King George released a request for proposals (RFP) on Oct. 25 in an effort by the School Board to lease the former middle school building on Dahlgren Road (Route 206).
The RFP targets government contractors that are also trying for an award of a federal contract from the Navy to conduct Navy Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division.
That training is planned to take place during the latter six months of 2011.

The RFP prominently notes that the building will be leased “as-is.”
Potential lessees are informed to assume responsibility for assessing the suitability of the building and its systems. The RFP notes those include, but are not limited to, size, design, layout, structure, parking, security, heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC), utilities, electrical wiring, etc.
The division wants to lease the mothballed building as a way of either getting funds to fix it up or the actual renovation work done by the lessee.
Superintendent Candace Brown has told the School Board that leasing the former school building could be a way to get a new well and HVAC installed, along with other potential improvements, such as renovations to the lecture room and additional parking area.
In addition to a “firm fixed, monthly facility lease price proposal for the facility,” offerors are also to describe in detail all work and improvements they are proposing.
The RFP notes the lessee would be responsible for any and all improvements or modifications necessary to meet the requirements of the ERP schoolhouse, with those improvements or modifications to be approved in advance by the division.
To drive the point home, the RFP notes, “Revenue is not the only factor in determining an award.”

DEADLINE SET TO CLOSE ON NOV. 18 – COULD BE EXTENDED    
The King George RFP is slated to close on Nov. 18.
But during a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting and walk-through last Thursday, Kelly Dixon, county procurement manager, said the deadline might be extended if questions are received that would then be answered and would require to be posted online for 10 days.
CACI is the only firm that attended the meeting on Nov. 4. CACI is defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, VA, with 120 offices around the world, including one in Dahlgren.
Others present at the pre-proposal meeting were County Administrator Travis Quesenberry and Brown, with county General Properties Manager Matt Clift and division Facilities Coordinator Don Hall on hand to lead the walk-through.
The gymnasium portion of the building and some of the grounds are continued to be used by the county Parks & Recreation Department.

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL TARGETED FOR SEPTEMBER 2012 OPENING    
The building was ceremonially closed in June 2009.
The School Board recently decided it wants to start using the building on Dahlgren Road as an intermediate school for fifth and sixth grades beginning in September 2012 and it is on a joint meeting agenda with the Board of Supervisors scheduled for Nov. 30.
Brown is hopeful that it will soon be leased next year for training prior to conversion to an intermediate school.
She is currently estimating one-time startup costs at nearly $900,000, which would put first-year costs at $2,250,566, including regular operations estimated at $1,351,703 for annual, recurring operating costs.
Those start up and operating costs are in addition to potential costs that total $1,775,475 for $1,600,000 for a new HVAC system, $140,475 for a new well and $35,000 for refurbishment of the lecture room.

Phyllis Cook
Staff Reporter