Tag: request for qualifications

Monroe Convention Center expansion notebook: Interviews for construction manager set for June 4

CIB president John Whikehart. (May 22, 2024)
From back to front: CIB members Jay Bayer, Adam Thies, Jim Silberstein, and Joyce Poling. (May 22, 2024)
From left: CIB members Eric Spoonmore, John Whikehart, and Doug Bruce.

On the morning of June 4, representatives from three construction firms will be interviewed by Monroe County’s capital improvement board (CIB) for the job of construction manager for the convention center expansion project.

Shortlisted from the original six that responded to an early 2024 RFQ (request for qualifications) are three firms: F.A. Wilhelm Construction; Shiel Sexton; and Weddle Bros. Building Group. All respondents to the RFQ were invited to respond to the subsequent RFP (request for proposals).

The short list was announced at a special meeting of the CIB held on Wednesday afternoon.

In other business, the CIB voted unanimously not to pursue the northward expansion option for the convention center. The existing facility stands on the southwest corner of College Avenue and 3rd Street.

That outcome was already anticipated as a result of the email message sent last week to the city of Bloomington by Jim Whitlatch, the CIB’s legal counsel, indicating that the CIB would not be negotiating with the city on a the price for the parcels to the north. Continue reading “Monroe Convention Center expansion notebook: Interviews for construction manager set for June 4” →

DLZ gets initial nod from Monroe County for new jail design, vote 2 weeks away

Monroe County facilities director Richard Crider addresses county commissioners on March 8, 2023.
Monroe County commissioners from left: Lee Jones, Penny Githens, and Julie Thomas.

The final decision has not been made, but DLZ is likely to be the firm that Monroe County uses to master plan and design a new jail facility.

At a Wednesday morning work session, Monroe County commissioners received a brief report from a committee that they created to review three responses to a request for qualifications (RFQ), to master plan and design  a new jail.

DLZ was the company recommended by the committee. The other two responses came from Elavatus and RQRAW.

Monroe County director of facilities Richard Crider delivered the committee’s recommendation to the commissioners. About the three companies who responded, Crider said, “They are all very capable and proficient in what they do. And I believe we all felt like any one of them could provide a facility that meets our needs.”

But it was DLZ that got the committee’s nod: “One firm stood out above the rest and that was DLZ.” Crider added, “DLZ was the unanimous decision of the committee.”

Joining Crider on the RFQ review committee were: David Gardner, ASI Facilities Services contractor; Lee Baker, county attorney; Kyle Gibbons, jail commander; Matt Demmings, assistant jail commander; and Angie Purdie, administrator for the commissioners.

The commissioners do not have a regular meeting scheduled for next week, on March 15. The vote on the choice of DLZ is set for two weeks from now, on March 22. Continue reading “DLZ gets initial nod from Monroe County for new jail design, vote 2 weeks away” →