Architectural Design for New Animal Control Facility

Agency:	Town of Mansfield
State:	Connecticut
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	236220 - Commercial and Institutional Building Construction 541310 - Architectural Services
Posted Date:	Jan 26, 2026
Due Date:	Mar 9, 2026
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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ISSUED: January 26, 2026

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 9, 2026 at 2:00pm

SUBMISSION CONTACT AND ADDRESS:

Mark Kiefer, Capitol Project Manager

4 South Eagleville Road

Mansfield, CT 06268-2599

Telephone: 860.429.3320

Email: kieferm@mansfieldct.org

Bids must be submitted through our online, secure E-Procurement Portal:

mansfieldct.bonfirehub.com

under the bid title

“Architectural Design Animal Control Facility”

Bidders will be required to create a Bonfire profile before uploading their bid. Step-by-step

instructions on how to register as a vendor are available at this website:

Vendor Registration

In 2024, the Town of Mansfield contracted with Design Learned Inc. (DLI) to provide a study with conceptual

design to determine the size of the replacement Animal Control facility needed. This study addressed the

current and future Animal Control needs of the Town while taking into account new state Animal Shelter

requirements that go in into effect on January 1, 2029. The study determined the required size of the facility

needed with a conceptual floor plan and building design. In 2025 the Town of Mansfield contracted with

Jacobson Engineering to conduct a feasibility study to determine if the new facility would be able to be built

on the existing site currently occupied by the Town of Mansfield Animal Control Shelter. The DLI Study and

Jacobson Engineering Study Development Documents are included as Appendix A.

The next step in this project, and scope of this RFQ, is soliciting proposals from qualified firms for

professional architectural/engineering services, for the design and preparation of construction documents

and an opinion of construction costs for the Construction of a new Animal Control Facility.

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 Submit questions concerning this RFQ through the Bonfire Portal by Monday, February 16, 2026

at 5:00 p.m. EST. Questions submitted after that date and time will not receive a response.

 Responses to questions will be issued only as a written Addenda posted to the Town website

(www.mansfieldct.gov -> Your Government -> RFQ, RFP and Bid Postings), CTSource Portal, and

Bonfire portal. It is the responsibility of bidders to check for addenda on the document posting sites.

Failure to respond to required updates may result in a determination of a non-responsive proposal.

The Town reserves the right to accept any, all, or any part of the proposal; to reject any, all, or any

part of the proposal; to waive any non-material deficiencies in the proposal response; and to award

the contract of services that is in its judgement will be in the Town’s best interest. Addenda will be

posted by Monday, February 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. local time.

The Town Animal Control Personnel occupy the facility Mon. – Sat. with on call after hours and

visitors by appointment. The facility is a Safe Haven Society and mainly accommodates cats and

dogs for different lengths of time. The Town has secured funding for Architectural and Design

Services to design a new shelter that meets the new State Animal Shelter Requirements.

The following scope of services is anticipated, but not limited to, for the project:

A. Phase 1: Facility Programming and Preliminary Design

a. Needs Assessment and Space Programming

 Review existing studies, prior reports, and relevant data on intake, housing, and

community service levels.

 Conduct stakeholder meetings with Animal Control personnel, Town staff, and

relevant committees to identify operational requirements and desired features.

 Develop a detailed space program that considers animal housing, quarantine and

medical/isolation areas, intake/processing, adoption space, staff offices, storage,

mechanical/electrical/IT space, and community engagement areas.

 Address sustainability, energy efficiency, and long-term maintenance considerations.

b. Preliminary Design Options

 Prepare conceptual floor plans, elevations, and site layouts that meet program

requirements.

 Present alternative design concepts for Town review and feedback.

 Provide preliminary cost estimates and phasing options.

 Evaluate zoning, environmental, and permitting requirements

B. Phase 2: Design and Construction Documents

a. Design Development

 Advance the preferred concept into schematic design and then design development

drawings.

 Incorporate Town feedback to refine site layout, building systems, and architectural

details.

 Coordinate with structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil engineers, as

well as any specialty consultants (e.g., acoustics, animal welfare design).

b. Construction Documents

 Prepare full stamped architectural and engineering drawings and technical

specifications suitable for competitive public bidding.

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 Incorporate all building code, ADA accessibility, and State of Connecticut Department

of Agriculture and Public Health regulatory requirements for animal shelters.

 Develop an updated Opinion of Probable Construction Costs at key milestones.

 Ensure design accommodates future growth and expansion where feasible.

c. Permitting

 Prepare and submit required permit applications (building, health, environmental,

DEEP, etc.) on behalf of the Town.

 Address regulatory reviews and revise documents as needed.

 Attend meetings, as required.

C. Phase 3: Bidding Assistance

 Submit Stamped Drawings and Technical Specifications to Town for Bidding

Purposes.

 Answer Bidder questions as necessary for clarification and addenda.

 Review bids and provide recommendation of contract award to the Town.

 Provide Construction review as needed.

