The General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service, Region 5, has a requirement for the Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) services for the International Falls Land Port of Entry project in International Falls, MN. The scope of CMc services under this proposed contract includes Design Phase Services and an Option for Construction Phase services.

The anticipated project is a new land port of entry on the northern border in Minnesota. The proposed site is in International Falls, adjacent to the existing Land Port of Entry. This new project will be a gateway to the United States and will transform an obsolete border facility into a state-of-the-art commercial port of entry, which will improve safety and security for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. It shall make a distinct architectural statement that is responsive to the efficient movement of trade and commerce, the security requirements of law enforcement agencies, and the welcoming of visitors and citizens in the United States of America.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the current tenant, and the Department of Agriculture Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be joining CBP as new tenants at the new LPOE. The existing facility was constructed in 1993, and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Although the existing Land Port of Entry is only roughly 30 years old, it was designed and constructed several years before the creation of DHS which resulted in significant changes to the way business operations occur at the border. This project represents an opportunity to support the supply chain; International Falls has the highest traffic volume of any port in Minnesota. In 2021, the port facilitated over $12 billion worth of trade. By redesigning and expanding the port’s infrastructure, the port will be able to accommodate higher volumes of trade.

This project shall be designed to meet LEED Gold certification or higher. Environmentally preferable products will be used, water will be conserved and protected, and indoor air quality will be enhanced. The newly designed port will increase vehicle and pedestrian processing efficiency and capacity; reduce traffic queues and delays in both directions; minimize conflict points among passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, trains, buses, and pedestrians; add a functional secondary inspection area for commercial vehicles; and accommodate safety, security, technology, and future demand. The site expansion will also provide area for additional customer tenant agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Protection and Quarantine.

• The contractor shall provide construction services for the Border Station at International Falls, MN
• The intended delivery method is Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) which will include a firm-fixed price Design Phase and a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Construction Phase Option.
• The Design Phase Services are anticipated to commence upon award of the contract in or about October, 2024. The optional Construction Phase Work is anticipated to be awarded in February, 2026, with a performance period of approximately 1085 calendar days for the project between the full on site notice to proceed/obligation of the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) and substantial completion. The project team anticipates early work packages being issued as early as late February 2025
• The Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) scope of work includes all labor and materials required to provide design phase and construction phase services for the International Falls Land Port of Entry project. The services requested of the CMc shall cover a wide range of design and construction activities as defined below
• The CMc shall be an actively engaged member of the project development team during design, construction, and turnover/closeout stages. The CMc selected for this project shall work in alignment with the GSA and GSA’s selected team, including the Architect and Engineer (A/E) firm, the Construction Manager as Agent (CMa), the artist selected as part of the GSA Art-in-Architecture program, and other contracts partners. The services requested of the CMc will  cover a wide range of activities during design, construction, and turnover/closeout stages, such as constructability reviews, cost estimating, work phasing reviews, scheduling, and general construction services. The CMc is at risk and is responsible for the administration of the construction stage and involvement in both project development and closeout stages
• The design for the project will conform to the Federal Building Design Standards, 2021 Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service P-100, and other building codes and standards as applicable to this project. Design services will be accomplished through a separate contract, will be necessary to meet the functional requirements of prospective tenants, fulfill policy and regulatory criteria, and provide state of the art workplaces that help define interior design standards for the building. Designed solutions shall be consistent with the latest objectives of GSA, prospective tenants, and best practices in architectural planning and design