CALIFORNIA STEM CELL AGENCY APPROVES REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR FUTURE PERMANENT OFFICE SITE Seeks Competitive Bids from Local Governments and Building Owners

Emeryville, CA – The Site Search Subcommittee of the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (“ICOC”), the governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (“the Institute”), approved yesterday a Request for Proposal (RFP) for permanent office space. The Institute is requesting cities, counties or other governmental entities to submit proposals in conjunction with building owners to provide the State with a fully functional, future home for the newly created state stem cell agency. As announced earlier this month, the Institute is currently leasing interim space in Emeryville, California.

The RFP, developed in conjunction with the California Department of General Services, includes a projected time-line for identifying and selecting a permanent site for the Institute. Key dates include:

 2/28/05     RFP Released
3/16/05      Responses to RFP due to the California Department of General Services by 5:00 PM
4/22/05      Site Search Subcommittee to decide on recommendation for #1 site and runner-up at
                  public hearing, after review and site tours with the Department of General Services.
5/6/05        ICOC approves #1 site and runner-up at public hearing
5/20/05      Clock starts on occupancy time frame (30-90 days from lease execution, depending upon
                 building owner delivery of space ready for occupation)

 

 The RFP also contains a set of minimum requirements and preferences to which bidders will be required to respond. In addition, it outlines a joint bid process between a governmental entity and a building owner to ensure that the infrastructure surrounding the building is suitable for the unique work of the Institute. Minimum requirements specified in the RFP include:

  • Approximately 17,000 net usable square feet of office space.
  •  Lease term of ten years (10) with a firm term for first four (4) years at no/low cost. Preference given to buildings with additional no/low cost years, after year 4.
  •  Letter signed certifying that the owner does not have and will not have in the future any ownership interest in any firms or agencies competing for grants to be awarded by the Institute.
  •  Building is within one-quarter mile to public transportation for use by staff.
  • An International Airport must be situated within 45 minutes of the proposed facility by reliable transportation.

 Preferences for consideration include:

  • Significant number of professionals engaged in biomedical research within 45 minutes of the proposed facility by reliable transportation. Bidders must submit documentation supporting the number and classifications of such professionals and the types of research in which they are engaged. In addition, they must provide information on the number of leading universities, research hospitals and/or private research institutions that specialize in biomedical research within the same travel area.
  •  No/low cost conference facilities available under terms and conditions specified within 45 minutes of the proposed facility by reliable transportation to accommodate up to 150 persons for national or international conferences directed at the goals of the Institute. The facilities are to be available a minimum of 6 days per year and no/low cost hotel accommodations should be in close proximity.
  • The proposed facility would be accessible to Sacramento via reliable transportation –plane, train, car or bus.
  • Operational high-speed communications infrastructure accessible by the proposed facility and buildings in close proximity.
  • For building owners, incentives including, but not limited to, free rent, better lease terms, tenant improvements, and additional parking.

 

 The final RFP will be available on the California Department of General Services’ website (http://www.dgs.ca.gov) as well as connected by hyperlink on the Institute’s web site, (https://www.cirm.ca.gov), on Monday, February 28, 2005.

The Institute was established in 2004 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. The statewide ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at California universities and research institutions, was overwhelmingly approved by California voters, and called for the establishment of an entity to make grants and provide loans for stem cell research, research facilities and other vital research opportunities.