Active SLED Opportunity · CALIFORNIA · SANTA CRUZ
AI Summary
Santa Cruz is soliciting qualifications for tenant improvements construction at the Downtown Library as part of a mixed-use project. Contractors must be prequalified to bid. The project is funded by Measure S and includes a two-story library with mezzanine and rooftop deck. Proposals are due April 29, 2026.
The Santa Cruz Downtown Library Improvements project consists of library tenant improvements within the core and shell structure of the Downtown Library Affordable Housing Project (DLAHP) at 119 Lincoln Street and includes a two-story library with a mezzanine level totaling approximately 37,000 square feet and an approximately 3,500 square foot rooftop deck. The project is located on Cedar Street between Lincoln and Cathcart Streets.
In 2016, voters approved Measure S, which provides bond funding to modernize, repair, and upgrade library branches located throughout the county-wide system. Based on a thorough needs assessment process, funds were allocated to each participating jurisdiction who were given responsibility for managing the improvements or new construction, in consultation with professional library staff. Because of the condition and complexity of the Downtown Branch, the City established the Downtown Library Advisory Committee (DLAC) to explore programmatic needs and construction costs of several options for the Downtown Library. On September 11th, 2018, the Council approved the project concept recommended by DLAC: a mixed-use project incorporating the library, commercial space, parking, and housing. The first phase on the project, which includes construction of the core and shell for the Downtown Library commenced in August 2025.
Project background and information is available on the City’s DLAHP project website: http://www.santnacruzca.gov/downtownlibraryproject
Clarification: See update to Questionnaire Section, Part II Past Performance; Question 1 clarifying the required Contractor’s license.
Responses to additional questions post addendum #2 and deadline reminder
Addendum #2 Updates to Statement of Qualifications Questionnaire and Responses to Questions: See attachment RFQ- Prequalification_for_Library_Improvements_Addendum_02 for full details.
Contractors will be deemed qualified or disqualified as explained in this Request For Qualifications (RFQ) Prequalification Library Improvements Document. Only Contractors determined to be qualified will be allowed to bid on the Project, please review RFQ document for full details.
The SOQs will be evaluated as follows:
Cover Page – Informational (not scored) and is the only page subject to CA Public Records Act
Part I: Business Organization and History – Informational (not scored)
Part II: Past Performance – Pass/Fail
Part III: Project Experience – Pass/Fail
Part IV: Ability to Perform – Scored
Part V: Verification and Signature – Pass/Fail, response must be signed
Contractors may include in the SOQ any additional information, explanations, or exhibits that may assist the City in favorably evaluating the Contractor.
The undersigned, upon acceptance, agrees to furnish the following in accordance with the specifications and terms and conditions per City of Santa Cruz at the prices indicated herein.
The undersigned, under penalty of perjury, declares not to be a party with any other business to an agreement to propose a fixed or uniform price in connection with this proposal.
The unsigned declares under penalty of perjury that she/he is authorized to sign this document and bind the business or organization to the terms of this Proposal.
The undersigned recognizes the right of the City of Santa Cruz to reject any or all proposals received and to waive any informality or minor defects in proposals received.
The undersigned declares under penalty of perjury that the information contained in this Proposal and all accompanying documents are true and correct.
Did you review the RFQ requirements ?
Have you reviewed the project Draft Plans and Specifications in Appendix A and B
Please upload the SOQ as described in the RFQ document
Please upload your proposal here without pricing included. Upload fee proposal separately in the next step.
Confirm that your fee proposal is not attached in your Proposal and is attached separately here.
Each bid shall be accompanied by a certified cashier’s check, or bid bond, in the amount of XXXXXof the total bid price, payable toCity of Santa Cruz, as a guarantee that the bidder, if its bid is accepted, will promptly execute the Agreement. The bidder shall guarantee the total bid price for a period of 60 days from the date of the bid opening.
