Request for Qualifications - Fire Headquarters Bunkroom Remodel Consultant Selection Copyrighted
May 18, 2026
City of Dubuque ACTION ITEMS # 8.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Request for Qualifications - Fire Headquarters Bunkroom
Remodel Consultant Selection
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval for the
Fire Department to proceed with selection of FEH Design as
the consultant for the Fire Headquarters Bunkroom and
Bathroom Remodel project and to finalize the necessary
professional services agreement and grant authorization to
the City Manager to sign the Notice to Proceed.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo RFQ Fire Headquarters Bunkroom Remodel- consultant selection
2. Staff Memo DFD-RFQ Bunkroom remodel proposal selection
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Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: RFQ Fire Headquarters Bunkroom Remodel- consultant selection
DATE: May 13, 2026
Fire Chief Amy Scheller is recommending City Council approval for the Fire Department
to proceed with selection of FEH Design as the consultant for the Fire Headquarters
Bunkroom and Bathroom Remodel project and to finalize the necessary professional
services agreement and grant authorization to the City Manager to sign the Notice to
Proceed.
FEH Design demonstrated strong qualifications, relevant fire station experience, local
presence, schedule capability, and the ability to meet the City's project expectations at a
reasonable and supportable cost. Approval at this time will allow the project to proceed
immediately and maintain momentum toward timely completion of construction
documents and subsequent bidding.
The anticipated professional services cost is estimated to be between $42,094.36 and
$46,303.79. Funding for this project is available within project account 1315000025,
which currently has an approximate remaining balance of$828,645.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Page 887 of 890
Dubuque
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TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: RFQ Fire Headquarters Bunkroom Remodel- consultant selection
DATE: May 2, 2026
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this memorandum is to respectfully request approval to proceed with the
selection of FEH Design as the consultant for the Fire Headquarters Bunkroom and
Bathroom Remodel project following completion of the City's Request for Qualifications
(RFQ) process. This project is intended to improve firefighter health, wellness, privacy,
and operational readiness through the renovation and modernization of bunkroom and
bathroom facilities at Fire Headquarters located at 11 West 9th Street. The project
includes converting two open-concept bunkroom areas into up to twelve private
sleeping quarters and reconfiguring existing restroom and shower areas into four private
unisex bathroom/shower rooms.
DISCUSSION:
The City issued the RFQ for consultant services on February 27, 2026, with proposals
due March 25, 2026. The RFQ sought qualified architectural and engineering firms to
prepare construction drawings, specifications, bidding documents, cost opinions, and
related professional services for the planned remodel. The City received four complete
proposals by the submission deadline.
An internal review committee was assembled to evaluate the qualifications and rank the
responding firms. The review committee consisted of Amy Scheller, Derek Paulson,
Dawn March, Jason Lueken (Fire Captain), Ryan Kieffer (Fire Captain), and Jim
Bousley. Following review and scoring of all proposals, the committee ranked the
submitting firms based on qualifications, relevant experience, capacity, project team,
and overall fit for the project.
In accordance with standard procurement procedures, the City initiated negotiations
with the top-ranked proposer on Monday, April 20, 2026, and again on Monday, April
27, 2026. Despite good-faith discussions, the parties were unable to reach agreement
regarding proposed project cost and the timeline necessary to complete the work. As a
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result, the City formally terminated negotiations with the top-ranked proposer on April
27, 2026, and proceeded to the next highest-ranked qualified firm.
On Friday, May 1, 2026, the City initiated negotiations with FEH Design and was able to
successfully reach agreement on both anticipated project costs and an aggressive
project timeline. FEH Design is a well-established regional architectural and engineering
firm with offices in Dubuque, Des Moines, Sioux City, and Milwaukee. FEH Design has
more than 125 years of history and significant municipal and public safety facility
experience, including recent work with fire departments in Urbandale, Polk City,
Pleasant Hill, and Le Mars. Their qualifications also highlight strong experience in
renovations, sleeping quarters, shower facilities, operational phasing, and firefighter-
focused design solutions.
Based on the consultant's opinion of probable construction cost, FEH Design estimates
that total professional design services will represent approximately 7.9% of the
anticipated construction budget, to be converted to a fixed fee once the project reaches
the 60% construction document milestone. Due to the aggressive schedule requested
by the City, FEH Design has also agreed to begin immediately under a Notice to
Proceed utilizing an hourly rate schedule until the fixed-fee conversion point is reached.
The anticipated professional services cost is estimated to be between $42,094.36 and
$46,303.79. Funding for this project is available within project account 1315000025,
which currently has an approximate remaining balance of$828,645.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is respectfully recommended that approval be granted for the Fire Department to
proceed with selection of FEH Design as the consultant for the Fire Headquarters
Bunkroom and Bathroom Remodel project and to finalize the necessary professional
services agreement. FEH Design demonstrated strong qualifications, relevant fire
station experience, local presence, schedule capability, and the ability to meet the City's
project expectations at a reasonable and supportable cost. Approval at this time will
allow the project to proceed immediately and maintain momentum toward timely
completion of construction documents and subsequent bidding. We area also
requesting city manager signature on the attached notice to proceed with FEH (project
cost estimated at $42,094-$46,303).
CC
Jenny Larson
Laura Bendorf
Crenna Brumwell
Dawn March
Jason Lueken
Ryan Kieffer
Derek Paulson
2
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