Category Archives: 2012 bond

HISD Invites 85 Firms to Review Architect-Selection Process

Elvis Eaglin, senior manager in Procurement, oversees the transfer of RFQs in January.

HISD’s 2012 bond program garnered unprecedented attention from architectural and engineering firms when the district asked for qualifications last December to design 40 schools slated for renovation or construction.

A total of 85 firms responded by the Jan. 15, 2013 deadline, giving the district a diverse pool of choices as it began selecting firms for the first 24 schools, plus renovations for middle school restrooms and athletic facilities.

Continue reading →

M/WBE Firm Focuses on ‘One-Stop Shopping’ for Customers

Editor’s note: This is the third in an occasional series of profiles on minority or women-owned companies that do business with HISD. The district’s minimum M/WBE goal levels are 20 percent for all levels of purchasing and construction, and 25 percent for professional services. In the 2007 bond program, that commitment reached nearly 34 percent. In the 2012 program, the contracts awarded to date reflect a nearly 51 percent M/WBE commitment.

Continue reading →

HISD Workshop to Prepare Designers on Building Green Schools

Berry Elementary School, built under the 2007 bond program, has earned LEED Silver certification.

Water-collection systems, recyclable materials and healthier learning and teaching spaces are among the topics to be discussed at HISD’s “Sustaining Momentum” workshop for architect and engineering teams working under the 2012 bond program.

Ideas shared during the half-day workshop on Monday, July 29, will help district officials set sustainability goals for schools under the $1.89 billion construction program, which will replace or rebuild 40 schools across the city.

Continue reading →

Board of Education to Consider Four More Contracts for 2012 Bond Work

Selected projects include construction manager at risk services for four high schools

Administrators are recommending that the HISD Board of Education authorize the district to negotiate contracts with three firms to provide construction manager at risk (CMAR) services on selected 2012 bond projects.

Continue reading →

Design Guidelines Ensure Quality for 2012 Bond Campuses

Atherton Elementary, seen in its early stages of construction, is scheduled to open for students in August.

All schools under HISD’s $1.89 billion 2012 bond program will be built with the same consistency and quality thanks to the district’s Construction and Design Guidelines, created to give architects and designers requirements for their work on bond campuses.

“It’s a guide for the architects to give them the minimum things we expect in the design of the buildings,” said Dan Bankhead, HISD’s General Manager of Facilities Design.

Continue reading →

M/WBEs share business tips with prospective HISD vendors

About 25 business owners learned about the importance of M/WBE certification at HISD’s monthly Workshop Wednesday held July 10.

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/55132771 width=”500px” height=”280px”]

“Being certified has been really valuable for our work,” said Courtney Harper, panelist and owner of the architecture firm of Courtney Harper + Partners. “It’s opened doors and I’ve been able to get my foot in at great institutions.” Continue reading →

HISD Aims to Use Fewer T-Buildings During 2012 Bond Construction

Temporary buildings are being removed at McReynolds Middle School.

For many schools built under HISD’s 2007 bond program, temporary buildings used for storage and instruction space were part of the construction process.

Now, as the district moves forward with the $1.89 billion 2012 bond program, HISD officials are looking at ways to minimize the use of T-buildings to maximize the amount of money available for new facilities.

Continue reading →

HISD Helps Small Businesses Through Mentor-Protégé Program

Ramon Herrera, principal at Midtown Engineers, says he hopes joining the IMPP as a protégé will help him become a better businessman.

Small business owners learned the components of a “perfect handshake” and how to smile like a politician at the Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program’s first session yesterday at METRO headquarters.

Through HISD’s partnership with the City of Houston, METRO and Port of Houston Authority, the IMPP was designed to create long-term relationships between mentors and protégés, through professional guidance and business support and development.

“It is our hope that this program will enhance the capability of (small businesses) so that they can take on a larger role with (HISD),” HISD Supplier Diversity Team Lead Bernard Willingham said.

Continue reading →

Vendors, Suppliers to Follow New Scoring System for M/WBE Goals

Nearly 100 vendors and suppliers turned out Wednesday to hear about HISD’s latest efforts to build on the success of its program for minority and women-owned business enterprises. HISD will be implementing changes that will hold firms more accountable in meeting district goals.

Starting July 1, the district plans to roll out new paperwork on all its bids, incorporating a new scoring system for vendors and suppliers to meet HISD’s M/WBE participation goals. The goals are set at 20 percent for construction and the purchasing of goods and non-professional services and 25 percent for professional services.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=’G0000a2Ct3c2b3lE’ g_name=’20130619-MWBE-Forum’ width=’600′ f_fullscreen=’t’ bgtrans=’t’ pho_credit=’iptc’ twoup=’f’ f_bbar=’t’ f_bbarbig=’f’ fsvis=’f’ f_show_caption=’t’ crop=’f’ f_enable_embed_btn=’t’ f_htmllinks=’t’ f_l=’t’ f_send_to_friend_btn=’f’ f_show_slidenum=’t’ f_topbar=’f’ f_show_watermark=’t’ img_title=’casc’ linkdest=’c’ trans=’xfade’ target=’_self’ tbs=’5000′ f_link=’t’ f_smooth=’f’ f_mtrx=’t’ f_ap=’t’ f_up=’f’ height=’400′ btype=’old’ bcolor=’#CCCCCC’ ]

Continue reading →