Please scan and upload a copy of your bid bond/cashier's check. Bidder must also MAIL bid guarantee with a postmarked date no later thanTuesday, April 28, 2026 addressed to:
City of Santa Cruz
Brian Borguno
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz,CA95060
Please have the Bidder Name, Contract Title ("Request for Qualifications for Santa Cruz Downtown Library - Tenant Improvements Construction"), and Contract Number ("RFQ No. ED-2026-01") listed clearly on the outside of the envelope.
The contract shall be executed by the successful bidder and shall be returned, together with the Payment Bond, Performance Bond and Certificate(s) of Insurance to City of Santa Cruz so that it is received within 14 working daysafter the bidder has received the contract for execution. Failure to do so shall be just cause for forfeiture of the proposal guaranty.
Please download the below Local Preference Certification Form, complete, and upload.
Please download the below Non-Collusion Declaration Form, complete, and upload.
California Government Code Section 84308, commonly referred to as the "Levine Act," prohibits any member of the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz from participating in any action related to a contract if they receive any political contributions totaling more than $250 within twelve (12) months before or after the date a final decision concerning the contract has been made, from the person or company awarded the contract. The Levine Act also requires disclosure of such contribution by a party to be awarded a specific contract.
Answering YES to either of the two questions above does not preclude the City of Santa Cruz from awarding a contract to your firm or taking any subsequent action related to the contract. It does, however, preclude the identified City Council Member(s) from participating in any actions related to this contract.
Will this solicitation require a bid bond?
Would you like to have vendors respond to an electronic pricing table?
If you are NOT using the Electronic Pricing Table option, will you want proposers to separate a Price Proposal from the rest of their Response? You'll want to do this if you open your bids initially WITHOUT showing price, and then come back in after a technical evaluation to unseal pricing later.
Will there be an evaluation committee to review the proposals and score them based on weights and multiple criteria?
Select YES for Request for Proposals and Request for Qualifications process.
Select YES for most solicitations.
Local Preference does NOT apply to:
Q (Clarification Questions):
A: Do you have an estimate for this project ? and For this project, the SOQ is to be submitted to establish a list of prequalified GC’s so that they may bid the project when it goes out to bid? Please refer to the RFQ Prequalification document attachment for details and submit all questions through OpenGov platform. Per the RFQ document: Range of Design Consultant's Opinion of Probable Construction Cost Low: $23,000,000 – High: $25,400,000 Expected Schedule: SOQ solicitation Due April 28th, 2026 Advertise for Bid: May - July 2026 (only prequalified contractors will be invited to bid) Award/Contract Execution: August - September 2026 Contractor Submittals/Permits: October 2026 - January 2027 Construction: February 2027 - April 2028 Substantial Completion: April 2028 Closeout: May 2028
Q (Self Performance): Would it be possible to reduce the self performance percentage requirement to 10%?
A: See Addendum 2
Q (Project Experience - $15M Threshold): Regarding Section 3, Part III: Mandatory Project Experience (Page 17), the RFQ states that 'All three (3) of the projects submitted must have... had a minimum contract value of $15,000,000'. Could the City please clarify the following: Does the $15,000,000 requirement apply to: a) Individual Project Total: The total contract value of each of the three individual reference projects? b) Combined Project Total: The cumulative construction value of all three projects combined? c) Specific Scope Total: The cumulative construction value of only the public / community portions across all three projects combined?
A: See Addendum 2
Q (Part II: Past Performance, Question 4 (Page 14)): Regarding the financial statement requirement in Part II, Question 4: Our firm's security protocol requires that financial statements be shared via a direct secure link sent to specific authorized individuals rather than a static file upload. Will the City allow us to provide a secure link within our SOQ submittal in lieu of a direct file attachment? If so, which specific individual(s) should be granted access to this link to ensure the evaluation committee can view it without compromising our security protocols?
A: See Addendum #3
Q (No subject): Please confirm if the City would like us to provide resumes for the Project Manager and Superintendent at this phase.
A: See Addendum #3
Q (No subject): Please confirm if it’s acceptable to include a cover letter with our submission.
A: See Addendum #3
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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