 Welcome to The TJProject -
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Expansion & Renovation Project
All information concerning this project will be located here.
What is an RFP (Request for Proposal)?
This is our invitation to companies to present their qualifications and express their desire to work on our project.
Is the issued Request for Proposal (RFP) setting our building design?
No. The RFP is for “Qualifications Only”.
Who is ARCADIS?
They are the firm that has been hired to advise FCCPS and oversee the build and design process. We are working closely with Warren Walker, Vice President of ARCADIS.
What is ASAC?
(Architectural Selection and Design Committee)
This is our committee that is made of staff, community, neighborhood representatives, and administration to ensure a collaborative process. The committee will meet regularly and advise the FCCPS School Board on important design issues.
How is ASAC involved in the process?
ASAC is intended to advise the school board on the design of the building, and assist the SB in making difficult choices in regards to environmental design choices, as well as issues such as: wall colors, tile selection, carpet selection, classroom storage, child friendly restroom design, flow of the lunch line, and neighborhood impact to the environment and aesthetics. Their important work begins in the design phase.
Will ASAC be involved in the Request for Proposal?
Not in a detailed manner. The ASAC committee is primarily made up of teaching staff, and we want to keep this committee within the scope of their expertise- design of their classrooms and school for best instructional practice. We also want to be protective of their time.
A ‘Review and Negotiating Team’ has been approved by the FCCPS School Board. This team will work with the confidential information presented, and rely on expertise from ARCADIS in narrowing down the field to those firms that meet our requirements. This is the process that FCCPS used with ARCADIS on previous projects and it was recommended that we continue this project in the same manner. There is a great deal of confidential information that is put forward, and the committee must be small, yet representative of City and School.
Once the finalists are selected, a detailed proposal request will be issued. The Review and Selection team will meet with ARCADIS again for thorough discussions, and then the final proposals will be presented to the SB by ARCADIS, and also shared with the ASAC committee. The SB will vote to approve the contract for the final selection. We will rely heavily on the expertise of ARCADIS in making the final selection.
What will the schedule look like for ASAC or the process?
There is a Facilities Planning Sequence that is provided in SB Policy (4.30.1) to make sure that the general guideline is in place. Once ARCADIS sets their detailed schedule for proposal review and presentations then the planning sequence will updated in a more detailed manner.
What is the necessary timeline?
The only timeline that is written in stone is the timeline for the RFP submission to us. We provide an estimated time of review, to be courteous to those who are making proposals for our project. However, those dates can change slightly if needed to gather more information and references on the firms.
What is our expected timeline?
We are hoping to break ground in January or February of this school year. It will be important that we stay on a tight schedule. We are planning a build project that will span over two winter periods, which can significantly slow down a project.
We will also need ample time the summer before the building opens to allow our maintenance team time to make the necessary furniture and equipment movements from MEH to TJ, and then from GM to MEH. The plan has been that existing equipment and supplies will be moved. This is very labor intensive during the summer months when maintenance issues are at a peak to prepare for the next school year. Maintenance will need to balance on-going needs (floors waxed, painting...) with the new construction move.
Currently, we are allowing approximately 16 weeks for unforeseen circumstances in order to be ready for a July-August move, 2013. The new expansion and renovations should be ready for children beginning September 2013.
Where will the 5th grade teachers park?
The parking lot is part of the renovation/expansion project. In order to meet the FC City Building Code, parking enhancements must be made at TJ. The parking requirements are mentioned in the Request for Proposal which is the document that all of the competing firms use to formalize their proposal to “win” the opportunity to be contracted for the TJ project.
As we add classrooms and staff, there is a requirement to also add parking at an equal ratio. However, given the limited land available, parking will still provide some challenges because we will not have the luxury to expand beyond what the code requires.
When will we know the timeline for 5th grade staying at TJ and how will it be communicated?
The plan was presented last spring at the Community Forum and stated that the move will take place for the 2013-2014 school year. Currently, the information is posted on this construction web information page. We will continue to send out updates to families over the course of the next two years in multiple and varied formats to ensure that all families understand the plan and the timeline. We should have a fantastic building ready for our children at TJ beginning September 2013.
In summation, the renovation/construction is set to be completed in May 2013, with the movement of furniture and staff items taking place over the summer months. 5th grade will remain at TJ for the 2013-2014 school year, and 8th grade will remain at MEH for the 2013-2014 school year.
Please don’t hesitate to e-mail Dr. Toni Jones, Superintendent, if you have questions about the TJ project.
tjones@fccps.org |
