New Parking Garage at MSU

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:27 am

Hey folks I realise I have been a little bit off kilter the last couple of day (weeks?), but a real non sports question for you guy's in Bozeman and/or MSU. I got a RFP last week for a new multi-story parking structure to be built by MSU on campus. It is not my cup of tea, but I can not figure out where they are putting it. Does any one know? I think it may be the Field house parking lot.

Post by **rtb** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:32 am

When I was attending MSU all those many years ago(ok, last spring) the talk was to put the parking structure across the street from the SUB where the pay parking lot is now. I don't know if plans have changed since then, but that was the last location I knew they were looking into.

WYCAT · Post by **WYCAT** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:40 am

I don't care where they put it just put one up. I couldn't believe how bad the parking was compared to when I went to school 89-92. By the SUB would be a great spot IMO.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:47 am

I have no idea how this works for government contracts, but do RFP's go out only when someone is actually going to do something, or can they just be pricing it out in order to collect information to discuss a project? In other words (since that was poorly worded), is a RFP legally binding, or is it literally just a "request for proposal" that could be discarded if they didn't like any of the answers?

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:25 pm

This is only how it works for architectural and engineering work in the state of Montana.
State. A&E work is solicited, through, RFI's (Requests for Information) or RFQ's
(Requests for Qualifications) process. All architects who provide there names to the state
a & e division receive RFQ's 2-3 times a year with 3 -8 jobs per request. Basically there
is a standard form (s) that we must fill out for each job demonstrating the firms strengths
in a particular area. The State will then whittle down the RFQ's to 4-5 firms to interview.
The interview, by law, can only be about qualifications, no discussion of fees can be
asked of the Firms. From that interviews, the interview committee will rank the firms
interviewed. This ranking list (and only the list) then goes to the A &E. department head
(appointed by the governor). This is the step where weird schtuff has happened in the
past. The Building Division head will create a list , however he sees fit, of first, second
and third "most qualified". The State will then try to negotiate a contract and fee with
the 1st most qualified, if they are unable to successfully negotiate a contract the state will
move on to the second most qualified firm, and so on. Rarely does the "1st most
qualified" not get the contract.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:28 pm

So when you say that you got an RFP (request for proposal) from MSU on the parking lot project, does that mean they are stepping outside of the usual process you described above? I'm just still a little confused as to how all of the acronyms fit together.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:49 pm

No, I received a standard request for proposal letter a week ago. They call it a an RFP,
but in reality I would call it a RFQ, but what ever. There are 3 architectural projects
(UM, MSU, Veterans hospital) and one engineering project (MSU-B) from across the
state, listed there. One of them is the MSU project with a description of the project,
scope of work, construction budget and names of contacts for question.

Now there is a process for smaller projects, fees expected under $10,000. You still need
to provide RFP once a year but it is a "general qualifications" type form. Your name is
on a list and they will match firm qualification with jobs. In this case individual
organizations (UM, MSU , DOT etc.) will make the choice of firms to negotiate with.

velochat · Post by **velochat** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 2:15 pm

I doubt they would have decided to build the garage without the public knowing it. I think the regents would have to approve it, as well, before construction.

By the way, it is expected that a parking garage will be built, starting this summer, downtown. It will be quite a large garage, taking up the entire half block on Mendenhall, across from Kenyon Noble (which won't be there by then).

I don't think MSU needs a garage, but if the students and faculty up there want to pay for it, it's OK with me. The users would have to pay 100% of the cost, which wouldn't be cheap. There will be a lot of construction at MSU in the next few years.