DDC Releases Requests For Qualifications for Next Round of Its Design and Construction Excellence Program

Finding the architecture and engineering firms that will create the next generation of New York City’s public buildings

Ian Michaels, 646-939-6514, michaelia@ddc.nyc.gov

(Long Island City, NY – August 12, 2025)  The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today that it has released three Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) seeking design and engineering firms that want to participate in the next round of the agency’s Design and Construction Excellence Program, where DDC designs the next generation of the City’s public buildings.

“Following the priorities published in our Strategic Blueprint, we’ve reduced project delays, eliminated long reviews for most common change orders, streamlined paperwork and made it easier for our vendors to get paid,” said DDC Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle. “Designing the City’s public buildings such as health clinics, cultural centers, libraries and firehouses can be very fulfilling and rewarding work. We especially encourage M/WBEs to respond to our RFQs so we can be more responsive to the many individual neighborhoods that we serve.”

Three RFQs were issued, for architectural design, technical design, and engineering design services. Firms that want to participate may respond with a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), which will be evaluated in order to create shortlists of firms that will be able to respond to a future Request for Proposal (RFP). DDC anticipates announcing shortlisted firms and distributing RFPs to them in December 2025.

In April, DDC issued a Notice of Intent announcing the RFQs. A pre-proposal conference will be held virtually at 10:00 AM on August 13, 2025 via Microsoft Teams. Statements of Qualifications in response to an RFQ are due by noon on the following days:

• Architectural Design – September 8, 2025
• Technical Design – September 25, 2025
• Engineering Design – October 29, 2025

The Design and Construction Excellence Program

Now in its 21st year, the Design and Construction Excellence Program allows DDC to partner with some of the world’s top design firms to deliver extraordinary public buildings on behalf of New Yorkers, emphasizing a holistic approach that pairs quality design with efficient, effective project delivery.

Since 2004, DDC has contracted with more than 100 firms and completed more than 300 projects in the Program. DDC awards professional services contracts through a competitive process using quality-based selection, selecting a pool of vendors who hold contracts for a set period in which they are eligible to receive project assignments. This approach allows DDC to quickly initiate needed projects, saving at least six months of procurement time on each project.

In 2016, 26 firms were selected for the Program. In March 2022, DDC announced that 20 firms had been contracted for architectural design services in the current round of the Program, including ten M/WBEs.

Recent projects completed under Design and Construction Excellence include the 40th Precinct in the South Bronx, the Far Rockaway Library in Queens, East Flatbush Library in Brooklyn, Snug Harbor Cultural Center Music Hall in Staten Island and the Manhattan Pet Adoption Center.

Participating in the Program

Eligibility for the Program is subdivided into three categories based on the size of the firm, with larger firms receiving larger projects based on estimated construction cost. Firms in the Program will receive project assignments on a non-competitive, rotational basis except for projects deemed complex.

The two-step SOQ/RFQ application process, which is being incorporated for the first time into DDC’s design solicitations, is intended to make it easier and less burdensome for firms to apply. In addition, DDC has made several other changes to the Program based on feedback from the industry. These include redefining the firm size categories to align with AIA definitions, expanding the project opportunities for which each firm size is eligible, and using simple forms to ease the process of submitting SOQs and proposals.

As DDC expands its Alternative Delivery program under new State authorization, selected firms will participate in both design-bid-build projects and Construction Manager-Build (CM-Build) projects. DDC’s design-build opportunities are solicited separately on a project-by-project basis. These opportunities are described in further detail on DDC’s website.

Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs)

DDC is one of the leading agencies for contract awards to M/WBE firms, and a major goal of the agency is to partner with qualified firms that have a demonstrated history of hiring, training, developing, promoting and retaining minority and women staff, and to encourage participation by City- and State-certified M/WBE firms. Eligible firms are encouraged to become certified, and/or to get their eligible trade partners certified, well in advance of SOQ submission. To learn more about how eligible firms can become certified as an M/WBE, please visit: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/mwbe.

How to Work with DDC

To work with DDC, vendors are encouraged to review and register with the Citywide systems linked below. All solicitations are conducted via a centralized, citywide system managed by the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS).

• PASSPort: All DDC solicitations are released through New York City’s online procurement platform, PASSPort. Registration in PASSPort is required to search and respond to solicitations.
• City Record: All solicitations and notice of contract awards are also published online in the City Record. Vendors can register with the City Record to receive email notifications.
• Checkbook NYC: A public record of existing DDC and City contracts is available on Checkbook NYC,which is hosted by the New York City Comptroller’s Office.
• DDC Anywhere: Current contract holders and those anticipating a contract award are encouraged to register for DDC Anywhere to access the agency’s centralized online resource for the design and construction process.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $34 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.