REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Technology and Sustainability Plan
Chemistry/Chemical Biology Building
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Background
The University of Florida (UF) is accepting proposals for a technology and sustainability design
for the Chemistry/Chemical Biology Building to be located on the Gainesville campus.
Chemistry is a crucial component of the University’s teaching mission. The Department of
Chemistry impacts over 8,000 undergraduate students each semester, generating over 50,000
student credit hours per year. Essentially every biological science, health science, physical
science, and engineering major requires at least introductory chemistry, often significantly more.
The Department of Chemistry is also home to 640 undergraduate majors. Student demand for
Chemistry has skyrocketed. In less than ten years’ time, student enrollment in Chemistry courses
has increased 30%, and the number of undergraduate chemistry majors has doubled. The
Department of Chemistry awards more Ph.D. degrees than any other unit at the University of
Florida. Graduate student enrollment has also increased by more than 30%, in successful response
to the University’s initiative to grow graduate education. The Department now houses 280 Ph.D.
students. The 48 Ph.D.’s awarded last year place the University of Florida among the top 5
Chemistry Ph.D. producers in the United States.
The new Chemistry/Chemical Biology Building is the cornerstone of this new growth. The
facility will modernize, expand, and centralize undergraduate laboratories and teaching
infrastructure. It will catalyze development in critical areas that build on chemical insights into
biological problems. The building will house researchers in biochemistry, chemical applications
of genetics, biophysical chemistry, drug discovery, and nanochemistry as applied to the analysis
and detection of pathogens and disease. The facility will be the centerpiece of recruitment for the
next generation of world class chemical biology faculty and students.
The Chemistry/Chemical Biology Building and Renovation of Existing Facilities project will
provide approximately 100,000 GSF for modern undergraduate teaching laboratories, classrooms,
teaching support, graduate research laboratories, and offices. The building will provide a
centralized home for lower-level undergraduate chemistry instruction. It will also provide stateof-the-art research facilities for faculty and graduate students working in the areas of chemical
biology and chemical synthesis. Importantly, the Chemistry/Chemical Biology Building should
be at the same time functional and inviting, and will be the Department’s “front door,” through
which the Department is seen by students, the University, and the community.
This project will include new construction and partial renovation of existing facilities.
The current site is in the historic part of campus. To get approvals from the VP’s office and
Preservation of Historic Buildings and Sites Committee, the style and materials in this building
must be compatible with nearby facilities, while also being “of its time” and presenting an
appropriate esthetic from all angles and heights.
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General Project Description
Currently, UF is soliciting proposals to design, purchase, and install the technology and
laboratory equipment for the new facility. The budget for the technology/equipment design and
implementation is $200,000. As part of the proposal, UF also desires a plan that recommends
and outlines how the facility can meet sustainability goals. A minimum Gold LEED (Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design) accreditation by the US Green Building Council will be
mandatory for the completed facility; however, higher accreditation is desirable.
Technology/Equipment: The new building will include general and organic chemistry
laboratories, learning centers, a lecture hall, traditional classrooms, meeting rooms, and offices.
To this end, UF is soliciting a plan for state-of-the art technology/equipment (laboratory
equipment, computers, software, audio-visual equipment, and office equipment) to be used in the
new building/renovation. Attention should be given to energy-saving technology as well as
technology that is not likely to become outdated in the near future.
Sustainability: The University of Florida builds its buildings to last and promotes environmental
quality and resource conservation through sustainable design, “green” architecture, and recycling
in its physical planning and development. Consequently, UF is soliciting a plan that shows how
the project can achieve Gold LEED certification or higher.
Project Detail
Technology/Equipment: The General Chemistry teaching laboratories will allow incorporation
of up-to-date curriculum, provide for comfortable space for student-student and student-instructor
interactions and of course meet contemporary safety standards. The labs must accommodate
stations for 225 students per lab session.
The Organic Chemistry teaching Labs must accommodate 108 students per lab session.
The Organic lab will require fume hoods at the student benches to permit the use of organic
chemicals. The Organic lab will also include a storeroom, preparations space, and centralized
meeting/demonstration space.
The building will provide modern research space optimized for chemical biology and organic
synthesis. The chemical biology labs will include bench space and office space for researchers
along with common space for shared instrumentation and facilities. Areas for instrumentation,
such as spectrophotometers, HPLC and FLPC-based protein purification and assay systems,
fluorimeters, balances, robotic setups for protein expression, and library screening will also be
required. Given the increasing importance of mass spectrometry in chemical biology research,
areas for “bench-top” mass spec/chromatography setups should also be provided. Finally, each
laboratory will require extensive wireless networking due to the importance of accessing
biological databases and library resources over the Internet. Organic synthesis laboratories are
fume-hood intensive and modern standards dictate one fume-hood per researcher.
