RFQ DB Shadybrook ES

Guilford County School System
Request for Qualifications for
Design-Build Services
for the
Shadybrook ES Bond Projects
RFQ #: 6822
This REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ("RFQ") from the Owner named below invites the submittal of a
Statement of Qualifications ("SOQ") from firms interested in providing Design-Build services for the Project
described below. By submitting a SOQ, the Respondent represents that it has carefully read the terms and
conditions of this RFQ and all attachments and Addenda and agrees to be bound by them. This RFQ is not an
offer to enter into a contract, but merely a solicitation of persons interested in submitting SOQ to the Owner for
the Project.
DATE ISSUED:
March 30, 2026
OWNER:
Guilford County Board of Education/ Guilford County Schools (GCS)
PROJECT:
Shadybrook ES, 2022 Bond Projects Design/Build Services
OWNER CONTACT PERSON:
Velicia Moore, Purchasing Director gaddyv@gcsnc.com
SOQ DUE DATE AND TIME
Respondent's SOQ shall be submitted no later than: Monday, April 30, 2026, 3:00 pm ET
All SOQs must be submitted pursuant to the instructions herein. It is the Respondent's sole responsibility to
ensure that the SOQ is delivered in the manner required by this RFQ by the Due Date and Time. The owner
has the right to reject any SOQs not properly delivered.
A non-mandatory virtual pre-proposal conference will be held on April 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Registration is required
to attend.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/wQ78LQQ7SEeleCuuD2HqIg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1: OWNER DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 5
1.1 .......General .............................................................................................................................................. 5
1.2 .......Funding/Authority ............................................................................................................................... 5
1.3 .......Procurement Website ......................................................................................................................... 5
SECTION 2: OVERVIEW OF PROJECT ....................................................................................................... 5
2.1 .......General .............................................................................................................................................. 5
2.2 .......Project Objectives .............................................................................................................................. 5
2.3 .......Scope of Work .................................................................................................................................... 6
2.4 .......Estimated Budget ............................................................................................................................... 7
2.5 .......Project Procurement Schedule ........................................................................................................... 7
2.6 .......Definitions .......................................................................................................................................... 8
SECTION 3: PROCUREMENT PROCESS.................................................................................................... 8
3.1 .......General Information ............................................................................................................................ 8
3.2. ......Outline of the Procurement Process ................................................................................................... 9
3.3 .......Failure to Comply with Instructions ................................................................................................... 11
3.4 .......Modification of Withdrawal of SOQs ................................................................................................. 11
3.5 .......Negotiations and Modification of Contract Documents ..................................................................... 11
3.6 .......Public Records ................................................................................................................................. 11
3.7 .......Schedule .......................................................................................................................................... 11
3.8 .......References ....................................................................................................................................... 12
SECTION 4: SOQ DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................... 12
4.1 .......Submittal Requirements ................................................................................................................... 12
4.2 .......SOQ Format Requirements .............................................................................................................. 12
4.3 .......SOQ Organization ............................................................................................................................ 13
SECTION 5: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RFQ ................................................................. 16
5.1. .......Historically Underutilized, Small, Minority & Women Business Enterprise (HUB/MBWSE) Prg ....... 16
5.2. .......Vendor Registration ......................................................................................................................... 16
5.3. .......Applicable Laws ............................................................................................................................... 16
5.4. .......Cost of SOQ Preparation ................................................................................................................. 16
5.5. .......Registration with Secretary of State for North Carolina ................................................................... 17
5.6. .......NC Prohibition on Contracts with Companies that Invest in Iran or Boycott Israel .......................... 17
5.7. .......Financial Capacity; Insurance Requirements ................................................................................... 17
SECTION 6: LIST OF ATTACHMENTS AND AVAILABLE REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

REQUIRED FORMS
FORM 1 - RESPONDENT INFORMATION
FORM 2 - BASIC REQUIREMENTS
FORM 3 - GENERAL BACKGROUND OF LEAD DESIGNER
FORM 4 - GENERAL BACKGROUND OF LEAD BUILDER
FORM 5A - AFFIDAVIT FOR CORPORATION
FORM 5B - AFFIDAVIT FOR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
FORM 5C - AFFIDAVIT FOR PARTNERSHIPS
FORM 5D - AFFIDAVIT FOR JOINT VENTURE
FORM 6 - COMMERCIAL NON-DISCRIMINATION CERTIFICATION
FORM 7 - CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION AND OTHER
RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS
FORM 8 - BYRD ANTI-LOBBYING CERTIFICATION
FORM 9A - SENSITIVE INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION
FORM 9B- SENSITIVE INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION

