UP-Arboretum Water Garden

The University is seeking qualified construction‑management‑at‑risk (CMAR) firms to provide pre‑construction services and later assume responsibility for delivering the Charles H. “Skip” Smith Soaring Water Garden project at the Penn State Arboretum. The scope includes renewal of aging fountain infrastructure, design‑build of a new 48,000 sq ft water‑garden, utility upgrades, and full construction‑management services through design development, construction documents, and construction administration under a guaranteed‑maximum‑price contract. The contract is valued at approximately $6.5 million for construction, with a qualification submission deadline of 30 Sept 2026. • Project budget: ~$6.5 M (construction portion) • Required qualifications: staff availability, relevant water‑feature/landscape projects, CMAR experience; submission format limited to two single‑sided A3 PDF pages • Timeline: RFQ issued 15 Sept 2026 → qualifications due 30 Sept 2026 → RFP week of 12 Oct 2026 → GMP set by Aug 2027 → construction start Sep 2027, substantial completion Jun 2028, final acceptance Sep 2028