REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP), GENERAL CONTRACTOR - CONSTRUCTION
TITLE III FUNDED WORKFORCE VILLAGE PHASE 1B
Arkansas Baptist College
Little Rock, Arkansas
1. NOTICE TO GENERAL CONTRACTORS
Arkansas Baptist College (“ABC” or “Owner”) solicits competitive proposals from qualified General Contractors for construction of the Title III-funded Workforce Village Phase 1B welding instructional facility improvements at 1404 W. 17th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202.
This solicitation is limited to the approved Title III Phase 1B scope described below. References to future phases of the Workforce Village are for context only and do not authorize construction, pricing, or award of unfunded future work under this procurement.
2. FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECT SCOPE
The approved Title III activity is “Strengthening the College through Academic Renovations - Workforce Village.” The construction contract funded through this RFP is limited to the Phase 1B improvements necessary to expand and place the welding instructional facility into safe, code-compliant academic use.
• Expansion of the existing welding instructional pod to add a second instructional level;
• Construction of a large open-roof protective canopy;
• Electrical and related infrastructure upgrades necessary for safe, code-compliant instruction;
• Associated site, structural, MEP, life-safety, accessibility, permitting, testing, inspection, and closeout work shown in the Architect’s Contract Documents and reasonably necessary to complete the approved Phase 1B scope.
Construction budget: $545,000 under the approved Title III activity budget.
3. CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
The Contractor shall base its proposal on the complete Architect’s Contract Documents and all addenda issued by ABC. If the Contract Documents are not complete or do not clearly define the Phase 1B work, ABC may extend the due date, issue clarifications, or cancel and reissue the solicitation rather than negotiate an undefined construction scope after selection.
The official RFP and Contract Documents are available from Robert Turner, Turner Development, at turnerdevelopment@gmail.com. Respondents are responsible for using only the official documents and acknowledged addenda.
4. PROCUREMENT METHOD
ABC will use a competitive proposal process under 2 CFR Part 200. Award will be made to the responsible respondent whose proposal is most advantageous to ABC, with price and other factors considered. The evaluation factors and their relative importance are stated in this RFP. ABC will not use qualifications-based selection reserved for architectural and engineering professional services to award this construction contract.
The successful respondent will be required to execute a firm fixed-price / lump-sum construction contract based on the final Contract Documents. Any post-selection clarification or negotiation must not materially alter the competitive basis of the solicitation or permit an unfair advantage.
5. REQUIRED CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
• Mobilization and construction management;
• Coordination with ABC and the Owner’s design professional;
• Subcontractor procurement and management;
• Construction of all Phase 1B work shown in the Contract Documents;
• Schedule management and cost control;
• Required testing, inspections, permits, and code compliance;
• BABAA documentation and domestic-content compliance for covered materials;
• Submittals, shop drawings, RFIs, change-order documentation, and pay applications;
• Punch list, warranties, record documents, O&M documentation, and project closeout.
6. PROJECT SCHEDULE AND TITLE III PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
The approved Title III activity identifies December 31, 2026 as the Phase 1B completion date. ABC will not authorize Title III-funded construction outside the approved federal period of performance unless the U.S. Department of Education issues an extension or other written approval that permits the work and related costs.
• Anticipated Notice to Proceed: After contract execution and written confirmation that the federal period of performance permits the work.
• Required completion: December 31, 2026, unless revised by written addendum or contract notice supported by U.S. Department of Education approval.
• Respondents shall submit a detailed schedule identifying mobilization, long-lead materials, inspections, substantial completion, closeout, and final payment milestones.
Any later milestone previously contemplated for December 2026 through March 2027 is not incorporated into this corrected RFP unless ABC first documents the federal authority permitting that schedule.
7. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Each proposal shall contain separate Technical and Price sections so that ABC can evaluate both the contractor’s qualifications and the competitiveness/reasonableness of the proposed price.
