Project Scope and Planning

Project Purpose & Need

Why does Weld County need a new Justice Center, and what is wrong with the existing courthouse facilities?

The existing courthouse facilities no longer fully support the county’s current and future justice system needs. As the county continues to grow, demands on the judicial system have increased, putting pressure on space, security and overall functionality. State officials have identified the need for additional capacity, including space for one new judge this summer, underscoring the limitations of the current facilities. In addition, advancements in courtroom technology and remote proceedings have outpaced the capabilities of the existing infrastructure, creating challenges in efficiently delivering modern judicial services.

Why is the county moving forward with this project now?

The county is moving forward now because the existing facilities are constrained, and the planning, design, procurement and construction process takes several years. Starting now allows the county to address long-term operational, security and capacity needs before they become more difficult and expensive to solve.

Building Design / Operations

What departments or services will be included in the new Justice Center?

The building will house courts, Clerks, Jury Services, Judicial Services, and Sheriff support. Dedicated workspace is also provided for Probation Services and the District Attorney's office to support daily court proceedings and client coordination, though these are not their primary offices.

Why does the building need to be six stories?

The six-story design is the most efficient way to fit the full Judicial center program on the West Block site while meeting the operational requirements of a secure courthouse — separate circulation for the public, staff, judges, and inmates, along with all supporting judicial infrastructure. The shelled 6th floor adds future capacity without requiring additional structural or enclosure work down the road.

What security improvements will the new facility provide compared to the existing courthouse?

The new facility is expected to improve separation between the public, staff, judges and in-custody individuals. It should also improve screening, controlled access, secure movement and overall safety for courthouse users.

Will there be separate circulation for the public, staff, judges, and in-custody individuals?

Yes, that is a key feature of modern justice center facility design. The building will include dedicated pathways for the public, court staff and judges, and individuals in custody. Keeping these groups separate improves safety, security, privacy, and the overall efficiency of daily operations.

Schedule / Next Steps

When is construction expected to begin and be completed?

Based on the current project schedule, construction is targeted to begin in late 2026-early 2027 with an anticipated completion in 2029. These dates will continue to be refined as design progresses, entitlements are secured, and procurement and construction planning are finalized. The county will communicate any updates as the schedule is confirmed.

What decisions are still pending?

Pending decisions include final design, final project budget, procurement approvals, entitlements, utility coordination, contractor selection and final construction schedule.

What could delay the project?

The county is taking a proactive approach to keep the project on track through early planning, coordination, and risk management. While delays are not anticipated, factors such as material availability or site conditions may influence the schedule.

Overall Program / Three-Project Structure

On June 22, 2026, the Weld County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution directing staff to issue a request for proposal for the Weld County Justice Center as one total and complete project. Read more at: Weld County Home Rule Charter WCJC.

Will the Judicial Center, parking structure, and demolition/site work be procured as three separate projects?

Yes, the current planning assumption is that the work will be broken into three separate projects/procurements: Judicial Center Core and Shell, parking structure, and Tenant Improvements.
The three projects are currently structured as:
1. Project #1 – Weld County Judicial Center: Core and Shell
2. Project #2 – Parking Structure
3. Project #3 – Weld County Judicial Center: Tenant Improvements
The Core and Shell project is the primary subject of the current procurement. The Parking Structure and Tenant Improvements are independent projects that will be procured under separate RFPs. Coordination between projects may be required.

Will each project have a separate RFP, contract, budget, schedule, and GMP?

Each project is expected to be independently procured under separate RFPs. The Parking Structure and Tenant Improvements are separate, future procurements. Each project should have separate procurement and project controls, they will be coordinated as part of the overall Justice Center program.

Will contractors be allowed to pursue more than one of the three projects?

Yes. Contractors may pursue multiple projects; however, each project will have its own RFP, and contractors will need to submit separately for each project they wish to be considered for.

Is the county intending to select separate teams for each project, or could one team be selected for multiple projects?

The county is evaluating the best approach to maintain competition, coordination, and accountability across all three projects. This could include selecting separate teams or allowing opportunities for one team to be involved in multiple components, depending on what best supports each distinct project delivery.

Who will be responsible for overall coordination across the three projects?

