Civic Center Apartments Art Proposal Economic Development Department City of Richmond 1322 Canal Boulevard Richmond, CA 94804 RELEASE DATE: Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 DUE DATE: Monday, March 16th, 2026, 3PM
Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
Contents OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 4 SITE NARRATIVE .............................................................................................................................. 4 PROJECT .......................................................................................................................................... 5 BUDGET .......................................................................................................................................... 5 TIMELINE ........................................................................................................................................ 6 PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................ 6 SCORING/EVALUATION CRITERIA ................................................................................................... 6 SELECTION PROCESS ....................................................................................................................... 7 INTERVIEW/PRESENTATIONS ...................................................................................................... 7 PRE-AWARD NEGOTIATIONS ...................................................................................................... 7 AWARD ....................................................................................................................................... 8 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION ........................................................................................ 8 GENERAL GUIDELINES .................................................................................................................... 8 PUBLIC RECORDS ........................................................................................................................ 9 INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................... 9 BUSINESS LICENSES ..................................................................................................................... 9 SANCTUARY CITY CONTRACTING ORDINANCE ......................................................................... 10 COLLUSION ............................................................................................................................... 10 WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSAL ................................................................................................... 10 OWNERSHIP OF DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................. 10 ATTACHMENTS ............................................................................................................................. 11 Attachment 1: Standard Services Agreement with Sanctuary City Compliance Statement ..... 11 Attachment 2: Insurance Requirements ................................................................................... 11 Attachment 3: Plans and Specifications .................................................................................... 11 RELEASE DATE March 10, 2026 CLOSING DATE March 16, 2026 CONTACT Nannette Beacham Economic Development Director Email: [email protected] Phone: (510) 215-4600 Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
OVERVIEW Based on their submissions to the Artist Outreach, the City of Richmond is inviting selected artists to participate in the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for the Civic Center Apartments public art project. Artists who respond with responsive bids will receive a $500 honorarium and be considered for the project. Civic Center Apartments is a 49-unit affordable housing acquisition and rehabilitation project located in Richmond, California. The development includes forty-eight (48) studio units serving households with incomes at or below thirty percent (30%) of the Area Median Income (AMI), and one (1) one-bedroom manager’s unit. The project is being developed by Novin Development Corporation. To satisfy its public art obligation to the City of Richmond, Novin Development Corporation has elected to provide publicly accessible artwork on the project site. The selected artist(s) will be asked to develop site-specific artwork that will be integrated into the property and accessible to residents and the surrounding community. SITE NARRATIVE Civic Center Apartments is located on 24th Street in Richmond’s central business district. The site is near the Richmond Farmer’s Market, the Richmond Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center, and the Public Library. The surrounding area is primarily residential with single-family homes. The Nevin Plaza community provides housing for low-income individuals. Elderly and disabled residents of Richmond and Nevin Plaza are served by the Richmond Housing Authority at Nevin Plaza. The Richmond Senior Center is within one block. Historically, the broader Richmond community is known for celebrating its important role as a ship-building center during WWII; and Rosie the Riveter, an allegorical figure honoring American women's labor during WWII. The Richmond Art Center and East Bay Center for the Performing Arts are also important cultural hubs. Geographic highlights include Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Park, and the city’s proximity to the Bay Trail, among many other natural features. Ookwe Park in downtown Richmond was created to honor the Ohlone tribe’s legacy in the area. Major themes that connect the community include a commitment to diversity, and to hope and compassion. The variety of formal and informal community groups in and around Richmond all contribute to the vibrancy, vitality and equity apparent in daily interactions of the Nevin Plaza community.
Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
The City of Richmond reiterates in their master plan its commitment to investing in residents to build a healthy community and a strong future employment base. The Public Art Program is meant to enrich the quality of life for the City’s residents by: • enlivening and beautifying the City environment. • creating community pride for City residents. • encouraging and promoting awareness of the City’s rich ethnic, social, and cultural diversity. • creating a diverse and stimulating cultural environment for citizens of, and visitors to, the City. • promoting greater economic vitality through the aesthetic enhancement of the City’s public spaces, thereby making Richmond a more attractive environment for regional and local businesses. PROJECT Artists should review the attached documents for site specifications, dimensions, and potential artwork locations. Artists are expected to submit a preliminary design proposal, which may include sketches, renderings, or mock-ups illustrating the proposed artwork. Proposals should also include a proposed color palette and materials that demonstrate how the artwork will integrate with the building and surrounding environment. See Attachment 3 for building specifications and site details. BUDGET This project is funded through the City of Richmond’s 1% Public Art Fund. Based on the overall development costs, the maximum available budget for the artwork should not exceed $70,000. The selected artist or artist team will be responsible for delivering the completed artwork within this budget. The total project budget must include all costs associated with the artwork, including but not limited to artist fees, design development, materials, fabrication, transportation, insurance, permits (if required), installation, and any other related project expenses. Artists invited to submit proposals may include an artist fee within their proposed project budget. If a flat fee is proposed, artists should still provide a general breakdown of anticipated hours and project-related costs to demonstrate how the overall budget will be allocated. The City and project team are particularly interested in strong design concepts that can be successfully realized within the available budget.
Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
TIMELINE This project will follow an accelerated timeline. The selected artwork is intended to be shovel-ready and installed between late spring and summer 2026, subject to the developer schedule for Civic Center Apartments. Artists should propose project timelines that allow for prompt design development, fabrication, and installation. Proposals demonstrating the ability to meet this expedited schedule and deliver artwork within the project timeframe will be given preference. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS Proposals should include the following information: • Artist Statement / Concept Description A brief written description of the proposed artwork and artistic concept. • Preliminary Design Proposal Sketches, renderings, or digital mock-ups illustrating the proposed artwork based on the provided site dimensions and locations. • Materials and Fabrication Approach A description of the proposed materials and fabrication process. • Project Timeline Estimated timeline for design development, fabrication, and installation. • Project Budget A preliminary budget demonstrating how the artwork will be completed within the available project budget, including all associated project costs. SCORING/EVALUATION CRITERIA Proposals will be reviewed based on following scoring/evaluation criteria: Artistic Merit and Design Quality – Strength, creativity, and visual impact of the proposed artwork. 40 Project Timeline and Feasibility – Demonstrated ability to deliver, fabricate, and install the artwork within the project’s accelerated timeline. 20 Budget and Implementation Feasibility – Ability to complete the artwork within the all-inclusive project budget, including design, fabrication, transportation, and installation. 20 Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
Responsiveness to Site and Community Theme – How well the artwork complements the Civic Center Apartments site and contributes to a strong sense of place within the Richmond community. 20 SELECTION PROCESS Proposals will be reviewed by staff, Richmond Arts and Culture Commissioners, community partners, and other relevant parties. The Richmond Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) will approve the recommendation. City Council/Manager will approve the contract. INTERVIEW/PRESENTATIONS Upon request of the City of Richmond, Respondents may be requested to give an oral presentation/demonstration on the proposal, which would include a detailed analysis of how each of the RFP requirements would be addressed should Offeror receive the award. An in-person presentation is preferred but City staff will work with the vendor to determine what is feasible. The demonstration shall be conducted at no cost to the City. The purpose of the presentation is to verify the vendor’s capability, suitability, and adaptability to the performance requirements stipulated in this solicitation. The City will schedule the interview date, time, and location with the successful finalists. If the vendor fails to participate in the interview on the specified date stipulated, the City may elect to reject the proposal or to re-schedule at its discretion. Respondents are not guaranteed an opportunity to have an interview. Respondents may be eliminated from consideration based solely on inability to meet minimal requirements and/or review of written proposals. The City shall be the sole judge of the acceptability of the proposal in conformance with the specifications and its decision shall be final. Respondents will be given advance notice if required to make a presentation. PRE-AWARD NEGOTIATIONS After the proposals are opened, but prior to award, the City may elect to conduct negotiations with the highest ranked respondents for purposes of: • Resolving minor differences and information • Clarifying necessary details and responsibilities • Emphasizing important issues and points • Receiving assurances from respondents • Cost/budget clarifications Selection may be made without further discussion, negotiations or Respondent’s presentations; therefore, Respondent shall offer the most favorable terms in response to this RFP. Respondent Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
must demonstrate an understanding of the scope of service to be provided and the ability to accomplish the tasks set forth. Respondent shall include information that will enable the City to determine the Respondent’s overall qualifications. The City reserves the right to request additional information or clarification on any matter included in the proposal response, to enable the City to arrive at a final award decision. AWARD When the Review Panel has completed its work, City staff will then recommend to RACC for approval. Once approved by RAAC, the contract will be recommended to the City Manager for approval. The award of a contract to the successful respondent will be at the discretion of the City Manager/City Council. The services provided by the successful bidder shall be governed by a Standard Services Agreement (Attachment 1). PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION Electronic proposals must be submitted via email to [email protected]. All required sections of the proposal must be included in the submission. Respondent is solely responsible for “on time” submission of their electronic proposal. The City will only receive those proposals that were transmitted successfully. The proposal must be received no later than 3:00 p.m., local time, on Monday, March 16, 2026. The proposal and any required certifications shall be signed by an individual or individuals