Notice Details

Request for Qualifications and Expression of Interest

1. BACKGROUND:

The New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) is seeking qualified firms to respond to a Request for Qualifications and Expression of Interest (RFQEI) for the development of a comprehensive Master Plan. The goal of this project is to better address the pedagogical and educational needs of the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) and to recommend any necessary updates to the SCA’s Design Standards for its large portfolio of school buildings. The services contemplated under this contract include, but are not limited to, the update and creation of Design Standards encompassing Design Requirements, Room Planning Standards, Standard Details, and coordination with Standard Specifications being developed by others. The suite of SCA standards is listed in Section 5 of this document for ease of reference. The intent is to provide all students and families with access to buildings that support a high-quality student experience. The SCA is seeking a robust set of documents to be updated and developed based on evidence-based design, research in K-12 education and comprehensive data collection from stakeholders.

The New York City School Construction Authority has approximately 1,500 schools in its portfolio for a school system that has a population that nearly numbers one million students. The SCA is responsible for the design and construction of all New York City Department of Education Capacity Projects (new schools and annexes) and Capital Improvement Projects (building envelope, building electrification, boiler replacements, playgrounds, athletic field upgrades, swimming pools, gymnasium upgrades, cafeteria & kitchen upgrades, science lab upgrades, auditorium upgrades, accessibility).

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The Consultant and its Sub-consultants shall comprise of an experienced, multi-disciplinary team of design professionals with proven expertise in master planning for K-12 schools, with a strong focus on pedagogical planning and the development of optimized strategic plans that incorporate relevant educational standards. The team must include professionals from a wide range of disciplines, including, but not limited to, architecture, school planning and enrollment analysis, structural engineering, civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, electrical engineering, lighting design, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), fire protection, plumbing and drainage,  community engagement, interior design, sustainability, landscaping, laboratory planning, cost estimating, acoustical design, elevator systems, specialist demolition engineering, signage and wayfinding, waste management, kitchen design, traffic engineering, ADA accessibility, forensic architecture, education specialists, child psychology, graphic design, security consulting, building science, historic preservation, energy modeling, facilities condition assessment, educational specifications, and specification writing. The study will engage the NYCDOE, NYCSCA, and other relevant stakeholders through data collection, review, and development of educational and building standards.  Required services shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Submission of reports in InDesign, PDF, PowerPoint and other electronic format for all documents as required by the SCA.

2. Development of a strategic master plan based on the current and future pedagogical requirements of the New York City Department of Education.

3. Engagement with stakeholders at the New York City Department of Education, New York City School Construction Authority, Communities (targeted outreach), SCA Design Consultants, and other parties via workshops (visioning) to ensure that collection of comprehensive data to support the update and creation of additional Design Standards. Listening sessions, benchmarking sessions, workshops and surveys shall be included as means of collecting data for this Master Plan.

4. Detailed review of all existing NYCSCA Design Standards.

5. Engagement with stakeholders at the New York City Department of Education, New York City School Construction Authority, Communities (targeted outreach), SCA Design Consultants, and other parties via workshops (visioning) to ensure that collection of comprehensive data to support the update and creation of additional Design Standards. Listening sessions, benchmarking sessions, workshops and surveys shall be included as means of collecting data for this Master Plan.

6. The scope will include Community engagement to identify highest needs, a vision for teaching and learning in the form of educational specification standards and building and architectural design standards.

7. Preparation of recommendations based on data collected from stakeholders, best pedagogical practice and associated cost estimates for the recommendations. Cost estimates will be instrumental in the decision-making process as it will impact the NYCSCA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan and future capital plans.