The county, Owner’s Representative, and project management team will maintain overall program coordination. Each contractor will also be responsible for coordinating its scope with adjacent projects to maintain alignment across the program.

How will the county manage scope gaps or overlaps between the three projects?

The county will clearly define responsibilities for each project. Ongoing coordination meetings between teams, supported by contract requirements will help manage any gaps or overlaps.

Project Scope / Boundaries

What scope is included in each of the three projects?

Project #1 – Core & Shell: foundation, structural core, shell, envelope, roofing, exterior skin, elevators/stairs, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) shafts, restroom cores, secure Sheriff parking, sallyport, secure loading dock, and judicial facility infrastructure.

Project #2 – Parking Structure: adjacent 5-story, 600-space parking facility, approximately 202,000 square feet.

Project #3 – Tenant Improvements: interior build-out for five occupied floors, with the 6th floor delivered as conditioned unfinished shell space. Includes 24 courtrooms, judicial/support spaces, public lobby, offices, probation, Sheriff spaces, MEP build-out, courtroom technology, AV, finishes, millwork, signage, and furnishings as applicable.

Why the Project is Structured into Three Packages

The project is intentionally structured into three distinct packages to create greater opportunity, flexibility, and efficiency throughout delivery. This approach expands participation by allowing specialty contractors to pursue work aligned with their expertise, increases competition, and supports a more inclusive procurement process. It also provides flexibility in procurement and scheduling, enabling the county to phase work strategically, respond to market conditions, and maintain momentum across critical path elements. Overall, this structure helps manage risk, optimize cost, and ensure the project is delivered in a thoughtful and efficient manner.

Where are the scope boundaries between the Judicial Center, Core and Shell, parking structure, and Tenant Improvements?

Scope boundaries will be defined through bid documents, site plans, logistics plans, and responsibility matrices.

Who is responsible for shared site logistics, fencing, access, laydown, and temporary utilities?

This will be assigned in the RFP and contract documents.

How will overlapping work such as utilities, sitework, traffic control, and pedestrian access be coordinated?

Overlapping work should be coordinated through a master schedule, logistics plan, regular coordination meetings and clear contractor responsibilities.

Will the Justice Center and parking structure have any physical connection or shared infrastructure?

This will be confirmed as design progresses. If shared elements—such as connections, utilities, access points, or security systems — are included, responsibilities for each will be clearly defined between the projects.

Schedule / Phasing

Will the three projects run concurrently or in phases?

The schedule may include overlapping work, but final phasing will depend on demolition, site readiness, design progress, procurement and construction sequencing.

What are the critical milestone dates for each project?

Milestones will be issued in each RFP and maintained in the master project schedule. These may include design completion, procurement, , notice to proceed, demolition, foundations, structure, enclosure, substantial completion, and occupancy.

Is one project required to be completed before another can begin?

Some early work, such as site preparation, demolition and utility coordination, will need to happen before vertical construction can begin. Beyond that, the sequence and any dependencies between projects will be defined as part of the overall project schedule.

Will demolition or enabling work need to be completed before the justice center or parking structure construction begins?

Yes.

How will schedule delays on one project be handled if they impact the other projects?

The county will require contractors to identify potential delays and mitigation strategies early, and coordinate closely across teams. If schedule changes occur, teams will work together on recovery plans to keep the overall program moving.

Will early release packages be considered for demolition, sitework, utilities, foundations, or long-lead equipment?

Yes. The CM/GC is expected to provide guidance and strategy for developing early work packages to support procurement and construction. This could include items such as early sitework, utilities, foundations, structural packages, or long-lead procurement, depending on final design and schedule strategy.

Site Logistics / Downtown Coordination

What is the anticipated construction staging and laydown plan?

The contractor should propose a logistics plan based on the downtown site constraints. This will outline how materials, equipment and work areas are organized, including staging areas, delivery routes, crane locations, and pedestrian access. The plan will be reviewed with the county and city to align with downtown operations and access needs.

Are there restrictions on work hours, site access, deliveries, or lane closures?

Restrictions may apply based on city requirements, permits, adjacent businesses, court operations, and public safety needs.

Will adjacent buildings remain occupied during construction?

