by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The City has selected Spillis Candela DMJM as the construction consultant for the new County Courthouse.
Thursday, the City’s Professional Services Evaluation Committee approved the recommendation of Public Works senior project manager, Dave Schneider. The Miami-based firm easily beat out Duval Justice Consultants, LLC, URS Corporation and a fourth firm that responded to the request for bids but didn’t make it to the City’s short list.
“They were a clear No. 1 by both the Public Works Department and the State Attorney’s Office,” said Schneider, adding the Spillis proposal was very strong. “It was obvious they really wanted this job and they had a long list of courthouse experience, which was a plus.”
Out of a possible 100 points in 10 categories, Spillis finished with 77 points, easily topping the 60 that second-place URS Corp. amassed. Spillis scored a nine in five of 10 categories and the only area Spillis didn’t score well in was “proximity to project” where they scored a two. Schneider said none of the responding firms were from Jacksonville and that Spillis will likely set up an office near the site of the courthouse for the duration of the project.
Rick Macia, a principal with Spillis, said the company is excited about the prospect of working on the project.
“Obviously, we are very pleased about it, that goes without saying. It’s a job. It’s an important job,” said Macia, adding his company wasn’t deterred by the fact they weren’t chosen the first time or by the fact the project has yet to get off the ground. “We were one of the first and obviously we were disappointed not to win. This is another opportunity to work on the project.”
This won’t be the first venture for Macia in the area. The South Florida company recently completed the new Nassau County Courthouse and has also served as the lead consultant on courthouses in Clay, Flagler and St. Johns counties.
“This is a complex project and we have formed a team of both national and local experts,” said Macia.
The new County Courthouse will consist of a $140 million, 388,000 square-foot criminal court facility that will house judges and staff as well as the State Attorney’s Office, the Clerk of the Courts, the Public Defender’s Office and some facets of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The City is currently in the process of accepting bids for the design-build component and expects to break ground on the project next August with a completion date of late 2010.
Schneider said the next step is — after the mayor’s office approves the PSEC recommendation — to enter contract negotiations with Spillis.
“We’ll sign a contract sometime in August,” said Schneider.
Spillis will be paid between $5 million and $7 million for its work on the project.
This is the second time the City has agreed to terms with a consultant on the courthouse. The original courthouse design, build and management team consisted of Skanska Dynamic Partners, Cannon Design and Jacobs Facilities Inc. Spillis will assume Jacobs’ role, but Schneider said things will be different this time. Previously, Jacobs was hired for the job and got paid regardless of what got done.
“Spillis will be paid by the task completed,” said Schneider explaining that Spillis will be paid to review plans and drawings and oversee other aspects. Also, whomever the City selects as the design build firm will report directly to the City as opposed to Spillis, another difference from the previous attempt to build the new County Courthouse.
Once under contract, the first order of business for Spillis will be to oversee the renovations of the old Federal Courthouse that will eventually house the State Attorney’s Office and renovations of the Ed Ball Building, which will house some of the Public Defender’s Office.