DB US Pavilion at 2027 Belgrade Expo - PreSolicitation and RFP Interest_SAM announcement.pdf

19AQMM26R0058

Department of State 2026 Design-Build fit-out construction, Exhibit Design, Content

Development and installation, and Decommissioning for a

USA Pavilion at Specialized Expo 2027 Belgrade, Serbia

RFP 19AQMM26R0058

Pre-Solicitation Notice & Request for Solicitation Interest

The U.S. Department of State (DOS), Office of the Under Secretary of State for Public

Diplomacy and Public Affairs is seeking high quality firms experienced in complex

Design/Build fit-out construction projects including exhibit design, content development, fabrication, and installation for the temporary USA Pavilion to represent the U.S participation in the Specialized Expo Belgrade, Serbia 2027.

This project is available for full and open competition.

1. Project Description (Secret Facility and Personnel Security Clearances NOT Required)

19AQMM26R0058, Design Build Fit-Out Construction including Exhibit Design, Content

Development, and Decommissioning of a US Pavilion at Expo 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia

Background:

U.S. pavilions at Specialized Expos are public and commercial diplomacy platforms to demonstrate American Excellence as well as showcase innovative experiential which is reflective of Department of State messaging as well as goals for Public Diplomacy across the world.

The Specialized Expo will be a three-month event is projected to attract 4 to 6 million visitors and offers the United States Government an opportunity to inform and inspire foreign audiences about the United States, its people, values, and foreign policies, and to promote U.S. economic and commercial interests.

Scope:

The objective is to ensure that the pavilion is designed, constructed, and operated to the highest international standards, reflecting U.S. innovation, culture, and values. The USA Pavilion at these International Expositions will be an official representation of the United States; the

Department must therefore ensure that the USA Pavilion is nonpolitical and nonpartisan in nature, of the highest possible quality, and balanced and representative of the diversity of

American political, social, and cultural life. The USA Pavilion must meet the highest standards of artistic achievement and academic excellence. The pavilion must be entertaining, immersive, and interactive to engage foreign audiences. The USA Pavilion is a platform to promote U.S.

foreign policy, U.S. commercial interests, as well as highlight outstanding U.S. cultural, scientific, technological, and artistic achievement.

The pavilion must accommodate high visitor volumes, with Expo 2027 designed for up to 5,000 visitors per day requiring even greater capacity due to its larger scale. It must provide immersive and interactive experiences that engage audiences and support U.S. public diplomacy goals. The design must integrate modular and removable performance spaces, VIP hosting areas, meeting rooms, and exhibition spaces that reflect the highest standards of artistic, cultural, and technological excellence. The pavilion must comply with Expo guidelines and host country standards, including sustainability, accessibility, and safety requirements. The pavilion must also incorporate innovative multisensory exhibition content, ensuring seamless integration of architecture, landscaping, wayfinding, and interactives to support key narratives. The exhibit design must be immersive, interactive, and play-based, appealing to a general audience while highlighting American excellence in sports, music, and innovation.

Content: The theme of Expo 2027 Belgrade is “Play for Humanity – Sport and Music for All”.

The Expo's sub-themes are Power of Play, Play for Progress, and Play Together. The US pavilion must align with the respective Expo 2027 theme.

Expo Guidelines: The Expo 2027 organizer in conjunction with the respective host country, Serbia and their Government has provided some information and guidelines for the official participants, these documents are included as attachments to this notice.

Design/Build Fit-Out Construction of USA Pavilion Scope: The scope of work to be completed by the contractor will include but is not limited to:

Expo 2027 SERBIA, BELGRADE

Property Plot Information and General Pavilion Criteria

Gross Floor Area (Single Story Only) 972 sqm (36.00m x 27.00m) – 10M Height

Commercial Space for F&B and Retail Not to Exceed 20% of GFA

Staff Size (Operations + Department of State) 25 People Per Shift (110 People total)

Stage and Performance Spaces Must Be Modular and Removeable

Event Hosting Spaces VIP Space – 16 People

Meeting Room – 12 People

Storage Spaces As Necessary for Design and Operations

Project Scope: The project scope includes the full design, development, fit-out construction, installation, project management, and final disposition of a USA Pavilion at Expo 2027 Belgrade in Serbia.