Adjacent buildings will remain occupied. The construction team will need to plan accordingly to address safety, noise, access, vibration, and communication.

Where will construction workers park?

Each contractor will need to propose a worker parking plan that minimizes impacts to downtown public parking, businesses, and courthouse operations.

Who will manage overall traffic control across the three projects?

Each contractor will be responsible for traffic control within their respective scope, but given the proximity of the three projects, the teams will be required to coordinate on a unified site-wide traffic management plan. This coordination will be a contractual requirement to ensure safe and efficient access throughout the construction period.

Procurement / Selection

What qualifications is the County looking for in each project team?

The county is looking for relevant project experience, team capacity, safety record, cost management, schedule management, downtown logistics experience, public-sector experience and ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders.

Will the evaluation criteria be different for the Justice Center Core and Shell, parking structure, and Tenant Improvements?

Yes, the evaluation criteria may differ by project. For example, the Justice Center Core and Shell may emphasize secure facility experience, while the parking structure may emphasize garage construction and downtown logistics.

How will proposals be evaluated and scored?

Proposals will be evaluated using a Best Value selection process. Evaluation criteria include firm qualifications, staff qualifications, location/workload, safety and claims history, project approach, schedule, fee proposal and cost model. The first-ranked proposal may not be the lowest overall cost.

Will interviews be required for each project?

Interviews are anticipated for the top-ranked proposers. The two to three highest-ranked RFP responses may be invited to participate in interviews if required. The anticipated technical interview date is June 19, 2026.

What key personnel are expected to be included in each proposal?

Key personnel may include executive sponsor, project executive, project manager, superintendent, preconstruction manager, estimator, scheduler, safety lead and project controls staff.

Will prior courthouse, justice center, detention, secure facility, or parking structure experience be required?

Prior experience with similar project types is strongly preferred and will be part of the evaluation. Teams should demonstrate relevant experience with judicial facility construction, structured parking, complex interior improvements, downtown logistics, close-building coordination and critical delivery. While one specific project type may not be an absolute pass/fail requirement, teams with courthouse, justice center, secure facility, detention, and/or structured parking experience will likely be more competitive.

Will local subcontractor participation be encouraged or required?

Local subcontractor participation is encouraged. Proposers are also expected to strategically engage the subcontractor market thoughtfully with a focus on quality, schedule and budget value to the county. A specific local subcontractor participation percentage has not been established.

Design / Preconstruction Coordination

What level of design will be available at the time of CM/GC selection?

The CM/GC will be brought on during the early design phases to support estimating, constructability, logistics and phasing.

Who is the architect and engineering team for each project?

The design team is Fentress Studios/Reilly Johnson Architecture.

What role will the CM/GC have during schematic design, design development, and construction documents?

The CM/GC will provide preconstruction services during design, including schedule updates, estimates, action plans, phasing guidance, market input, constructability review, value engineering, early work package strategy, budget input, bid package development and subcontractor market engagement.

Will the CM/GC be expected to provide estimating, constructability reviews, phasing input, logistics planning, and value management?

Yes, those are typical CM/GC preconstruction responsibilities and will be clearly included in the RFP scope.

How will the CM/GC coordinate with the design team and other stakeholders?

Coordination should occur through regular design/preconstruction meetings, stakeholder workshops, estimate reviews, schedule reviews and issue tracking.

Will BIM, clash detection, or design-assist trades be required?

For a complex justice center project, BIM (building information modeling) and clash detection may be valuable for coordinating structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, security and technology systems. Design-assist trades may also be considered for complex or long-lead scopes.

Risk / Contract Terms

What contract form will be used?

The county plans to use AIA A133-2019, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Constructor where the basis of payment is Cost of the Work Plus a Fee with a Guaranteed Maximum Price. Weld County’s standard contract will also be incorporated into the final agreement.

How will contingency be structured and controlled?

The contract will define owner contingency, contractor contingency, approval requirements, reporting and allowable use of contingency funds.

How will shared savings be handled?

The project will be delivered under a Guaranteed Maximum Price contract. If final costs come in below the GMP, any savings may be shared between the county and the contractor. Any specific split percentage will be defined in the contract and is still to be determined as procurement is finalized.

