NYC issues RFQ for design-build of jail facilities replacing Rikers Island

UPDATE: Feb. 10, 2020: The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) last week issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to prequalify design-build teams interested in constructing the four new jails that will replace the city's Rikers Island Jail complex.

The four winning teams will design and build new jails in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQs) in response to the RFQ are due to the DDC by March 2020 for the Manhattan and Bronx projects, with Request for Proposals (RFPs) to follow in the third quarter of this year. SOQs for the Brooklyn and Queens jails are due to the DDC by March 2021. The department expects to release the RFP for the Brooklyn project in the second quarter of 2021, and the RFP for the Queens project in the fourth quarter of 2021.

The SOQs will be used to create a shortlist of three bidders per jail that will be eligible to receive an RFP. In determining who will make it on the shortlist, the DDC will use a best-value selection process, which will focus on design, quality, past performance and qualifications.

Dive Brief:

The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) with the goal of developing an effective design-build program for the four jails that will replace the Rikers Island Jail Complex. Each new facility is expected to have a value of more than $1 billion.
The DDC said it wants interested vendors to give it input on procurement, market and other issues related to the design-build program. Specifically, the DDC is interested in hearing the local construction industry's opinion on aspects of the program like bonding requirements; how to design the procurement process; how to increase minority and disadvantaged business participation; what materials to include in a solicitation; market challenges and barriers; and how to best mitigate the potential risks of using design-build.
The DDC said that the city wants to develop a program that will make it "the owner of choice" for design-build projects. RFI responses are due to the DDC by July 15.

Dive Insight:

New York City is closing the Rikers Island facility in favor of a borough-based jail system, with a new facilities slated for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. In its RFI, the DDC said that one of the program's goals is to make each jail a "civic asset" through integrative design, operations and architecture.

The joint venture of AECOM and Hill International, under a $107 million contract with the city, ultimately will choose the design-build teams for each jail. It will also be up to the JV to craft and implement the design-build program's procedures and manuals; come up with industry outreach strategies; develop specifications; monitor the minority contractor program; manage construction through closeout; and perform quality assurance and quality control. The DDC set the total value of the jail replacement program at $8.7 billion.

It has been difficult for the city to engage in design-build projects, which focus on early collaboration between designers and contractors, with proponents citing interference from unions and upstate lobbyists, as well as confusion generated by a state licensing law that some believe limits who can legally be involved with design work.

The city is likely willing to expand the use of design-build given recent success of some local, state-funded projects that have used the method, like the $1.2 billion expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Using design-build reportedly allowed joint venture partners Turner Construction and Lendlease to make major project changes, while, at the same time, realizing savings and shaving time off the schedule.