The anticipated work includes but is not limited to:

• Full Design and Construction fit out of a single-story USA Pavilion to house the exhibitions and thematic program that includes exhibition, performance, reception, back of house, food and beverage, retail store, and outdoor spaces.

• The USA Pavilion shall have an appealing welcome on the exterior façade; provide exterior landscaping; incorporate appropriate internal and external crowd control features including a wayfinding experience tied into the experiential nature of the internal exhibition content; and accommodate a high volume of visitors for the duration of three months for the Specialized Expo and the duration of six months for the World Expo, as well as include a range of public and private spaces.

• Under the direction of DOS subject matter experts (SMEs), design, propose, develop and refine content for immersive exhibitions within the USA pavilion. Exhibition content should be holistically designed with architecture, landscaping, wayfinding, content, and interactives interacting seamlessly to support key narratives.

• Visitors should understand the key “know, feel, do” objectives designed and developed in partnership with DOS SMEs.

• An appealing welcome on the exterior façade; provide exterior landscaping; incorporate appropriate internal and external crowd control features including a wayfinding experience tied into the experiential nature of the internal exhibition content; and accommodate a high volume of visitors for the duration of three months, as well as include a range of public and private spaces.

• Transport, travel, insurance, postage, and shipping fees of all pavilion materials, including artifacts.

• Tear-down, including removal of exhibits, and return of the pavilion lot in the condition required by the Expo organizers; final disposition plan must be approved by the Expo organizers.

Project Structure:

1. Key Stakeholders

1.1. Client (U.S. Department of State / Commission for the USA Pavilion)

1.2. Design-Build Contractor (DB Contractor)

1.3. Local Authorities & Expo Organizers

2. Delivery Model

2.1. Design-Build (Turnkey): Contractor responsible for full design and construction Fit-Out of the USA Pavilion, exhibits design and installation, testing, maintenance, commissioning, and handover.

The Design-Build Contractor Responsibilities shall include:

1.1 Design Development

1.1.1. Concept Design Proposals → Schematic Design Refinement → Chosen Design

Development → Construction Documentation.

1.1.2. Edits and changes to conceptual design proposals based on feedback received from the Department of State.

1.1.3. Coordination with U.S. cultural, diplomatic, and programming teams under the key direction of the DOS Expo Unit.

1.1.4. Compliance with Expo technical guidelines, Serbian codes/regulations, and U.S.

security requirements.

1.1.5. Delivery of all content (digital, physical) necessary for the implementation of the final selected design incorporating experiential, multisensory integration of external and internal wayfinding and exhibition content.

1.2. Fit-Out Construction

1.2.1. Full civil, structural, MEP, IT, and AV systems.

1.2.2. Fabrication of exhibit spaces, façade treatments, and immersive environments.

1.2.3. On-site construction supervision, logistics planning, and safety management.

1.3. Exhibition & Commissioning

1.3.1. Exhibit integration (interactive, multimedia, cultural).

1.3.2. Content creation and curation for all exhibition elements under the direction and guidance of DOS SMEs.

1.3.3. Testing & commissioning systems.

1.3.4. Mock-ups, inspections, and quality checks.

1.3.5. Systems readiness and training for Pavilion Operations Partner.

1.3.6. Systems and content upgrades/updates during the lifetime of the exhibition dates

1.4. Facilities and Technical Maintenance Management

1.4.1. Defining and Delivering Service Level Agreements for all building systems and warrantied items as well as standard building wear and tears throughout the course of an Expo

1.4.2. On site support at all times for Building Systems (MEP, HVAC, Security)

1.4.3. On site support at all times for any AV or Technical Equipment that is part of

Exhibition or Experiential

1.5. Handover & Legacy

1.5.1. As-built documentation and training for all handover necessary to the Operational

Delivery Partner

1.5.2. Warranty management and Subcontractor management for all installed systems and hardware of the building

1.5.3. Decommissioning plan (post-Expo).

Approximate design, fit out construction and decommissioning cost: $10 million - $13 million

2. Project Solicitation

The project solicitation will be available on the Department of State ProjNet System on or about

January 30, 2026.

