New Palm Desert Library Facility - Progressive Design-Build

With this Request for Proposals ("RFP"), the City of Palm Desert, ("City") is requesting proposals (“Proposals”) from qualified Design-Build Teams ("Proposer") to provide progressive design-build services for the following: New Palm Desert Library Facility - Progressive Design-Build, Project No. 2026-RFP-013 (the “Project”). Services include the planning, design, and construction of the City’s new library facility, as well as the demolition of current site elements noted for removal to start construction (Phase 2).

The selected Proposer will partner with the City through a collaborative and transparent process to deliver a modern, efficient, and community-focused facility that reflects the City’s long-term vision, supports future growth, and enhances public access to library resources and services.

The purpose of the Proposal is to demonstrate the qualifications, experience, competence, and capacity of the Proposer to design and construct the Project described in this RFP. The successful Proposer will be expected to execute the Progressive Design-Build Contract (“Contract”) included with this RFP. Any capitalized term herein not defined, shall have the meaning set forth in the General Conditions of the Contract.

Background

The City of Palm Desert is a charter city in the State of California. The City is a thriving community of approximately 50,000 full-time and 32,000 seasonal residents. It is located in the Coachella Valley in eastern Riverside County, part of the low desert region of Southern California. The City features big-city resources in a friendly, small-town setting, offering first class educational opportunities, safe and clean streets, as well as plentiful shopping and community events. Palm Desert is considered the geographical, educational and retail center of the Coachella Valley.

Incorporated in 1973, the City operates under a council-manager form of government with a five-member City Council elected by district. Each council member represents one of five single member districts and serves a four-year term. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Palm Desert City Hall, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive.

The City will assign one or more Construction Managers to oversee the successful delivery of the project. These individuals will serve as key points of contact and coordination throughout all phases of construction on behalf of the City. It is the City's expectation that the selected proposer will work in close collaboration with the Construction Manager, ensuring alignment across schedules, site activities, and communication protocols. Proposers should be prepared to engage proactively with the City's personnel to facilitate seamless integration of efforts and maintain transparency in all project-related matters.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-RFP-013
• Department: CP - Capital Improvement Projects
• Department Head: Jess Culpeper (Director of Capital Projects)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-05-04T21:00:00.683Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-05-08T00:00:58.342Z
• Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-04-23T17:00:29.758Z — https://palmdesert.zoom.us/j/88644704506

Evaluation Criteria

• Clarity and conformance of proposal to the RFP (10 pts)
• Project Delivery, Cost Development and Management Approach (25 pts)
• Proposer's Project Experience and Performance (35 pts)
• Team members' experience and performance (20 pts)
• Fee Proposal (10 pts)

Submission Requirements

• Proposal Acknowledgment (required) —

  To the City of Palm Desert, a municipal corporation, organized under the laws of the State of California, with its principal place of business at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260.

  1. In response to the Contract Documents, and in accordance with the accompanying Instructions to Proposers, the undersigned hereby proposes to the Agency to furnish all labor, technical and professional services, supervision, materials and equipment, other than materials and equipment specified as furnished by the Agency, and to perform all operations necessary and required to construct the Project in accordance with the provisions of the Contract Documents and any addenda thereto, and at the prices stated opposite the respective items set forth in the Pricing Schedule.
  2. This bid constitutes a firm offer to the Agency which cannot be withdrawn for 90 calendar days after the due date set for opening of responses, or until a Contract is executed by the Agency and a third party, whichever is earlier.
  3. The undersigned certifies that it has examined and is fully familiar with all of the provisions of the Contract Documents and any addenda thereto; that it has carefully checked all of the words and figures shown in its Pricing Schedule; that it has carefully reviewed the accuracy of all statements in this bid and attachments hereto; and that it understands and agrees that the Agency will not be responsible for any errors or omissions on the part of the undersigned in preparing this bid.
  4. If awarded a Contract, the undersigned agrees to execute and deliver to the Agency within fifteen (15) Days after date of receipt of Notice of Award, a signed Contract and the necessary Performance Bond, Payment Bond, and Certificates of Insurance and Endorsements.
  5. All Bid Forms, which have been completed and executed by undersigned Design-Build Entity, are incorporated by this reference and made a part of this bid.
  6. The undersigned is hereby representing that it is and will be properly licensed both at the time that it submits a bid as well as at the time the Contract is awarded, if the Contract is awarded to the undersigned.
     1. If Individual Contractor. Undersigned certifies that it is now licensed in accordance with the provisions of the Contractor's License Law of the State of California; or
     2. If Joint Venture. Undersigned certifies that the individual members of the joint venture are now licensed in accordance with the provisions of the Contractor's License Law of the State of California.