8. Review and, as needed, expand the NYCSCA’s current suite of design guidelines, technical standards, and specifications based on the findings of the pedagogical strategic master plan to include the following elements:

      a. Programing and Room & Space Planning across all uses and age groups inclusive of collaborative spaces, flexible spaces, shared commons, makerspaces, learning stairs,     breakout areas and multipurpose rooms;

       b. Lab planning;

       c. Furniture layout strategies;

       d. Spaces that enhance student interaction relating to current and expected future pedagogical trends;

       e. Natural Light;

       f. Lighting;

       g. Acoustics;

       h. Indoor Air Quality;

       i. Review of SCA approved products/materials and proposals for other products/material meeting SCA requirements;

       j. Finishes, paint colors (review, confirmation and update of work completed by other consultant) related to education courses being taught to specific age groups, and other related        internal finishes;

       k. Building Siting;

       l. Recommendations for school test fits including the use of parametric design;

       m. Building Envelope Systems (windows, curtain walls, rainscreen facades, brick facades, pre-cast facades, roofing, etc.);

       n. Landscape Design for Playgrounds at grade, rooftop playgrounds, building entries, athletic fields, vegetable gardens, outdoor classrooms;

       o. Sustainability, Biophilia, and Resiliency;

       p. Strategies for implementation of Mass Timber inclusive of hybrid systems.

       q. Strategies for implementation of green roofs and walls;

       r. Strategies for the incorporation of photovoltaic technologies (inclusive of photovoltaic cladding panel facades);

       s. Strategies for the incorporation of geothermal technologies;

       t. Accessibility;

       u. Security (Safe Schools by Design Act, a Guide and by NYSED, April 2025 and SCA related safety guidelines) ;

       v. Waste management strategies and protocols;

       w. MEP considerations;

       x. Structural considerations;

       y. Flexibility strategies;

       z. Traffic management efficiencies;

       aa. Constructability considerations;

       bb. Design strategies related to level of design and finishes taking into account the hierarchy of spaces;

       cc. Consideration of building maintainability by DOE custodial staff;

       dd. Costing of proposed standard and guideline enhancement as it relates to the SCA’s Five Year Capital Plan;

     ee. SCA Green Building Guide (review the SCA Green Building Guide and ascertain the merit of converting to the industry standard USGBC’s LEED for Building Design     Construction: Schools);

       ff. Specifications (to be updated and aligned with the strategic masterplan updates. It should be noted that a separate exercise being undertaken by another consultant responsible     for transitioning NYCSCA’s current 16 Division Specifications to the 50 Division CSI Specifications);

       gg. Cost analysis of building typologies, including an evaluation of the SCA’s bid analysis processes, protocols, and cost database sources based on best practice.

         

 

3. SEEKED FEEDBACK FROM FIRMS

The SCA is seeking recommendations on master plan elements such as pedagogy, sustainability, equity, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance that should be incorporated into the eventual RFP, as outlined below:

1. Scope and Critical Elements (Core of what the RFP should require)

1. Based on your firm’s experience developing evidence-based design standards and guidelines for K-12 master plans, what are the 5–7 most critical components that should be explicitly included in the RFP’s scope of work? (e.g., educational specifications, flexible learning environments, post-occupancy evaluation protocols, integration with facilities condition assessments, or alignment with Local Control and Accountability Plan goals). For each, briefly explain the value and any recommended deliverables or phasing.
2. What additional elements or methodologies have proven particularly successful in your past K-12 projects that are not always included in standard RFPs? Please describe the element/task, its predicted value to the DOE/SCA, and why it should be required or offered as a value-added alternate in the upcoming RFP.

 

2. Emerging Trends and Forward-Looking Considerations

1. What current or emerging trends in K-12 pedagogy, student wellness, equity/inclusion/universal design, sustainability/resilience (e.g., electrification, climate adaptation, or “living school yards”), technology integration/future-proofing, or safety/security should the RFP explicitly require the selected firm to research, analyze, and incorporate into the design standards and guidelines? Provide 3–4 prioritized examples with supporting rationale drawn from your research or projects.
2. How should the RFP address coordination with other SCA consultants (e.g., demographic analysts, financial advisors, or facilities condition assessors) and integration of statutory requirements (such as California Education Code provisions on capacity, modernization, or deferred maintenance)?

