Open Call 19

A time to wait and see, and for

 

Open Call 19 is in two sections. Numbers 1 to 15 are those assignments that will

follow the now familiar allocation procedure. Numbers 16 to 32 refer exclusively to the model projects in the school building catch-up operation in which the allocation, commissioned by Schoolinvest, is supervised by the Flemish Government Architect.

 

In the first list the City of Ghent appears with striking frequency, both as a location and as a commissioning authority. Four interesting assignments for the Hogeschool Ghent, on four of its campuses, are becoming available at the same time. The conversion of a warehouse to a theatre institute by the Kazematten npo, and also the construction of bicycle bridges and a new multi-storey car park, both initiated

by the city council, complete this major cluster of assignments in Ghent.

The rest of the first 15 assignments published in the list are otherwise all from individual clients, in almost all cases local authorities. The Flemish Government unfortunately makes only a very limited appearance as a client.

 

In addition to the projects in Ghent mentioned above, the first part of the list also includes a fine range of varied assignments. In the area of cultural and administrative facilities, there is an Academy of Word and Image in Deinze, a regional visitor centre in Heuvelland and a social centre in Merksplas. Apart from this, most of rest are urban planning, infrastructure and landscape projects. The ‘dry-dock park’ in Antwerp is the first implementation study in the Masterplan for the reorganisation of the city’s wharves. The commuter car park in Oostkamp is part of the reorganisation of a traffic interchange. Lastly, the visual quality plans for Landen, Wijnegem and Machelen focus on the reorganisation of public space. Where possible, we have advocated the incorporation of the first part of the execution into the assignment. All in all, the first part of the list contains fewer assignments than usual. This of course has something to do with the current hesitant view of, which has led many a client to adopt a ‘wait and see’ attitude.

 

However, the decrease in the number of ‘traditional’ assignments is more than compensated by the extensive list of school assignments issued by Schoolinvest as part of the planned DBFM operation. It is the first set, consisting of 17 ‘model projects’ as part of the catch-up operation, which will be allocated in a somewhat curtailed version of the Open Call. The most important difference from the normal procedure is undoubtedly that only three teams will be selected and remunerated for their design instead of the usual five. This reduction in the number of design firms in the competition not only increases the chance of success, but is also accompanied by an increase in the number of assignments. So we assume that the design teams entering specifically for this call by Schoolinvest will pretty much come into their own. The client will naturally also play a decisive part in the final selection. Considering the shortness of the term set by the government for completion, very strict timing will be imposed on the designers selected. However, here too the Flemish Government Architect retains the authority to carry out the initial selection from the entries submitted, from which the client must then choose the three candidates who will take part in the competition. Since these entries will be specifically for the design of school buildings, experience in this field will certainly work in their favour. But in most cases this is very much helped by the expression of a more specific interest in particular sites or assignments. Perhaps those design firms that are interested should consider compiling a portfolio specifically for this and future calls for the school building catch-up operation.

 

So for the ‘Schoolinvest’ assignments we have reached a turning point. At the moment, all the parties in this public-private partnership clearly want to set the intended quality standards very high. We hope that you will support us in this aim by entering with the same conviction and enthusiasm. On our side, we shall certainly make sure that the present high aspirations will be sustained in the practical execution.

 

Best wishes for 2010!

 

Marcel Smets

Flemish Government Architect

Model projects from the school-building catch-up operation
Schools for Tomorrow


Since a substantial drive is needed to catch up on the modernisation and building of schools in Flanders, the Flemish government passed the decree on the ‘school-infrastructure catch-up operation’ on 7th July 2006. This means that the DBFM company will be responsible, via alternative financing, meaning specifically a once-only programme, for making school infrastructure available to the organising authorities in exchange for a periodic, performance-linked availability fee.

 

NV School Invest was established on 18th March 2009. This subsidiary company of AGIOn, in which ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen has a 50% stake, will represent the Flemish government and hold a minority stake of 25% + 1 share in the DBFM company provided for in the decree. In anticipation of the appointment of the private partner, the Flemish Government gave NV School Invest the mandate to start the preparatory work for about 20 projects on the school projects investment list. As soon as the DBFM company is operational, it will take over the preparatory work from NV School Invest. NV School Invest’s mandate allows it to appoint designers, in consultation with the private partner, for the projects for which no design has yet been formulated or a designer has not yet been appointed.

 

For the model projects, this means that a designer will be appointed by means of a modified Open Call procedure. Model projects are school building projects which can serve as outstanding models for ‘the school of the future’ from an educational, architectural and social perspective. It concerns projects with a distinctive set of issues, whose strategy, approach and architectural solutions will serve as a guide for other projects.


The procedure differs from the usual Open Call in several respects. The most significant change is that only 3, rather than 5 candidates will be selected from the shortlist of 10 candidates drawn up by the Flemish Government Architect (FGA) and admitted to the contract phase. The selection and assessment commission is also different. The FGA remains the chairman, but the client is represented by a project manager from AGIOn, two representatives from the DBFM company and 2 representatives from the school group(s) and/or boards. An external jury member will also still be involved in the assessment of the proposals.

 

You can download the selection and award guide can be found here.

 

Please note: In their statement of motivation for each model project for which they apply, candidates must list three reference projects from their portfolio. The following information must be supplied with respect to these reference projects: the client, a description and the cost price of the services and the estimated cost price of the completed project.

 

For the model projects, design teams are being sought for an integrated design brief (architecture, stability, special technologies and EPB reporting). They are requested to draw up an outline and preliminary design based on the project definition and compile a dossier with which to apply for planning and environmental permits. The designer is also responsible for drawing up a performance plan for the selection and allocation of the implementation phase. The construction supervisor is responsible for the remaining part of the brief (i.e. drawing up the implementation dossier). The design team will have a monitoring or supervisory assignment during implementation.


Since the precise division of components between the design and implementation dossiers still has to be finalised by the DBFM company, there remains the possibility that the design team will be allocated part of the work on drawing up the implementation dossier within the set fee basis.

The design teams must devote special attention to the life-cycle approach. This means that one does not just take into account the building costs when designing a building, but also the subsequent costs in relation to maintenance, consumption and management. After all, the DBFM company is building the schools in order to make them available for 30 years and therefore wishes to optimise the running costs.

 

Here you can find the list of all the projects.
An overview of the design commissions included in the Open Call 19 can be downloaded here.


To start the online procedure, please log in with your office code and password.
If this is your first online tender, please register your office here. 

  
At the end of the online procedure you will be able to generate a registration form. To complete your submission you are obliged to send us two signed copies of this form. If the tender concerns a temporary association, all the members of this association have to sign the registration form. 


If this is your first submission for the Open Call or if you have not submitted any tenders since the Open Call 15, you also have to send us two copies of your portfolio.    


Your tender will only be taken into account if we receive your registration form and/or portfolio before the 26th of February 2010 at 4 p.m. If the required documents are sent to us by registered post on the 25th of February 2010 at the latest, your submission will also be valid (post stamp as proof).


Our address: Vlaams Bouwmeester - Boudewijnlaan 30 bus 45 - B-1000 Brussel - Belgium
If you have forgotten your office code or password or have any other question about the Open Call, please contact us via bouwmeester@vlaanderen.be or via phone at the number +32 2 553 74 00