A. Technical Proposal
1. Cover letter and executive summary
2. Firm profile and Arkansas contractor license
3. Relevant project experience, including at least three comparable projects
4. Qualifications and experience of key personnel
5. Current workload and capacity
6. Project management and pre-construction / coordination approach
7. Construction schedule and critical-path approach
8. Quality control and safety plan
9. Approach to federal compliance, including BABAA
10. Subcontractor procurement approach and efforts to provide opportunities to small, minority, women-owned, veteran-owned, and other disadvantaged businesses consistent with 2 CFR 200.321
11. At least two client references
12. Bonding capacity and surety information
13. Conflict-of-interest disclosure
14. Required federal certifications
B. Price Proposal
Submit a firm lump-sum estimated price to complete the Phase 1B scope in accordance with the Contract Documents. The price proposal must be signed and shall include a Schedule of Values sufficiently detailed to permit price analysis and contract administration.
• General Conditions
• Site Work
• Concrete
• Masonry
• Structural Steel
• Carpentry
• Roofing / canopy work
• Doors and Hardware
• Finishes
• Specialties
• Equipment interfaces
• Mechanical
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Fire Protection / life-safety work
• Exterior improvements
• Testing and inspections
• Bonds and insurance
• Contractor overhead and fee
• Contingency, if permitted by the Contract Documents
• Allowances, alternates, unit prices, assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications
The total proposal must include all labor, materials, equipment, supervision, taxes, permits, fees, bonds, insurance, overhead, profit, and other costs necessary to complete the work unless the Contract Documents expressly state otherwise.
8. EVALUATION AND SELECTION
Evaluation Criterion Points
Technical competence and similar project experience 20
Past performance and references 15
Capacity, staffing, schedule, and ability to meet the required completion date 15
Project approach, quality control, and federal/BABAA compliance 15
Construction price 30
Small/minority/women-owned business outreach approach 5
TOTAL 100
ABC may conduct interviews or request written clarifications from the highest-ranked respondents. Clarifications may not be used to cure a material deficiency or permit a respondent to revise its price or technical proposal in a manner that would prejudice fair competition unless ABC conducts a documented competitive discussion process with similarly situated offerors.
ABC will perform and document a price analysis and responsibility determination before award. ABC may verify references, licensing, bonding, SAM.gov exclusion status, financial capacity, and other responsibility factors.
9. BONDING
Because the anticipated construction contract exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold, federal bonding requirements in 2 CFR 200.326 apply unless the U.S. Department of Education accepts ABC’s bonding policy as adequately protecting the federal interest.
• Bid guarantee: 5% of the proposed contract price, submitted with the proposal in an acceptable form.
• Performance bond: 100% of the contract price.
• Payment bond: 100% of the contract price.
• Bonds must be issued by a surety authorized to do business in Arkansas and otherwise acceptable to ABC.
• Bond premiums shall be included in the lump-sum proposal price.
10. INSURANCE
The selected Contractor shall maintain insurance required by the Contract Documents, including workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, commercial general liability, automobile liability, and other coverage appropriate to the work. Evidence of required coverage must be provided before Notice to Proceed. Insurance costs shall be included in the proposal price.
11. BUILD AMERICA, BUY AMERICA ACT (BABAA)
The U.S. Department of Education identifies Title III, Part B (Assistance Listing 84.031B) as an infrastructure program subject to BABAA for covered construction activities. The Contractor shall comply with applicable BABAA requirements, 2 CFR Part 184, and 2 CFR 200.322 unless an applicable U.S. Department of Education waiver or project-specific waiver applies.
• Use compliant U.S.-produced iron and steel, manufactured products, and construction materials when covered by BABAA.
• Provide manufacturer or supplier certifications and supporting documentation before covered materials are incorporated into the project.
• Identify any anticipated noncompliant material promptly and do not purchase or install it as a substitute without written ABC approval and, when required, an approved federal waiver.
• Flow applicable BABAA requirements to subcontractors, fabricators, and suppliers.
