The County of Orange, through John Wayne Airport, is issuing an RFP for a design‑build contract to deliver Vertical Conveyance Phases 2‑4 (elevator/escalator systems) at the airport. The selected Design‑Build Entity (D‑BE) will be responsible for all design, engineering, permitting, construction, testing, and commissioning of the vertical conveyance upgrades, adhering to FAA grant requirements, Buy‑American provisions, Davis‑Bacon wage rules, and applicable safety standards. The contract will be funded by FAA grants and includes a Small Business Enterprise participation goal of 25 % (informational only). Bidders must submit a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) cost proposal, demonstrate prior experience on at least three public‑sector projects (including one airport), and meet professional licensing requirements. A non‑mandatory pre‑submission site visit/meeting is scheduled for 7 Oct 2026; questions are due 9 Oct 2026; final proposals are due 16 Oct 2026. The award will be made by the Orange County Board of Supervisors after a qualifications‑and‑cost based evaluation.
• Scope: full design‑build of vertical conveyance (elevators/escalators) phases 2‑4 at John Wayne Airport.
• Funding: FAA Airport Improvement Program grants; compliance with Title 2 CFR 200, Buy‑American, Davis‑Bacon.
• Mandatory qualifications: CA‑licensed PE, 10 yr experience, prior public‑sector projects, valid D‑U‑N‑S and UEI numbers.
• Submission: electronic only via OpenGov portal; cost proposal must include GMP, profit margin, labor rates.
• Evaluation: technical qualifications + cost; interviews may be conducted on 4 Nov 2026.
• Key dates: RFP release 2 Oct 2026, pre‑bid site visit 7 Oct 2026, questions due 9 Oct 2026, proposal deadline 16 Oct 2026, interviews 4 Nov 2026.