd at 10:00 a.m. The RFP to the selected list is anticipated to be released by September 16th. 
The schedule is tentatively set to have the selected design-build firm under contract by January 2021, with construction completed by January 2023.