PILLAR: Sustainable
AGENDA DATE: January 28, 2026
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): Citywide
DEPARTMENT: Office of Bond and Construction Management
PRIORITY: Infrastructure
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize a Construction Manager at Risk Agreement with Swinerton Builders, best value proposer of two, for pre-construction and construction services for a new Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center on the University of North Texas at Dallas located at 7300 University Hills Boulevard to provide (1) pre-construction services for the Project for a fee in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00; and (2) construction management services for a fee at a rate of one and eight hundred fifty-six one hundredths percent of the cost of work included as part of the total guaranteed maximum price within the total construction budget of $150,000,000.00 - Not to exceed $150,000.00 - Financing: Public Safety Facilities (F) Fund (2024 General Obligation Bond Fund)
*In alignment with Bond Implementation Program.
Body
BACKGROUND
On June 9, 2021, the Dallas City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNTD) to evaluate and identify sites on the UNTD campus for a new Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center (DPD LETC). This initiative was further supported on February 14, 2024, when the City Council ordered a May 2024 Bond Election to fund a variety of capital improvement projects citywide. On May 4, 2024, Dallas voters approved Proposition F of the 2024 General Obligation Bond Program, which included $90 million in funding for the design, construction, and improvement of public safety facilities. Within Proposition F, there was $50,000,000.00 identified for the DPD LETC at UNTD. The election results were certified and adopted by the City Council on May 15, 2024.
To advance the project, the City Council authorized acceptance of a $10,000,000.00 grant from the Office of the Governor on March 27, 2024, for the design and construction of the training center. Subsequently, on September 25, 2024, the City entered into a forty-year lease agreement with UNT System for approximately 4.216 acres of land at 7300 University Hills Boulevard, with options for renewal. This agreement was amended on June 11, 2025, to expand the leased area to 20 acres and include additional terms for subleasing space in the Criminal Justice Facility. The new training center is a Proposition F eligible project and is critical to enhancing law enforcement training capabilities for the City of Dallas.
Given the complexity, budget, and schedule constraints of the project, City staff determined that the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method would be the most efficient approach under Chapter 2269, Subchapter F of the Texas Government Code. The CMAR process involves two phases: preconstruction services, to be completed by August 2026, and construction services, scheduled for completion by May 2028. The estimated project budget is $150,000,000.00. A Request for Qualifications was advertised on August 27, 2025, followed by a Request for Proposals sent to the two highest-ranked respondents on October 17, 2025. After evaluation and interviews, Swinerton Builders was selected as the best value proposer.
Swinerton Builders was selected following a two-step selection process in accordance with the City of Dallas and State of Texas procurement guidelines. The Office of Bond and Construction Management will bring a supplemental agreement back to Council once the design has progressed sufficiently to develop construction package(s).
It is now in the City’s best interest to authorize a CMAR agreement with Swinerton Builders for preconstruction and construction services for the DPD LETC at UNTD located at 7300 University Hills Boulevard. The agreement includes (1) preconstruction services for a fee not to exceed $150,000.00; (2) construction management services at a rate of 1.856% of the cost of work within the guaranteed maximum price; and (3) establishment of appropriations in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
Begin Pre-Construction Phase Services February 2026
Complete Pre-Construction Phase Services October 2026
Begin Construction Phase Services November 2026
Complete Construction Phase Services June 2028
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On June 9, 2021, the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of North Texas at Dallas to evaluate and identify sites on the University of North Texas at Dallas campus, for the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas by Resolution No. 21-1022.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on the development and concept design of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas on January 10, 2022.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on the 2024 Bond Program Needs Inventory for the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire Rescue on June 5, 2023.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on the status of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas on November 13, 2023.
On February 14, 2024, the City Council authorized ordering a May 2024 Bond Election to fund a variety of capital improvement projects citywide by Resolution No. 24-0280; Ordinance No. 32491.
On March 27, 2024, the City Council authorized the acceptance of Grant No. 4922901 from the Office of the Governor in the amount of $10,000,000 for the design and construction of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas campus by Resolution No. 24-0447.
On May 15, 2024, the City Council approved and adopted the canvassing committee’s report for the May 4, 2024, Bond Election, certifying the election results and declaring that a majority of voters supported all bond propositions by Resolution No. 24-0695; Ordinance No. 32658.
On August 14, 2024, the City Council authorized an architectural services contract with HKS Inc. for architectural and engineering design and construction administration services for the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas located at 7300 University Hills Boulevard by Resolution No. 24-1074.
On September 25, 2024, the City Council authorized a forty-year lease agreement, with four, ten-year renewal options, with University of North Texas System, for approximately 4.216 acres of land located at 7300 University Hills Boulevard, to be used as a Law Enforcement Training Center for the Dallas Police Department by Resolution No. 24-1441.
The City Council was briefed on the status of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas on March 5, 2025.
The City Council was briefed on the updated project plan, project timeline, and funding status of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas on April 2, 2025.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on the status of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas on May 12, 2025.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on the status of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas on June 3, 2025.
The City Council was briefed on the Dallas Police Department Regional Training Academy Multi-Campus Update was scheduled and publicly posted on June 4, 2025.
On June 11, 2025, the City Council amended Resolution No. 24-1441 to include a total of 20 acres to be leased from the University of North Texas System, to be used as a law enforcement training facility for the Dallas Police Department; a sublease between the City and the University of North Texas System for space in the Criminal Justice Facility; and certain special terms and conditions of the Lease Agreement by Resolution No. 25-0918.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on the status of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas on October 14, 2025.
On October 22, 2025, the City Council authorized Supplement Agreement No. 2 to increase the architectural services contract with HKS, Inc. dba HKS Architects, Inc., for additional facility programming, architectural and engineering design, and construction administration services for the Tactical Training Center and UNTD-Criminal Justice Center for the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas located at 7300 University Hills Blvd by Resolution No. 25-1676.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on the status of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas on November 10, 2025.
The Public Safety Committee was briefed on the status of the Dallas Police Department Law Enforcement Training Center at the University of North Texas at Dallas on December 8, 2025.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2026 |
FY 2027 |
Future Years |
|
Public Safety Facilities (F) Fund (2024 General Obligation Bond Fund) |
$150,000.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
LOCAL PARTICIPATION
|
Prime |
Status |
Workforce % |
|
Swinerton Builders |
Local |
25.20% |
PROCUREMENT INFORMATION
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ), Solicitation CIZ25-BCM-3173) was issued on August 27, 2025. On September 26, 2025, six Qualifications Statements were received in response to the RFQ. Following the review of the submitted Qualifications Statements by the selection committee, two candidates were recommended to move forward. A Request for Proposal (CIZ25-BCM-3173a) was issued to the short-listed firms on October 31, 2025:
• JE Dunn+Byrne+BOWA, A Joint Venture
• Swinerton Builders
Proposals were received and distributed to the Evaluation Committee on November 21, 2025. Following independent review and evaluation of each submittal, the Evaluation Committee held in-person interviews for each Candidate’s proposal on November 25, 2025. The resulting cumulative ranking of the Evaluation Committee determined Swinerton Builders to be the highest-ranked proposal.
OWNER/EXECUTIVE
Swinerton Builders
Tyler Whittaker, Vice President and Division Manager
MAP
Attached