SECTION 1: OWNER DESCRIPTION
1.1 General
Guilford County Schools (GCS) is seeking Design-Build services to design and
construct capital improvements at the location and of the type(s) described herein. This
project may include capital improvements such as school safety upgrades, site/building
system upgrades, and technology modernization.
GCS is the third-largest district in North Carolina, serving 68,000 students across 120
schools in urban, suburban and rural areas. Because we are a larger district, we are
able to offer opportunities that smaller districts, charter and private schools just can't.
Our mission is to Guilford County students will graduate as responsible citizens
prepared to succeed in higher education, or in the career of their choice.
Respondents will need to assemble a team of professionals, including but not limited
to, those in the design, permitting, construction, start-up, and commissioning fields, and
to provide technical input for the public communications plan for the execution of this
project.
Respondents may only submit one proposal in response to this RFQ. GCS reserves the
right to make final decisions regarding the utilization of subcontractors/subconsultants
and to require the removal and replacement of any personnel of the awarded team. For
instance, if a contractor submits a proposal with multiple design subconsultants, GCS
may determine which designer (or combination of designers) is to be utilized.
1.2 Funding/Authority
The Shadybrook ES projects are funded through the Guilford County Schools 2022 Bond Program,
approved by voters for capital improvements, renovations, and new construction of school facilities
throughout the District.
1.3 Procurement Website
The full RFQ document, addenda, clarifications, and all other related information will be
posted on the GCS's website at GCS Online (gcsnc.com). Each Respondent is
responsible for checking the website to obtain the latest information.
SECTION 2: OVERVIEW OF PROJECT
2.1 General
GCS is seeking to award a contract to one design-build firm to provide design and
construction services for the Shadybrook ES project. This project will be assigned to
the design-build firm based on its qualifications for that type of work. GCS intends to
use this design-build program as a strategy to speed up construction timelines, reduce
change orders, and expand workforce development initiatives.
2.2 Project Objectives
The overall project objective is to design and construct replacement
schools for the Shadybrook ES campus.
1. Design and construction of replacement school facilities and campuses.
2. Support a high-quality learning environment while. reducing energy, improving
operations, and reducing maintenance.
3. Maintain a safe, injury-free work site.

4. Minimize any scheduling, budgeting, and operational impacts to the Owner through
close coordination and timely communication with the Owner, subcontractors,
consultants, vendors, and its customers.
5. Design the improvements based on current GCS Design Standards and
applicable NC DPI requirements, including baseline standards for space
planning and programming, design guidelines for materials and systems, and
sustainability and energy conservation; working closely with GCS staff through
the various stages of design.
6. Complete the project on time and within the GCS's budget, optimizing lifecycle
costs with initial capital costs.
a. Provide a project that reliably meets or exceeds all regulatory and permitting
requirements.
b. Provide a project that supports GCS's energy & sustainability goals through
innovative and practical technologies, processes, or practices that take into
account the GCS's targets such as the Energy and Natural Resource
Conservation and Management Policy and sustainability and energy
conservation guidelines. Information on the GCS policy can be found at the
following website link:
GCS Board Policy_ EBD Energy and Natural Resource Conservation
and Management
7. Provide seamless transition of the capital improvements to GCS's operations and
maintenance team.
8. Describe methods the firm utilizes to ensure participation of Minority/Women-
owned, Historically Underutilized and Small businesses.
9. Increase workforce development opportunities for Guilford County Schools
students and community at large.
2.3 Scope of Work
Project Work Scope
Renovation and Addition: The final scope of work will be determined collaboratively by the selected
designer and the Owner. This effort will include evaluating the existing school facility against the Owner's
program requirements for an approximately 110,000 SF building, and identifying the necessary
renovations and additions to meet those needs:
a. Project Planning and Design - The Design-Builder will provide resources needed to
provide and establish scopes of work, budgets and schedules. The Design-Builder is
expected to work with GCS staff to revise scopes in order to match project budgets as
needed.
b. Permitting -The Design-Builder will provide the expertise and resources to manage all
permitting required and work with GCS and the regulatory agencies to successfully obtain
all required permits.
c. Public Communication - The Design-Builder will be an integral part of the established
communications plan. The Owner will have the lead role in the communication plan with
the design-build teams providing technical input for information and technical graphics
relative to their specific projects.
d. Detailed Design - The Design-Builder will provide the resources and expertise to complete
the design of a well-performing capital projects that meets or exceeds all regulatory
requirements, operations, and maintenance goals of the Project
e. Cost Estimating - Budget is critical on the Project, and the Design-Builder will be expected