The building will also provide centralized Department of Chemistry student services. Included is
the General Chemistry learning center to accommodate approximately 40 students in a workshop
environment, and the analogous Organic Chemistry learning center. A student services office will
provide a home base for student information and advising. A 100-seat lecture hall is needed to
accommodate departmental seminars and mid-size classes.
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Sustainability: The University of Florida is committed to developing and maintaining an
environment that enriches the health and wellbeing of the University and surrounding
community, nurtures a change toward sustainability which is advanced through research, analysis,
and experiences, and shares information to further enhance the understanding of sustainability
through:
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Demonstrating institutional practices that promote sustainability, including built to last
facilities, bench marking to measure and ultimately increase efficiency, decreasing waste,
and promoting renewable resources at the university and of its suppliers.
Promoting the health and well-being, productivity, and safety of the University
community through design, construction, and operation & maintenance of the built
environment.
Enhancing campus ecosystems by looking at the campus holistically through developing
university green portfolio.
Developing tools and practices from lessons learned that will enable UF to conduct
comparative analysis of sustainability implications and to support long-term economic,
environmental, and socially responsible decision-making.
Establishing benchmarking for building performance through monitoring and reporting.
Encouraging and supporting institutional learning throughout the University by making
this process a tool used for faculty and students to further advance sustainability efforts.
Selection Criteria
Design teams will be evaluated according to the criteria listed below:
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Specific experience in planning academic and learning technology.
Experience in sustainable design.
Experience working within academic communities.
Applicant’s past performance meeting deadlines, working within budget, and resolving
conflicts.
Team’s understanding of the project’s intent, goals, and objectives as outlined in the RFP.
Proposal Contents
Proposals for the technology and environmental plan should be approximately 25 pages in length.
Proposals should provide a detailed description of the project to be undertaken, including
background, objectives, approach, and methods for implementing the design plan.
The following general outline for the proposal should be followed:
General Introduction: Describe the goals and objectives related to the project. Give
relevant background information, highlight key technical issues, and state objectives explicitly.
Cite sources as appropriate.
Body: Include three major sections: 1) Technology/Equipment Design for General
and Organic Chemistry Laboratories; 2) Technology Design for the Learning Centers,
Lecture Hall, classrooms, and offices; and 3) LEED Design. Each of these three sections
should include (1)
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an introduction, (2) the detailed design, and (3) the management requirements and project plan
that relate to that particular section.
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Section Introduction: Describe the goal of your specific aspect of the project.
Provide relevant background information and explain your company’s
approach to the task. Refer to your team’s previous experience in the area, as
well as other projects either by your company, or by others, that are pertinent
to this plan. Cite relevant references/sources. Emphasize the benefit of your
plan.
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The Design: Provide a statement describing the overall objective for your
proposed design. Detail the technical aspects of the design, being as specific
and quantitative as possible. Provide visual representations of the design
where appropriate.
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Management Requirements and Plan: Include
1. a timetable for this part of the project,
2. a list of required materials and equipment,
3. a budget (for the LEED design, include the LEED checklist
rather than a budget),
4. a list of personnel participating (include resumes in an
appendix),
5. a breakdown of this part of the project into specific tasks, and
6. any visual aids needed to further explain the management
requirements and plan.
General Conclusion: Emphasize how your proposal uniquely addresses the University
of Florida’s goals and objectives as stated in the RFP. Include a general timetable and
budget for the entire project.
Evaluation
Proposals will be evaluated by our personnel based on:
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Project relevance. Does the proposal clearly address relevant and significant needs of
the University of Florida as outlined in the RFP? Will the final design provide economic,
environmental, and practical benefits?
Technical feasibility. Are the plans, methods, techniques, and procedures feasible, clear,
valid, and state-of-the-art?
Deadlines
Submission of Proposals: November 20, 2012
Presentations of Proposals: Nov. 27 & 29, 2012
Award of Contract: December 4, 2012
Building Construction Completion Date: September, 2013
Technology/Equipment Installation Start Date: October 1, 2013
Owner Occupancy: December 1, 2013
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Point of Contact
The completed proposal, along with a letter of transmittal, should be submitted to:
Dianne Cothran
Office of Facilities Planning
c/o Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication
412 Rolfs Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611