authorized to execute legal documents on behalf of the Respondent. All questions must be submitted to [email protected] by Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM. Otherwise, answers to questions received will be provided on the Q&A tab and notification will be sent by Friday, March 13, 2026 by 3:00 PM. Any party submitting a proposal shall not contact or lobby any City Council member, City official, employee (except those specified for contact) or agent regarding the RFP. Any party attempting to influence or circumvent the RFP, bid submittal, and review process shall have their proposal rejected for violating this provision of the RFP. GENERAL GUIDELINES This RFP does not commit the City of Richmond to award a contract, to defray any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal pursuant to this RFP, or to procure or contract for work. The City of Richmond may reject a proposal without providing the reason(s) underlying the declination. A failure to award a contract to the proposer with the lowest cost proposal Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
shall not constitute a valid cause of action against the City of Richmond. The City shall not be responsible for work done, even in good faith, prior to final approval of the proposed contract. The City may investigate the qualifications of any respondent under consideration, require confirmation of information furnished by the respondent, and require additional evidence or qualifications to perform the Services described in this RFP. The City reserves the right to: 1. Reject any or all proposals. 2. Issue subsequent Requests for Proposal. 3. Postpone opening for its own convenience 4. Remedy technical errors in the Request for Proposal process. 5. Negotiate with any, all, or none of the Respondents. 6. Solicit best and final offers from all or some of the Respondents. 7. Select one of more Respondents. 8. Accept other than the lowest proposed fees. 9. Waive informalities and irregularities in proposals. PUBLIC RECORDS All proposals submitted in response to this RFP become the property of the City of Richmond and public records and, as such, may be subject to public review. Documents protected by law from public disclosure will not be disclosed by the City of Richmond if clearly marked with the word "confidential" on each applicable page. Trade secrets may be marked as confidential only to the extent they meet the requirements of California Government Code section 6254.7. Only information claimed to be a trade secret at the time of submittal to the City of Richmond and marked as "confidential" will be treated as a trade secret. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS The City of Richmond requires consultants doing business with it to obtain insurance, as shown in RFP Attachment 2. The required insurance certificates must comply with all requirements of the standards as shown and must be provided within fifteen (15) days of issuance of the Notice of Intent to Award and prior to the commencement of any work on the Project. BUSINESS LICENSES The successful Respondent and all subcontractors used in the work will be required to hold or to obtain a City of Richmond business license for which the fee will not be waived.
Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
SANCTUARY CITY CONTRACTING ORDINANCE The Richmond Sanctuary City Contracting Ordinance No. 12-18 prohibits the City from granting and or retaining contracts with any person or entity that provides Data Broker or Extreme Vetting services to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division of the United States Department of Homeland Security (“ICE”). Bidders/Proposers must submit the Sanctuary City Compliance Statement, attached to Attachment 1, with their Bid or Proposal. COLLUSION By submitting a proposal, each respondent represents and warrants that its proposal is genuine and not false or collusive or made in the interest of, or on behalf of any person not named therein; that the respondent has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other person to submit a false proposal, or any other person to refrain from submitting a proposal; and that the respondent has not, in any manner, sought collusion to secure any improper advantage over any other person submitting a proposal. WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSAL A respondent may withdraw their proposal before the expiration of the time for submission of proposals by delivering to the Finance Department a written request for withdrawal signed by, or on behalf of, the respondent. OWNERSHIP OF DOCUMENTS All reports, studies, information, data, statistics, forms, designs, plans, procedures, systems and any other materials produced for the Project shall be the sole and exclusive property of the City. No such materials or properties produced in whole or in part for the Project shall be subject to private use, copyrights or patent rights by Respondent in the United States or in any other country without the express written consent of the City. The City shall have unrestricted authority to publish, disclose (except as may be limited by the provisions of the Public Records Act), distribute, and otherwise use, copyright or patent, in whole or in part, any such reports, studies, data, statistics, forms or other materials or properties produced for this project.
Request For Proposal City of Richmond – Civic Center Apartments Art
ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1: Standard Services Agreement with Sanctuary City Compliance Statement Attachment 2: Insurance Requirements Attachment 3: Plans and Specifications