Audit committee briefed on Kenwood Community Center construction solicitation (≈$6.15M)

Christy Chapman, assistant director for Capital Delivery, presented a pre-solicitation briefing for a sealed-proposal procurement to construct the Kenwood Community Center at 305 Dora Street in District 1. Chapman said the new building will be roughly 8,800 square feet and will include nutritional services, health screening space, free senior meals, computer classrooms, arts and crafts spaces, fitness equipment, a satellite council office and office space for Human Services and Parks & Recreation.

Chapman said the contract duration is estimated at about 425 days (roughly 14 months) and the construction contract value is estimated at roughly $6,150,000. The solicitation will use standard NIGP codes and be advertised through the city’s normal channels; staff identified about 340 vendors in the city’s vendor registry who could provide the work. The procurement will use project scoring that emphasizes experience/qualifications, proposed management plan and price; the small-business subcontracting goal is 7% and local preference and veteran preference programs do not apply to this item.

Chapman outlined procurement milestones: release Jan. 30; pre-submittal conference Feb. 10; political-contribution blackout starts Feb. 13; questions due Feb. 17; submittals due March 17; evaluation in April; contract negotiations in May; Audit Committee post-solicitation briefing in June; and City Council contract award targeted for August 2026 with a contract start in September 2026.

Chair Villagran and committee members welcomed the project and asked staff to remind councilmembers about blackout periods to avoid disqualification. Chapman said staff will return for a post-solicitation briefing and to request a contract award recommendation.