What insurance, bonding, and safety requirements will apply?

Required coverages include workers’ compensation, commercial general liability, automobile liability, professional liability, umbrella/excess liability, pollution liability, and builder’s risk insurance. Performance and labor/material bonds will be required at 100% of the contract value at the time of the GMP amendment. Safety information required in the proposal includes the accident prevention program, EMR, OSHA lost time accident rate, claims, litigation, arbitration, and regulatory complaints.

Are liquidated damages or milestone penalties anticipated?

Liquidated damages and milestone penalties are standard tools in public construction contracts and are being evaluated for inclusion. Whether they will be applied, and to which milestones, will be defined in the procurement and contract documents as those are finalized.

How will changes, unforeseen conditions, escalation, and supply chain risks be managed?

The contract will outline how changes are handled, including how unforeseen conditions and cost changes are addressed. It will also define how contingencies are used, when early purchasing may be needed, and what documentation is required to support any adjustments.

Subcontracting / Bid Packages

Will the CM/GC be required to competitively bid subcontractor scopes?

Yes. The CM/GC will be expected to develop detailed bid packages with the design team and county, then advertise, manage and obtain bids per Weld County requirements.

How will bid packages be structured for each project?

Bid packages should be developed during preconstruction based on project scope, schedule, market conditions, long-lead items and coordination needs.

Will prequalification of subcontractors be required?

Subcontractor prequalification will be at the discretion of the awarded CM/GC. The county's qualification requirements apply to the general contractor level, and the selected CM/GC will be responsible for establishing any prequalification standards for their subcontractor pool consistent with the contract requirements.

Will the county require public bid openings or documented bid tabulations?

No. The county is not obligated to enter into a GMP amendment with the CM/GC. The county may cancel construction services, start a new selection process, terminate the contract, or negotiate with the next highest-rated proposer.

Technology / Security / Special Systems

Are there specific security, access control, AV, IT, courtroom technology, or low-voltage standards?

Yes, these systems will have specific standards and stakeholder requirements. Requirements will be shared with the successful CM/GC Teams.

Will detention-grade materials or secure holding areas be included?

Secure holding areas and detention-grade materials will be included where required for in-custody movement and court operations. Final requirements will be confirmed through design.

Who will own coordination of specialty systems across the Justice Center?

The CM/GC will be responsible for coordinating specialty systems installation and sequencing across the project. Design responsibility for specialty systems lies with the design team, and the CM/GC will coordinate directly with specialty vendors to ensure proper integration. The county's role is to establish performance standards and expectations, with day-to-day coordination managed by the project team.

Are there long-lead equipment or specialty procurement items already identified?

Formal identification and tracking of long-lead items will be a responsibility of the CM/GC during preconstruction. Early procurement planning for any items with extended lead times will be expected as part of their preconstruction services scope.

Closeout / Turnover

What are the expectations for commissioning, training, and turnover?

The contractor should provide commissioning support, owner training, O&M manuals, warranties, as-builts, systems documentation and turnover planning.

What documentation will be required at closeout?

Closeout documentation may include as-builts, record drawings, warranties, O&M manuals, attic stock, testing reports, commissioning documentation, training records and final inspections.

Will each project have a separate closeout process?

Yes, each project should have its own closeout process, while also coordinating with the overall program turnover and occupancy plan.

Will the CM/GC be responsible for warranty coordination after substantial completion?

Yes, the CM/GC is typically responsible for warranty coordination after substantial completion for its scope of work, subject to the final contract terms.

Communication Information

How will the county communicate updates to the public?

The project website will serve as the central hub for information, including updates on schedule, milestones and key decisions. In addition, the county will use a range of communication tools such as email updates, social media, and direct outreach to keep the community informed as the project moves forward.

Will there be community input opportunities before construction starts?

Yes, the county will continue to share information and gather feedback. While some decisions are technical or operational in nature, community questions and concerns will be thoughtfully considered and addressed as part of the process.

When will the community know the final cost and schedule?

The cost and schedule will become more defined as the project moves through design and the contractor is brought on board. The county will share updates at key milestones and ahead of major decisions so the community stays informed as details are finalized.

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