Notice of Bid/Request for Proposal

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
University of Florida
Project: UF-319, CELLULOSIC ETHANOL PLANT, LOCATION (TBD)

NOTICE TO DESIGN/BUILDER:

The University of Florida Board of Trustees announces that Design/Build services will be required for the project listed below:

Project: UF-319, CELLULOSIC ETHANOL PLANT, LOCATION (TBD)

The project consists of a plant to be co-located at an existing industrial site that provides biomass feedstocks and storage, steam (biomass boiler), electric, waste water treatment, fibrous solids disposal using a biomass boiler, and all permitting needed for construction and startup. Design and construction will focus on the new aspects of technology for cellulosic ethanol (substrate sizing, dilute acid pretreatment, fermentation, and distillation). Feedstocks will include grasses and row crops, bagasse and canes, and wood. Initial design and construction will be modular with a desired production of 1.5-2 million gal/yr. Fully developed, this ethanol plant will process up to 15 dry metric tons of cellulosic biomass/h into up to 10 million gal ethanol/yr.

The total project budget is $16,000,000.00, including site planning, underground utilities, fees, survey & tests, plant & building design, furnishing & equipment, plant start-up commissioning and contingencies. Construction shall be “fast-tracked” to tentatively begin by December 2007 and end by January 2008. Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council is required to the extent appropriate.

The contract for design/build services will consist of two parts. Part one services include design, construction administration, constructability analyses, development of a cost model, estimating, and the development of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposal based on 60% Construction Documents, for which the design/builder will be paid a fixed fee.

If the GMP is accepted, part two, the construction phase, will be implemented. In part two of the contract, the design/builder becomes the single point of responsibility for completion of the construction documents, performance of the construction of the project and shall publicly bid trade contracts. Failure to negotiate an acceptable fixed fee for part one of the contract, or to arrive at an acceptable GMP within the time provided in the agreement may result in the termination of the design/builder’s contract.

Blanket design professional liability insurance will be required for this project in the amount of $1,000,000.00, and will be provided as a part of Basic Services. Plans and specifications for University of Florida projects are subject to reuse in accordance with the provisions of Section 287.055, Florida Statutes.

Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their past performance, experience, personnel, design and construction ability, references, bonding capacity, workload, and responses to questions posed both in the shortlist and interview phases. The Selection Committee may reject all proposals and stop the selection process at any time.

Applicants desiring to provide design/build services for the project shall submit a proposal only after thoroughly reviewing the facilities program, Project Fact Sheet, and other background information. The proposal shall be limited to 40 single-sided, consecutively-numbered pages and shall include:

1.     A Letter of Application that concisely illustrates the applicant’s understanding of the scope of services, schedule, and other goals and considerations as outlined in the Project Fact Sheet and facilities program.

2.     Company information and signed certification.

3.     A completed, project-specific “Design/Builder Qualifications Supplement” (DBQS) proposal. Applications on any other form will not be considered.

4.     Resumes, copies of the applicant's contracting license, current Professional Registration Certificate(s) from the appropriate governing board, corporate charter(s) if applicable, proof of bonding capacity, and other pertinent credentials.

At the time of application, the applicant must be licensed to practice as a general contractor in the State of Florida; must posses current design Professional Registration Certificate(s) from the appropriate governing board; must be properly registered to practice its profession in the State of Florida; and, if the applicant is a corporation, must be chartered by the Florida Department of State to operate in Florida. As required by Section 287.133, Florida Statutes, an applicant may not submit a proposal for this project if it is on the convicted vendor list for a public entity crime committed within the past 36 months. The selected design/builder must warrant that it will neither utilize the services of, nor contract with, any supplier, subcontractor, or consultant in excess of $15,000.00 in connection with this project for a period of 36 months from the date of their being placed on the convicted vendor list.

Unsigned proposals or proposals containing expired or invalid licenses will be disqualified. Submittal materials will not be returned.

The project-specific DQBS forms, instructions, Project Fact Sheet, facilities program, UF Design Services Guide, UF Construction Standards, standard University of Florida Owner-Design/Builder agreement, and other project and process information can be found on the Facilities Planning & Construction website.

Finalists may be provided with supplemental interview requirements and criteria as needed.

Provide the number of copies prescribed in the Project Fact Sheet. Submittals must be received in the Facilities Planning & Construction office by 3:00 PM local time on Monday, July 30, 2007. Facsimile (FAX) submittals are not acceptable and will not be considered.

Facilities Planning and Construction

232 Stadium / P. O. Box 115050

Gainesville, FL 32611-5050

Telephone: (352)392-1256; Fax: (352)392-6378

Internet: www.facilities.ufl.edu