Architectural and engineering firms seeking to take part in the Houston Independent School District’s $1.89 billion 2012 bond program to replace and modernize schools across the city will have more time to submit their Statement of Qualifications.

HISD officials decided to push back the deadline from Jan. 7 to Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. after more than 300 people turned out Tuesday for a pre-submittal conference on the RFQ to solicit design and engineering services to build or renovate 40 schools.

Attendees asked a variety of questions about the RFQ, including how to present financial information and how to comply with district goals on participation by minority and women-owned business enterprises. In addition, many asked for more time to prepare their submissions.

“We were very encouraged to see so many people at the pre-submittal conference,” said Chris Gross, general manager of the Procurement Department. “We want to make sure all firms seeking to win a contract understand the process and have enough time to submit a high-quality proposal.”

Besides pushing back the deadline, the district will release another addendum on Dec. 21, 2012, to help answer additional questions about the RFQ, which is available on the district’s website here and here.

The RFQ was designed to allow district officials to evaluate a firm’s qualifications, by looking at everything from its experience with school projects to its specific expertise in LEED green building design, also known as “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.”

The district will be holding interviews with selected firms in early February before sending its recommendation to the Board of Education sometime in late February.