• Maintain all BABAA records for inclusion in ABC’s federal grant file.
12. SMALL, MINORITY, WOMEN-OWNED, AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES
ABC encourages participation by small, minority, women-owned, veteran-owned, and other disadvantaged businesses. The selected Contractor shall take the affirmative steps required by 2 CFR 200.321 when subcontracting opportunities exist, including appropriate outreach and consideration consistent with full and open competition.
13. FEDERAL ELIGIBILITY AND CERTIFICATIONS
• The Contractor and its principals must not be debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from federal transactions.
• For a proposal exceeding $100,000, the Contractor shall provide the applicable Byrd Anti-Lobbying certification and disclosures, if any.
• The Contractor shall disclose conflicts of interest.
• The Contractor shall comply with applicable federal contract clauses incorporated in Appendix A.
• Davis-Bacon requirements will apply only if ABC confirms they are required by the federal program legislation or specific U.S. Department of Education award terms. Section 3 is not included because it is not a Title III requirement unless another funding source independently imposes it.
14. CHANGES, SUBSTITUTIONS, AND COST CONTROL
No change to the approved Phase 1B scope or contract price is authorized without prior written approval by ABC. Proposed change orders shall identify scope, cost, schedule impact, funding source, and federal compliance implications. The Architect and ABC shall review changes before work proceeds. ABC may reject changes that are outside the approved Title III activity, not allowable, unsupported, or inconsistent with procurement requirements.
15. PAYMENT AND COST DOCUMENTATION
The Contractor shall submit itemized pay applications supported by the approved Schedule of Values, progress documentation, lien/bond documentation as applicable, BABAA records for incorporated covered materials, and other information required by ABC and the Architect. Payments are subject to verification of satisfactory performance, allowability, available federal funds, and applicable contract retainage.
16. QUESTIONS AND ADDENDA
Questions shall be submitted in writing to Robert Turner, Turner Development, at turnerdevelopment@gmail.com. An on-site construction site review meeting will be held on Monday September 28th at 11:30 am. Questions must be received no later than Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Central Time. Only written addenda issued by ABC may modify this RFP or the Contract Documents. Respondents are responsible for acknowledging all addenda.
17. SUBMISSION
Submit proposals electronically in PDF format to Robert Turner, Turner Development, at turnerdevelopment@gmail.com. Subject line: RFP ABC-WV-GC-2026-01 - Workforce Village Phase 1B General Contractor. Proposal deadline: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Late proposals may be rejected.
18. OWNER’S RIGHTS AND PROCUREMENT CONDITIONS
• Reject any or all proposals when permitted by applicable procurement requirements;
• Cancel or amend the solicitation by written notice or addendum;
• Request clarifications or additional responsibility information;
• Verify references, licensing, financial capacity, bonding, and federal eligibility;
• Waive minor informalities that do not affect price, quality, quantity, delivery, or the competitive standing of respondents;
• Award no contract if doing so is in the College’s best interest and consistent with the federal award;
• Maintain the procurement record, including the rationale for method, selection, contract type, price analysis, and award.
ABC will not reimburse respondents for proposal preparation costs. No respondent may rely on oral statements that conflict with the written solicitation or addenda.
19. AWARD
Award is contingent upon the selected respondent being responsible and responsive, successful completion of any permitted clarifications, agreement on the final lump-sum contract consistent with the competitive proposal, verification of bonds and insurance, verification of federal eligibility, availability and allowability of Title III funds, and written approval by authorized ABC officials.
20. CERTIFICATION OF PROPOSAL
By submitting a proposal, the respondent certifies that the information provided is accurate; the proposal was independently prepared; the firm is properly licensed and authorized to perform the work; the firm will comply with applicable federal, state, local, and ABC requirements; the firm has disclosed conflicts of interest; the proposed price is complete; and the firm will cooperate with authorized federal, state, College, and independent audits and monitoring.
Contractor Name:
Authorized Representative:
Title:
Signature:
Date:
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