  I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that all of the information submitted in connection with this bid and all of the representations made herein are true and correct.

• Proposal Submission (required) —

  Please attach your Proposal (without cost) here. 

• Changes to Agreement – Part 1 (required) —

  The City's sample Progressive Design-Build agreement is included as an attachment herein.
  Question 1: Does the Proposer have any objections to, or request changes to, the standard contract language? (If none, type "N/A")

• Changes to Agreement – Part 2* —

  Question 2: If the Proposer is requesting any changes, upload a copy of the redlined Agreement/Language with the Proposal. Changes requested may affect the City's decision to enter into an Agreement. 
  *Response optional (only required if changes are requested)*

• Workers' Compensation Certification (required) —

  I am aware of the provisions of Section 3700 of the Labor Code which require every employer to be insured against liability for workers’ compensation or to undertake self-insurance in accordance with the provisions of that code, and I will comply with such provisions before commencing the performance of the work of this Contract.

• Designation of Subcontractors (required) —

  Please download the below document. Complete and upload.

• Non-Collusion Declaration (required) —

  The undersigned declares:

  I am an authorized representative of my company, the party making the foregoing bid, to certify the following.

  The Bid is not made in the interest of, or on behalf of, any undisclosed person, partnership, company, association, organization, or corporation. The Bid is genuine and not collusive or sham. The Design-Build Entity has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other Design-Build Entity to put in a false or sham bid. The Design-Build Entity has not directly or indirectly colluded, conspired, connived, or agreed with any Design-Build Entity or anyone else to put in a sham bid, or to refrain from participating in this bid. The Design-Build Entity has not in any manner, directly or indirectly, sought by agreement, communication, or conference with anyone to fix the bid Price of the Design-Build Entity or any other Design-Build Entity, or to fix any overhead, profit, or cost element of the Bid Price, or of that of any other Design-Build Entity. All statements contained in the Bid are true. The Design-Build Entity has not, directly or indirectly, submitted his or her Bid Price or any breakdown thereof, or the contents thereof, or divulged information or data relative thereto, to any corporation, partnership, company, association, organization, bid depository, or to any member or agent thereof to effectuate a collusive or sham bid, and has not paid, and will not pay, any person or entity for such purpose.

  Any person executing this declaration on behalf of a Design-Build Entity that is a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or any other entity, hereby represents that he or she has full power to execute, and does execute, this declaration on behalf of the Design-Build Entity.

  I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

• IRAN CONTRACTING ACT CERTIFICATION* (required) —

  (Public Contract Code section 2200 et seq.)

  As required by California Public Contract Code Section 2204, the Contractor certifies subject to penalty for perjury that the option selected below relating to the Contractor’s status in regard to the Iran Contracting Act of 2010 (Public Contract Code Section 2200 et seq.) is true and correct:

  Note: In accordance with Public Contract Code Section 2205, false certification of this form shall be reported to the California Attorney General and may result in civil penalties equal to the greater of $250,000 or twice the Contract amount, termination of the Contract and/or ineligibility to bid on contracts for three years.

• Fleet Compliance Certification* (required) —

  I hereby acknowledge that I have reviewed the California Air Resources Board’s policies, rules and regulations and are familiar with the requirements of Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Division 3, Chapter 9, effective on January 1, 2024 (the “Regulation”).  I hereby certify, subject to penalty for perjury, that the option checked below relating to the Bidder’s fleet, and/or that of their subcontractor(s) (“Fleet”) is true and correct:

• Fleet Compliance Certification (required) —

  Please attach supporting documentation for the selection made in the above item.

• Enter your valid CA Contractors State License Board (CSLB) number (required) —

  Please enter your License Number here. This will be verified against the state database.