to have a high degree of accuracy of cost estimating at all phases of design such that
development of the final GMP proceed seamlessly.
f. Construction - Provide excellent construction expertise, management, and resources to complete
the project safely, on schedule, and within budget.
g. Project Schedule - The Design-Builder is expected to start immediately on designing and
budgeting the Project in order to bring it into service as quickly as possible.
2.4 Estimated Budget
The current overall estimated project ordinances for this project are as follows:
Shadybrook ES: $52,885,000
These estimated project ordinances are inclusive of Design, Construction, Owner Costs, and
Contingency. The Design-Build program will provide services within this program as determined by
GCS priorities. GCS does not commit to a funding minimum or maximum.
2.5 Project Procurement
2.5.1 The following is the Project Procurement Schedule. The Owner reserves the right to modify
the Project Procurement Schedule. If three responses are received from qualified Design-
Builders, GCS may proceed with evaluating and ranking the proposals. If three responses
are not received from qualified design-builders by the deadline shown below, GCS will re-
advertise the RFQ and establish a second deadline to submit an SOQ. A timeline for each
of these scenarios is provided in the following table.
PROPOSED DATES:
DATE: ACTIVITY:
March 30, 2026 Issuance of RFQ
April 8, 2026 Virtual Pre-Submittal Conference at 10:00 a.m. (non-mandatory)
April 14, 2026 Deadline for Questions by 05:00 pm ET
April 20, 2026 Answers to Questions Posted by 5:00 pm ET
April 30, 2026 Deadline to Submit SOQ by 3:00 pm ET
May 8, 2026 Notice of Shortlist Selection
May 18, 2026 Interviews
May 21, 2026 Candidates Scored and Ranked
June 9, 2026 Recommendation for Board Approval
June 10, 2026 Design Memorandum Issued to Unsuccessful Candidates
June 10, 2026 Decision Memorandum Sent to Successful Candidates
June 11, 2026 Contract Negotiations for Design/ Preconstruction Services

2.6 Definitions
Business Day: Any day on which the Owner is open for regularly conducted business.
Design-Builder: The entity with the prime design-build contract with the Owner.
Design-Build Team: All entities listed by the Design-Builder as providing services or
construction on the Project. The Design Builder is not required to list all members of the Design-
Build Team in the SOQ. Members of the Design-Build Team may also be referred to as "Team
Members."
Key Team Member: Individuals who will be assigned to the Project who play an
important role in the design, construction, or management of the Project. At a minimum, these
would include Project Director, Project Manager, Design Manager, Lead Process Engineer,
Preconstruction Services Manager, Construction Manager, Site Superintendent, and Safety
Manager. The selected design-build team will be required to coordinate with the GCS
leadership and/or their designees on the project and frequent update meetings will be required
throughout the project. GCS may, at its expense, retain the services of a construction project
manager throughout the course of the project to ensure compliance with agreed-upon
specifications and other requirements.
Procurement: The Owner's process for selecting a Design-Build Team for this Project.
Procurement Documents: All documents issued by the Owner in connection with
the Procurement or Project.
Projects of Similar Scope and Complexity: Projects that had completion dates
within 5 years of the RFQ Issue Date or are at least 80% complete at the time of SOQ submission
based on dollar value of work completed and that have many or all of the characteristics
described below. (Note: These are not minimum criteria but considered the ideal experience
level by which all project experience submitted will be evaluated against.)
Additional desirable reference project features:
a. Projects that demonstrated a commitment to sustainability and carbon footprint
minimization design features.
b. Projects that utilize a collaborative delivery method that require strong
coordination and integration of the design and construction professionals and
early involvement of the construction professionals during design.
c. Projects where the Design-Builder was selected based on qualifications and
where the Design-Builder collaborated with the Owner and/or Owner's Advisor
to develop the final price and schedule.
Respondent: The Respondent is the legal entity responsible for submitting the SOQ
and for delivering the project and executing contracts for the project if they are selected as the
Design-Builder. That could be the engineer, constructor, or joint venture entity depending
on the structure of the proposed team. Respondent shall also include any and all members of
the design-build team.
SECTION 3: PROCUREMENT PROCESS
3.1 General Information
Compliance with Legal Requirements
This Procurement will be in accordance with N.C.G.S. 143-128.1A and all applicable federal, state,
and local laws, and Owner policies and procedures.
Addenda / Questions and Answers
Respondents may submit written questions concerning this RFQ to Velicia Moore via email at
gaddyv@gcsnc.com . Questions received after the stated deadline in the Procurement Project
Schedule will not be answered. No oral statement of any person shall modify or otherwise
change or affect the terms, conditions, or specifications stated in the RFQ, and changes to the
RFQ, if any, shall be made in writing only and issued in the form of an Addendum to the RFQ.
Addenda will be posted to the GCS's website at GCS Online (gcsnc.com).

