Designing & Building Maryland's Future
The Department of General Services supervises and coordinates the design and construction of a wide range of state public improvements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars annually. DGS is committed to the fair and competitive selection of design consultants and construction contractors for capital improvement projects. Once awarded, the department manages each contract to deliver quality projects that are on time and in budget.
Architectural/Engineering Services
Architects and engineers are selected based on a consideration of qualifications and subsequent negotiation of fees with top qualified firms. All A/E projects with fees anticipated above $200,000 are advertised in eMaryland Marketplace.
Projects with Estimated A/E Fees in Excess of $200,000
A/E firms for contracts in excess of $200,000 are selected by members of the General Professional Services Selection Board (GPSSB), who are appointed by the Governor from both the private and public sectors. Firms submitting expressions of interest must present their qualifications, which are evaluated and ranked by a qualification committee of DGS and using agency personnel. The GPSSB will then authorize a Negotiation Committee to negotiate a fair, competitive and reasonable fee with the most qualified firm. If unsuccessful within 30 days, the negotiations are terminated, and the committee begins negotiations with the next most qualified firm.
Multiple Design Projects
DGS often enters into indefinite quantity contracts with total values ranging from $100,000 to $500,0000 with A/E firms to provide as needed services to the department. These firms are selected by procedures similar to the procedures established for projects with fees over $200,000, and are used on a rotating basis to handle smaller projects, studies, reviews and programs with fees less than $200,000.
Projects with Estimated A/E Fees $25,000 or Less
Interested firms in the fields of Architectural Design and Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Engineering Design must submit to DGS a letter stating their interest and area of expertise. When a project becomes available, DGS will select the next firm in rotation from the approved list. The final award will be based on the negotiated fee.
Design/Build Projects
Periodically, the design and construction of a project are combined into one contract award. The award of these contracts are based on a criteria that consists of Design/Build Team Qualifications, Design Aspects, Maintainability/Operability, Price, and any other criteria deemed pertinent to the project.
Construction
Construction contracts are awarded through competitive bidding. The contractor which submits the lowest responsive and responsible bid will be awarded the job.
Monitoring Bid Opportunities
All construction projects, over $25,000, out for bid are listed in the DGS website and on eMaryland Marketplace.
The Bidding Process
All relevant documents required for bidding projects are posted on and are downloadable from eMaryland Marketplace. These include detailed plans detailed project specifications and bidding instructions.
Contract Award
DGS submits all construction contracts above $200,000 to the Board of Public Works for final approval. Contracts below $200,000 are approved by the department's procurement review board.
Minority Business Participation
In accordance with Maryland procurement law, all state construction contracts must have at least 25 percent participation by certified minority business enterprises.
Maintenance and Repair Projects
The Office of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction procures all maintenance and repair projects statewide above $10,000. The procurement process mirrors that of capital construction projects.
Assessments
Assessments manages the State Facilities Assessments program which oversees maintenance standards and guidelines for 3,723 buildings owned and operated by 21 State agencies.
Public Schools
DGS participates in administering the Public School Construction Program with the Maryland Office of Planning, Department of Education and staff of the Board of Public Works. DGS staff reviews requests from each local education agency, participates in public hearings, reviews design documents for all public school projects receiving state participation in funding and recommends authorization for projects to be bid for construction. For more information about the Public School Construction Program visit their web site at www.pscp.state.md.us
Community Colleges
DGS coordinates with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning and the Maryland Office of Planning in administering the Community College Capital Improvements Program. DGS reviews facilities master plans for each institution, reviews programs and design documents for each project having state participation in funding.
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