High Quality Firms with the proven capabilities and past performance that wish to participate in this solicitation shall submit a letter of interest in writing to Jennifer Leung at

LeungJB@state.gov AND Lori Botkin at BotkinLL@state.gov by email by January 30, 2026.

All submissions must be in English language. The letter of interest shall include the following information

Project Name: Design Build Fit-Out Construction including Exhibit Design, Content

Development, and Decommissioning of a US Pavilion at Expo 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia

RFP #: 19AQMM26R0058

Company Name:

Company Address:

Company UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) number from SAM.gov:

Company Telephone Number:

Contact Person: Name, E-Mail Address, and Telephone Number mailto:LeungJB@state.gov mailto:BotkinLL@state.gov

***NOTE: Offeror submitting a proposal by the proposal due date MUST be an “Active” registered entity on SAM.gov with a UEI number, see FAR clause 52.204-7 System for Award

Management (SAM) for more information. If Offeror intends to submit a proposal and is not a currently registered vendor on SAM.gov, please go on to the SAM.gov website:

https://sam.gov/content/home and Get Started on Registering Your Entity as soon as possible.

ANY Offeror whose registration is not active in SAM at the time of proposal submission will be excluded from the process and their proposals will not be evaluated.***

Interested firms will be provided key codes and a link to the ProjNet (www.projnet.net) Plan

Room and Bidder Inquiry be used to access the respective solicitation information.

The Solicitation will include a statement of work, standards, and criteria for the project that set out the project scope, design requirements for the US pavilion and exhibits, design process, design documentation, design expertise, construction process, post-construction activities, Expo

Guidelines, codes and standards, and security requirements.

The selected D/B Contractor’s Architect/Engineer will be the “Designer of Record” and responsible for the construction drawings in accordance with the solicitation documentation provided. The contract will be “firm fixed-price.” Construction services will include providing construction labor and materials to execute the accepted building design and exhibit design; on-site organization with management to ensure overall project coordination; and overall control throughout the life of the project. Required services include preparation of construction documents, quality control plans, safety plans, project schedules, cost estimates, and project close-out activities.

The types of design services to be provided may include: architecture; civil, structural, geo-technical, seismic, blast, mechanical, electrical, telecommunication, and fire protection engineering; sustainable design, energy conservation, energy modeling, photo-voltaic systems, pollution prevention, and use of recovered materials; space planning, interior design, systems furniture design, and integration, and signage; exhibit design and content development, pavilion mascot design; physical and technical security; potable water treatment and waste water treatment, food service design, retail store design, performance stage design, vertical transportation; lighting design; landscape design; design and construction scheduling; value engineering; and administrative coordination of the various disciplines involved. Additionally, the successful offeror will be required to have an approved local Japanese/design consultant.

Construction services will include providing construction labor and materials to execute the pavilion and exhibit designs; on-site organization with management to ensure overall project coordination; and overall control throughout the life of the project. Required services include early design and design development; preparation of design and construction documents; quality control plans; safety plans; project schedules; and project close-out activities.

The RFP will require the D/B contractor to complete all design and engineering documents based on the specific design direction that will be provided in the RFP design requirements.

The RFP will require offerors to address the following criteria in the proposal to provide design and construction services: management of a medium complex fit-out project; schedule management; logistics management to include site and transportation security; and safety.

https://sam.gov/content/home

3. CLOSING DEADLINE FOR INTEREST SUBMISSIONS

High Quality Firms with the proven capabilities and past performance that wish to participate in this solicitation shall submit a letter of interest in writing to Jennifer Leung at

LeungJB@state.gov AND Lori Botkin at BotkinLL@state.gov by email by January 30, 2026.

All submissions must be in English language.

mailto:LeungJB@state.gov mailto:BotkinLL@state.gov