Owner Rights and Procurement Conditions
3.1.1 The Owner reserves, without limitation, and may exercise at its sole discretion, the
following rights and conditions with regard to this Procurement process:
a. To cancel the Procurement process and reject any and all SOQs and/or Proposals,
b. To waive any non-material informality, technicality, or irregularity,
c. To revise the Procurement Documents and Schedule via an addendum,
d. To reject any Respondent that submits an incomplete or inadequate response or is
not responsive to the requirements of this RFQ,
e. To reject any or all responses to the RFQ, to advertise for new RFQ responses, or to
accept any RFQ response deemed to be in the best interest of the GCS,
f. To request confirmation of information furnished by a Respondent, require additional
information from a respondent concerning its SOQ or Proposal and require additional
evidence of qualifications to perform the work described in this RFQ,
g. To provide clarifications or conduct discussions, at any time, with one or more
respondents,
h. To contact references who are not listed in the Respondent's SOQs and investigate
statements on the SOQs and/or qualification of the Respondent and any firms or
individuals identified in the SOQ,
i. To consider Alternative Technical Concepts and/or approaches identified by
Respondents,
j. To take any action affecting the RFQ process or the Project that is determined to be
in the Owner's best interests, and
k. Approve or disapprove of the use of particular Subconsultants, Subcontractors, or
Key Team Members and/or substitutions and/or changes to Subconsultants,
Subcontractors, or Key Team Members from those identified in the SOQ or Proposal.
Such approval or disapproval shall not be unreasonably exercised.
A response to this RFQ should not be construed as a contract, nor indicate a commitment of any
kind.
No recommendations or conclusions from this RFQ process concerning any Respondent
shall constitute a right (property or otherwise) under the Constitution of the United States or
under the Constitution, case law or statutory law of North Carolina. No binding contract, an
obligation to negotiate, or any other obligation shall be created on the part of GCS unless GCS
and a Respondent jointly execute a contract.
3.2 Outline of the Procurement Process
3.2.1 Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
a. This RFQ invites firms to submit SOQs describing in detail their technical,
management, and financial qualifications to program development, design, permit,
construct, commission, and close out the project.
b. Respondents will submit their SOQ and other deliverables required pursuant to this
Procurement at the time and in the manner set forth in this RFQ and any Addenda.
The Owner will not consider SOQ or other deliverables that are submitted after the
Time set forth in the RFQ. Respondents are solely responsible for making sure
that the Owner receives the SOQ in a
timely fashion. See Section 4 for detailed information on how to submit a proposal.
c. The Owner will evaluate the information submitted by each Respondent pursuant
to the evaluation system described below. Any Respondent who fails to meet the
requirements set forth in this SOQ will be deemed non-responsive and will not be
considered further by the Owner in this Procurement.
d. All SOQs or submittals will be evaluated in accordance solely with the criteria
established in the RFQ and any Addenda issued thereto. The evaluation criteria
are listed herein, including the relative weight or importance given to each criterion.
e. Design-Build individuals and individual Key Team Members will be used as a basis
for selection. Any change to any submitted individuals or Key Team Member prior
to the completion of the selection process must be submitted to the GCS
Procurement Manager immediately. Such changes will result in re-evaluation and
may result in a change to the evaluation and ranking of the Respondent.

