As of October 16, 2023, an architect has been awarded. PURPOSE The City of Fredericksburg seeks qualified and experienced architectural firms to provide design and construction drawings for a new Visitor's Center for the City of Fredericksburg, located on the first floor of the 601 Caroline Street building in the City. The City's goal for the project is to provide outstanding visitor experience and create one of the best Visitor Centers in the Mid-Atlantic. The successful Architectural firm will submit final construction drawings - guided by conceptual drawings and floorplan provided and attached. These final plans shall be developed in collaboration with a City Staff Review Team and be submitted to the building department and will revise the same in a timely manner, as the final phase of this project. The Architect will provide reasonable accommodations during the construction project as matters requiring design expertise arise. The successful firm will provide construction estimates and a list of long-lead items which might be purchased in advance, so that construction delays are minimized and occupancy can be achieved as soon as possible. BACKGROUND The City Council of the City of Fredericksburg has agreed, through Ordinance 22-15, to sell the current Visitor's Center property at 706 Caroline Street to the City's Economic Development Authority. The 706 Caroline Street facility currently hosts the Visitor Center for the City of Fredericksburg as well as offices for the Economic Development and Tourism Department. The Visitor Center will relocate to the entrance level of much larger square footage in 601 Caroline Street. The proceeds of the sale shall be used for the build-out and final costs for design and construction shall not exceed $1.1 million. The sale of the existing property is expected to close on December 1st, 2022. The City is targeting occupancy of the new space by April 1, 2024. The City's Department of Economic Development and Tourism does have the ability to extend the lease, at market rate rents, on the existing space. State tourism grants are available for the project if the new space is occupied on or before June 30, 2024. The City intends to hire architects and engineers (particularly in the mechanical & electrical specialties) to renovate the 1st Floor of the City's Executive Plaza Building at 601 Caroline Street. This space is currently unoccupied, and most recently served as an interim courtroom space for the City's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The City of Fredericksburg is seeking to procure architectural design and engineering services, security consulting and design services for the next phase of the 601 Caroline Street Visitor Center project. The City intends to pursue a design-bid-build method of procurement for the renovation of the 1st floor of the 601 Caroline Street space. The winning proposal should include a public participation and public review component for the design of the renovations. Interested firms should include in their proposal plans for at least one public meeting prior to completion of 65% development plans. In addition, proposals that affect the exterior of the 601 Caroline Street building will likely be subject to the review and approval of the City's Architectural Review Board, in addition to meeting all appropriate building code requirements. Collaboration with the staff, key stakeholders, and the public will be necessary for an appropriate design of the renovated first floor of the 601 Caroline Street building. When complete the City will be delivered a full set of construction drawings which can be submitted to the building department for review and approval for Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Furniture and Fixtures, Security, and Technology upgrades. These plans, plus the associated project specifications and project manual, will be used by the City to bid the renovation project to appropriate contractors. The Architect should include in their scope of services the development of appropriate bid forms and bid documents that will be necessary to procure the renovations for the project. The City intends to work closely with the Department of Community Planning & Building to ensure that all building code requirements are met for this project. Proposals should include plan development and submission for preliminary review at an early stage to facilitate final review. Architect will reply to and provide any revisions necessary to obtain a building permit. The scope of the work includes the development of construction cost estimates. A conceptual design of the space is provided in this solicitation and will be used to guide the basic layout, space flow and branding uses. The architect is encouraged to add enhancement to this basic illustrative design. The City will also request, as an additive alternative to the design contract, design work for foyer and exterior mural or artistic treatment of expansive exterior of the 601 building. In addition, the City will also request as an additive alternative to the design contract, custom cases and special visitor center exhibits including technology and static displays, as depicted in the conceptual design. The general timeline below has estimated milestone dates. Please include a general evaluation and timeline for completion of the work along with the proposal.