Kansas Wheat Innovation Center Greenhouse RFQ
KANSAS WHEAT INNOVATION CENTER GREENHOUSE
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS/PROPOSALS
FOR DESIGN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT
KANSAS WHEAT COMMISSION
1990 KIMBALL AVENUE
MANHATTAN, KANSAS 66502
1. Purpose. This is a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) for the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center Greenhouse Expansion issued by the Kansas Wheat Commission (“KWC”). The KWC seeks to construct an expansion of the greenhouse complex located at their Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan, Kansas. This 12,745 s.f. expansion will be adjacent to their existing building which houses office and laboratory functions as well as an existing research greenhouse. The project site is located within the Grain Science Complex at the north end of the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, Kansas.
2. Definition of Request for Qualifications. This RFQ is an invitation by the KWC to Design Professionals to submit their qualifications and all other required submissions as part of their proposal for performing the services specified in this RFQ. Selection will be based upon the judgment of the KWC construction committee in obtaining a Design Professional that will be in the best interests of the KWC. This RFQ is not a request for a competitive bid. Design Professional’s submittal of a proposal in response to this RFQ does not create any right in or expectation to a contract with the KWC.
3. Due Date. Sealed Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. (central standard time) on Thursday, March 26, 2015. Design Professionals should submit one digital copy to aharries@kswheat.com. All proposals shall not be reviewed until after the due date. The KWC reserves the right at any time to change or extend the due date and time for any reason.
4. Background. The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center was built by the Kansas Wheat Commission, through the Kansas wheat checkoff, to get improved wheat varieties into the hands of farmers faster. It represents the single largest research investment by Kansas wheat farmers in history. The Center was built on land owned by Kansas State University; the Kansas Wheat Commission has a 50-year lease on the property.
Construction on the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center began in October 2011 and the facility was completed in November 2012.
5. Preliminary Scope of Work. The Design team shall meet with KWC construction committee to develop a program for the proposed greenhouse.
Greenhouse
The greenhouse will provide controlled environment growing space for research plants. It will be divided into four bays, segregated as individual growing environments. Each will be equipped with automated shading and lighting systems as well as automated ventilation systems. The greenhouses will utilize evaporative cooling systems as the primary temperature control, with one of the bays having a forced-air air conditioning system for more finite control in research conditions. Each bay will be outfitted with moveable planting table systems for high-density utilization. Automated controls will interface with the existing building management system.
Greenhouse area...........................................................................................................................6,070 s.f.
Service Corridor
This Service Corridor is part of the Greenhouse area and serves a dual function. This Corridor serves as a circulation route connecting the four "bays" of the Greenhouse, which is segregated from the main building's conditioned environment. It also serves as the primary outside-air intake plenum for the evaporative cooling systems associated with the growing areas.
Service Corridor Area.......................................................................................................................1,990 s.f.
Soil Room
Bulk soil materials will be received in this Soil Room. This room will have an overhead service door directly adjacent to a service drive where bulk shipments of soil material can be delivered and transferred into the building using a small loader. Once inside the materials are sorted, graded, and loaded into carts for processing.
Soil Room Area ...............................................................................................................................1,049 s.f.
Soil Preparation
This room is used to prepare the bulk soils for use in the research processes. Here soil components can be blended and screened. Soils are then sterilized using steaming equipment, rendering them suitable as growing media in the research greenhouse.
Soil Preparation Area ...................................................................................................................... 633 s.f.
Potting Room
In the Potting Room, plants started in the researched laboratories and associated growth chambers will be transferred to containers and prepared for placement in the greenhouse.
Potting Room Area ........................................................................................................................... 324 s.f.
Seed Processing
As the plants mature in the greenhouse, seeds are harvested and transferred to the Seed Processing Room. This room is outfitted with equipment for threshing and cleaning seed. Seeds are counted, packaged, and prepared for shipment.
Seed Processing Area .........................................................................................................................447 s.f.
Office
An office is provided for the use of the greenhouse manager who manages the operations of the greenhouse including scheduling project rotations, ordering materials, and managing technicians.
Office Area ....................................................................................................................................... 115 s.f.
Storage
An area is provided adjacent to the Potting Room and Service Corridor for the storage of carts, potting tools, hoses, and watering and fertilizing equipment.
Storage Area.................................................................................................................................... 278 s.f.
Mechanical Room
The mechanical Room will house equipment for conditioning of the non-greenhouse spaces in the proposed addition. It will also house electrical distribution panels, control system interface modules, and lighting control panels associated with the addition.
Mechanical Room Area.................................................................................................................... 350 s.f.
Gross Area (Circulation, walls, structure, etc.) .............................................................................1,494 s.f.
Total Area ...................................................................................................................................12,750 s.f.
6. Proposal Requirements. Your proposal should include the following:
a. Experience and Responsibility Summary including previous greenhouse experience and qualifications.
b. List and description of key team members’ professional experience. For project team responsibilities, list the approximate percentage of the project for each team member.
c. Description of project approach.
d. Description of the earliest times and durations of time that work may commence and when it can be completed.
Any supplemental information or documents (i.e., not required by this RFQ) that are included in the proposal should be marked as an Attachment and clearly identified in the Table of Contents.
7. Change in RFQ, Contract and Additional Work.
The Kansas Wheat Commission reserves the right to add to, delete, modify or enlarge this RFQ, including any specifications and/or statement of work, the proposed contract, the terms and conditions, and any subsequently executed contract. The KWC reserves the right to award additional contracts for related work or subsequent Project phases to the selected Design Professional.
8. Late Proposals.
Proposals and modifications of proposals received after the exact hour and date specified for receipt will not be considered.
9. Interviews, Discussions and Negotiations with Design Professionals.
The Design Professional’s proposal, including any proposed personnel and any other required proposal documents may be subject to negotiation by the KWC at any time. The KWC may interview none, one, some or all of the Design Professionals that submit proposals. Proposals may be evaluated and award made with or without discussions and/or negotiations with Design Professionals. The KWC reserves the right to request additional information from any or all Design Professionals. Negotiations by the KWC will not be deemed a counter offer or a rejection of any original Proposal.
10. Rejection of Proposals.
The KWC reserves the right to reject any and all Proposals and to award one or more Contracts for all or any portion of the Project.
11. Best and Final Offers (BAFOs).
The KWC reserves the right to request one or more best and final offers.
12. Disclosure of Proprietary Information. A Design Professional may restrict the disclosure of scientific and technological innovations in which it has a proprietary interest or other information that is protected from public disclosure by law which is contained in the Proposal, by marking each page of each such document prominently in at least 16 point font with the words “Proprietary Information.”
It shall be the burden of the Design Professional to establish that such documents are exempt from disclosure under the law.
13. Method of Payment. Design Professional shall invoice on a schedule determined by the KWC for actual services performed under this Agreement and all actual reasonable expenses incurred and allowed under this Agreement.