3.2.2 Selection Process / Interviews
Pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-64.31, the GCS is conducting a "qualifications-based" selection
process without regard to fee.
GCS will conduct a fair and impartial evaluation of all proposals that are received in accordance
with the provisions of this RFQ. GCS will appoint a selection committee to perform the
evaluation. GCS reserves the right to obtain clarification of any point in any SOQ or to obtain
additional information. A Respondent who submits SOQs will be notified of the selection
committee's choice. Final approval of any selected Respondent is subject to the action of GCS
Board of Education.
Interviews with Respondents may be held at the option of the selection committee. The
interview process may be used to clarify the information contained in the SOQ, but not to modify
the SOQ.
3.2.3 Communication Guidelines
All Respondents and/or its agents are prohibited from communicating with elected GCS
Board of Education, City/County officials and/or GCS employees regarding the RFQ or
proposals from the time the RFQ has been released until all Respondents have been notified
and the selection results have been publicly announced. These restrictions extend to "thank
you" letters, phone calls, and emails and any contact that results in the direct or indirect
discussion of the RFQ and/or the SOQ submitted by the Respondent. Violation of this provision by
the Respondent and/or its agents may lead to disqualification of the Respondent's proposal from
consideration.
3.2.4 No Lobbying
By responding to this request for qualifications, the Respondent certifies that it has not and will
not pay any person or organization to influence or attempt to influence an officer or employee of
GCS, board official or the State of North Carolina in connection with obtaining a contract under
this RFQ.
3.2.5 Evaluation and Ranking of Respondents
In the evaluation and ranking of Respondents, the Owner will consider only the information
submitted in the SOQ with respect to the evaluation criteria set forth in the RFQ. The result of the
evaluation will be a comparative ranking of Respondents.
For the purpose of evaluating and shortlisting Respondents, the evaluation criteria will be
given the following relative weights:
Criteria Weight
1 Respondent's understanding of the project and approach, 40%
including innovation, demonstration of design-build project
completion and experience with specialty capital
improvements
2 The Respondent's experience in providing similar 35%
services for Projects of Similar Scope and Complexity,
with a focus on public-sector design-build projects in
North Carolina.
3 Qualifications, availability, and abilities of Key 15%
Team Members
4 Quality, completeness and readability of SOQ package 10%

3.3 Failure to Comply with Instructions
GCS may choose to exercise the following options for SOQ packages that fail to comply with
any requirement of this RFQ: a) assign a low rating; or b) deem the SOQ non-responsive and
remove the SOQ from further consideration.
3.4 Modification of Withdrawal of SOQs
Respondents may change or withdraw their SOQs at any time prior to the due date by providing
written notice via email to GCS Procurement Manager stated in Item 4.1.1. In order to be
effective, the intent of the notification must be clear and concise.
Withdrawal of a SOQ will not preclude a Respondent from subsequently submitting a new
SOQ, so long as that new SOQ is properly submitted and received by the owner contact
Procurement Manager prior to the SOQ Due Date.
3.5 Negotiations and Modification of Contract Documents
A sample contract is attached. GCS reserves the right to conduct negotiations with the
Respondent regarding any remaining issues provided that the general work scope remains the
same and that the field of competition does not change as a result of material changes to the
requirements stated in the RFQ. GCS will make such modifications to the Contract
Documents as it may determine, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to be necessary to fully
incorporate the terms of the Respondent's SOQ, or to correct any inconsistencies, ambiguities, or
errors that may exist in the Contract Documents. If, in GCS's sole discretion, it determines that
the highest qualified Respondent is not responsive to the negotiation process, or that the parties
will be unable to reach a timely and mutually acceptable Contract, GCS may terminate
negotiations with the Respondent. GCS will then continue the process of negotiation with the
next highest qualified Respondent until the GCS either successfully negotiates a Contract or
cancels the procurement.
3.6 Public Records
Upon receipt by GCS, each SOQ becomes the property of GCS and is considered a public record
except for material that qualifies as "Trade Secret" information under North Carolina General
Statute 66-152 et seq. SOQs will be reviewed by the GCS's Selection Committee, as well as
other GCS staff and members of the general public who submit public record requests after a
selection result has been announced to the public. To properly designate material as a trade
secret under these circumstances, each Respondent must take the following precautions: (a)
any trade secrets submitted by a Respondent should be submitted in a separate, sealed
envelope marked "Trade Secret - Confidential and Proprietary Information - Do Not Disclose
Except for the Purpose of Evaluating this SOQ," and (b) the same trade secret/confidentiality
designation should be stamped on each page of the trade secret materials contained in the
envelope.
In submitting a SOQ, each Respondent agrees that GCS may reveal any secret trade
materials contained in such response to all GCS staff and GCS officials involved in the selection
process and to any outside consultant or other third parties who serve on the Selection Committee
or who are hired by GCS to assist in the selection process. Furthermore, each Respondent
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless GCS and each of its officers, employees and agents from
all costs, damages, and expenses incurred in connection with refusing to disclose any material
that the Respondent has designated as a trade secret. Any Respondent that designates its entire
SOQ as a trade secret may be disqualified from the selection process.
3.7 Schedule
It is expected that your firm will have the current capabilities and capacity to complete the
program by the date listed in the program schedule. Provide a detailed schedule, including
milestones, from the notice to proceed date through post- occupancy services. Provide
reasoning, in this section, for any modifications or alterations your firm wishes to make to the
recommended program schedule.