The Town of Mansfield is seeking to have bidding for the construction in fall of 2026 and then start

of construction expected in spring 2027 with completion in spring 2028.

Interested consultants must submit the following information by the proposal deadline through our online,

secure E-Procurement Portal: mansfieldct.bonfirehub.com under the bid title “Architectural Design

Animal Control Facility”. Bidders will be required to create a Bonfire profile before uploading their bid. Step-

by-step instructions on how to register as a vendor are available at this website: Vendor Registration

Letter of Interest: Submit a letter of interest signed by an officer of the firm containing the following:

o Company Profile.

o Project Manager. Identify the staff person that will be assigned to manage services this project.

o Contact. Provide the name, title and contact information for the person who should be contacted

with questions on the proposal.

 Experience: Please provide a detailed written summary of the firm’s history, experience and

capability in providing the requested services. Examples of similar work performed (please limit

to five projects), including a detailed description of the work performed by your firm and contact

information for the sponsoring organization/municipality should also be provided.

 Staffing Plan: Please identify key personnel whom the firm has designated to work on projects

under this contract, their background and experience and their areas and levels of responsibility.

Please provide the resumes of all key personnel and an organizational chart.

 Management Plan: Describe the firm’s management system and how it will function to ensure

timely delivery of services. Provide a typical schedule outlining the number of staff you would

assign to a project and their responsibilities.

 Demonstration of Project Understanding: Please provide a description of the proposer’s

approach to the project, including implementation of the RFP Scope of Services, estimated

schedule for work completion, estimated staff hours for the various tasks, and any other relevant

information. List any permitting that will be required and any alternate or innovative approaches

that can be taken on this project.

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 References: Please provide at least five (5) references with a brief written summary of the scope

of work, contract amount, name, telephone number and timing of service.

 Fee Proposal: Please submit a fee proposal for the services.

 Certificate of Non-Collusion: Complete and submit a Certificate of Non-Collusion on the form

provided.

 Acknowledgement of Addenda: Complete and submit the Acknowledgement of Addenda Form if

applicable.

Selection by the Town of Mansfield will be based on the following, but not limited to:

A. Responsiveness:

 Adherence to the RFQ Submittal Requirements.

 Complete consideration of all project specifications.

 Complete Cost Proposal.

B. Responsible:

 Sufficient references for which similar types of services had been provided.

 Experience of the firm and assigned personnel with the services proposed.

 Resources that demonstrate adequate capacity to perform services proposed.

C. Proposal:

 Value and quality of services to be rendered.

 Demonstrated knowledge of requirements.

 Ability to coordinate with other public engagement and planning efforts.

 Work plan in conformity with scope of project.

 Fees and costs.

The Town of Mansfield reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or parts thereof for any reason,

to negotiate changes to proposal terms and to waive minor inconsistencies with the RFQ. The Town of

Mansfield reserves the right to make a selection on the basis of qualifications, experience in providing

similar services elsewhere, the proposal’s responsiveness to the RFQ requirements; and to negotiate

a contract with the consultant.

Proposals in response to this RFQ will be reviewed against the criteria listed above, and award of the

contract shall be made in accordance with standard purchasing procedures.

As part of selection/award process, the Town reserves the right to:

 Short-list and interview finalists

 Request clarification of any submitted information

 Accept or reject all proposals or options therein

 Select a firm or firms in a manner that is advantageous to the Town

 Award more than one contract if in best interest of the Town and/or issue RFQ in the future

 Amend or cancel this process at any time

 Change the scope of services to be provided

 Cancel any resulting contract with 30 days’ notice

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The following is a tentative timeline for the evaluation and selection of a consultant. The Town reserves

the right to change these dates as needed.

 January 26, 2026: RFP Issued for Architectural Services

 February 16 2026: Last day for written questions

 February 23, 2026: RFQ Responses to questions due

 March 9, 2026: Architectural Design Bids Due

 April 3, 2026: Contract Negotiation Complete

 July 10, 2026: Architectural Design Complete

 July 13, 2026: Out to Bid Construction of Animal Control Facility

 September 4, 2026: Construction Bids Due

 October 9, 2026: Contract signed for Animal Control Building Construction

 April 1, 2027: Construction to Begin (Assumes Referendum Passes in November 2026)

 April 1, 2028: Construction Completed Facility Ribbon Cutting

Please note: In issuing this RFP, the Town does not expressly state or imply any obligation to reimburse

responding firms for any expenses incurred in preparing submissions in response to this request,

including any travel costs for firms selected for interviews. All responses submitted will be considered

to be the property of the Town. All business confidential information protected from disclosure under

the State of Connecticut Freedom of Information Act must be clearly identified as such.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, Section 3 Contractors and Small

Business/Minority/Women Business Enterprises are encouraged to apply.

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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

Bid Title:	Architectural Design for New Animal Control Facility
Category:	Facilities Management
Status:	Open

Architectural Design for New Animal Control Facility

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