 

3. Deliverables, Process, and Stakeholder Engagement

1. How should the RFP structure key deliverables (e.g., draft vs. final standards, visual/graphic guidelines, implementation roadmaps, or interactive tools)? What phased approach or milestones would best ensure actionable, measurable outcomes?
2. What best practices for stakeholder engagement (including students, educators, families, community partners, and maintenance/operations staff) should the RFP mandate? How can the process balance broad input with efficient timelines, and what tools or formats have yielded the strongest results in your experience?

 

4. Challenges, Mitigation, and Evaluation Criteria

1. From your experience on similar K-12 design standards/guidelines projects, what are the most common challenges or pitfalls (e.g., budget alignment, implementation feasibility, or evolving regulations), and how can the RFP be structured to mitigate them (e.g., specific requirements for cost estimating, flexibility clauses, or success metrics)?
2. What evaluation criteria would you recommend the DOE use in the upcoming RFP to identify the most qualified firm(s)? (e.g., weighing research methodology, innovation in standards development, demonstrated K-12 outcomes, or cultural fit with public education districts/systems). Please suggest a sample point allocation or rubric structure.

 

5. Optional/Open-Ended Value-Add

1. Are there any additional benefits, innovations, or considerations your firm can offer that the SCA has not yet addressed in this RFQEI?
2. Additional Best Practices for the RFPs?

 

4. EXISTING SUITE OF STANDARDS:

 

The existing suite of standards to be reviewed are listed below and may also be found on the NYCSCA website www.nycsca.org:

 

1. Design Requirements.
2. Design Room Standards (Room Planning Standards)
3. Standard Detail.
4. Standard Specifications.
5. NYC Green Schools Guide
6. Historic Schools Rehabilitation Guide

 

5. Firm information:

Provide responses to the following inquiries concerning your firm:

1. Number of years firm has been in business;
2. Number of years of firm’s experience specifically related to the above-referenced services;
3. Number of firm’s employees;
4. Average annual revenue;
5. Number of employees involved in educational research (include educators, child psychologist and other specialists);
6. Office location(s);
7. Three largest Strategic Master Plan projects relating to Design Standards and Guidelines completed to date;
8. Average completed project cost over the past three years;
9. Description of project team organization (with organization chart, including proposed sub-consultants);
10. Experience working with governmental organization(s), if any. If applicable, include prior SCA projects completed by your firm as a sub-consultant.

 

6. Additional information:

The SCA is implementing a two-step procurement process, first requiring prospective consultants to share relevant information as set forth above and then, for those deemed qualified, by soliciting proposals through a Request for Proposal (RFP) selection process.  Although proposing firms need not be pre-qualified by the SCA at the time of bid, each firm must be pre-qualified prior to contract award. 

Firms must be registered with the NYS Division of Corporations as a NY entity, or qualified to transact business in the State of New York in order to be considered for prequalification by the SCA.  Selected firms will be required to successfully complete the prequalification process, if not currently prequalified with the SCA.  The SCA now offers a web-based qualification and certification application process. The following link will allow you access to the Vendor Access System: https://dobusiness.nycsca.org.  This site can be used for first-time prequalification as well as requalification and certification of MBE and WBE status.  Proposers can also contact the SCA VAS hotline at 718-472-8777 for additional information.

 

POINT OF CONTACT:  All inquiries regarding this Request for Qualifications and Expression of Interest (RFQEI) are to be directed to partnering@nycsca.org, with the subject line " SCA Pedagogical Strategic Master Plan" by May 29, 2026.

The SCA shall not be held liable for any pre-award activity or costs incurred by your firm for preparation and delivery of its response, producing materials, or attending meetings or any labor, in connection therewith. Responses received will not impact potential future bidding opportunities.  We look forward to your submission and thank you for your interest in supporting the SCA.