The State of Oklahoma on Monday selected Manhattan Construction to repair and restore the deteriorating interior of the 98-year-old State Capitol.
Manhattan’s proposal received the top score of the three proposals submitted through the state’s competitive selection process under the Public Building Construction and Planning Act.
The Tulsa-based company was among the original builders of the Capitol, which was constructed between 1914 and 1917. It has done extensive work to the building since then, from adding the dome to many repair and restoration projects in all portions of the building.
“It’s fitting to have the Oklahomans who helped build our Capitol come back a century later to help prepare it for another century of service,” said OMES Director Preston L. Doerflinger.
JE Dunn Construction was selected in December to repair and restore the Capitol’s exterior.
“With world-class firms like Manhattan and JE Dunn on our team, Oklahoma is truly bringing the best of the best to address the litany of problems this building faces. The Capitol is our front door to the world and we’re confident these partnerships will help make us as proud of it today as we were when it opened nearly a century ago,” Doerflinger said.
Interior construction should begin next year using a project plan and scope of work that will be developed by the State Capitol Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee (SCREOC).
In its nearly century-long history, the 450,000-sqaure-foot Oklahoma Capitol has never had a comprehensive restoration. Virtually all mechanical systems are outdated, failing and in need of replacement or repair. Many meeting rooms, public spaces and offices do not meet today’s needs. Technology and security systems are also outdated and in need of extensive upgrades. The exterior is crumbling and leaking, which causes problems throughout the building.
“It’s exciting to finally be at a point where we can get down to business to repair what’s broken and prepare the building for the needs of the future,” Doerflinger said. “This will be a truly collaborative effort between all branches of government, world-class contractors and the public at large. It’s a long-overdue, immense, disruptive task, but it will be well worth it when Oklahomans have a safe, functioning Capitol they can take pride in once again.”
The Legislature and governor last year approved a $120 million bond issue to begin repairing and restoring the Capitol.
SELECTION PROCESS
The legislation authorizing the bond issue required the contract for interior repairs to be awarded using selection criteria approved by the nine-member SCREOC, which is made up of appointments by the governor, House speaker and Senate president pro tempore. The bidding process was managed by OMES under the Public Building Construction and Planning Act.
The state received three responses to the interior request for proposals that were scored based on the selection criteria established by the SCREOC.
Scoring of past performance and relevant experience, which comprised 35 percent of the potential points, and project approach, which comprised 50 percent of the potential points, was conducted by a five-member selection team comprised of experts from three state agencies. Contractor cost, which comprised 15 percent of the potential points, is not scored by the selection team, but is ranked administratively
Responding to the request for proposals for the Capitol interior were Manhattan Construction, JE Dunn Construction and Capitol Renaissance Design Builders, a CMS Willowbrook and Flintco partnership. The same three teams also submitted proposals for the exterior contract.
“Once again, the state received three quality proposals and no bad choice could be made,” said State Capitol Project Manager Trait Thompson. “The state’s decision to engage in a competitive, free-market selection process truly elevated the quality of all proposals and will benefit the overall success of the project in the long term.”