• Enter your California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Registration number (required) —

  Please enter your Public Works Contractor DIR Number. This will be verified against the state database. Please enter your Public Works Contractor DIR Number. This will be verified against the state database. 

• DIR Registration Certification (required) —

  Pursuant to Labor Code sections 1725.5 and 1771.1, all Design-Build Entity's and subcontractors that wish to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal, or enter into a contract to perform public work must be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations. See http://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/PublicWorks.html for additional information.

  No bid will be accepted nor any contract entered into without proof of the Design-Build Entity’s and subcontractors’ current registration with the Department of Industrial Relations to perform public work.

  Design-Build Entity hereby certifies that it is aware of the registration requirements set forth in Labor Code sections 1725.5 and 1771.1 and is currently registered as a contractor with the Department of Industrial Relations.

  Unless Design-Build Entity is exempt pursuant to the small project exemption, Design-Build Entity further acknowledges:

  1. Design-Build Entity shall maintain a current DIR registration for the duration of the project.
  2. Design-Build Entity shall include the requirements of Labor Code sections 1725.5 and 1771.1 in its contract with subcontractors and ensure that all subcontractors are registered at the time of bid opening and maintain registration status for the duration of the project.
  3. Failure to submit this form or comply with any of the above requirements may result in a finding that the bid is non-responsive.
• SAM.gov (required) —

  Please enter your legal entity name for SAM.gov verification.

• Type of Business (required)
• Type your Legal Company Name Here (required) —

  State your Company's Name Here. This will be verified against the California Secretary of State's Website.

• How many years has Design-Build Entity’s organization been in business as a Contractor? (required)
• List the Signatory(s) Authorized to Sign and Bind an Agreement. (required) —

  Upload signatories authorized to sign and bind into an agreement.  Provide the following for each signatory:

  1. Full Name
  2. Title
  3. Physical Business Address
  4. Email Address
  5. Phone Number

  Corporation (C-Corp): Requires two signatures from authorized officers— one from President or Vice President, and the other from the Secretary or Treasurer.  If you are a corporation, provide 2 authorized signatory information.  

  An alternate signatory may be used if authorized by a Notarized Corporate Resolution or Article of Authority.

  Sole Proprietorship, Non-Profit, LLC: Usually requires one signature from an authorized member or manager. 

• Nondiscrimination Certification.* —

  The City of Palm Desert is committed to promoting equal opportunity in its contracting activities. We ensure that all individuals seeking to do business with the city treat contractors, subcontractors, and employees fairly, without discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, domestic partner status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or membership in any other protected class.

  For any purchase exceeding $10,000, vendors must certify compliance with the City’s nondiscrimination policy (G.C. 3.30.200) before contract award. No contract will be awarded until the contractor submits this certification.

  By clicking the confirmation box below, the vendor certifies that they have read the code and agree to comply with its requirements. Failure to comply may result in termination of any agreement entered into with the vendor.

• Agency (required)
• Agency Acronym (required)
• How many calendar days for the period of performance? (required) —

  When entering this data, use the following format:

  Ex.) One Hundred (100)

• Type of Response (required) —

  (RFP vs. RFQ)

• Daily Rate? (required)
• Reverse Liquidated Damages? (required)
• Pre-Bid Conference? (required)
• Working Hours? (required)
• Use Electronic Bid Schedule? (required) —

  If "NO" is selected, vendors will be prompted to "Upload" a price proposal as a document in the Proposal Forms section.

• Include a requirement for submission of an "Hourly Rate Schedule for Extra Work?" (required)
• Is Project Federally Funded? (required)
• Is the estimated value of this project in excess of $1,000,000.00? (required) —

  If yes, the Iran Contracting Act Certification will be added to the Bid Forms.

• Use "Bidder Information and Experience Form" for this project? (required) —

  THIS FORM IS OPTIONAL AND CAN BE MODIFIED TO FIT THE COMPLEXITY AND SCOPE OF THE PROJECT; IF NOT USING THIS FORM, THE INSTRUCTION TO BIDDERS AND BID ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REFERNECES WILL BE REMOVED ACCORDINGLY.

• Does this project require Bidders to be registered with the DIR? (required) —

  Consider the Small Project Exemption

• Does this project require a City issued permit? (required) —

  (ie, encroachment/building permits)