On-Call_Stone_Sculpture_Art_Commissions.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

2107-RFQ

ON-CALL STONE SCULPTURE ART COMMISSIONS

City of Rock Hill

757 S. Anderson Road, Building 103

Rock Hill, SC 29730

RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2026

DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: May 14, 2026

RESPONSE DEADLINE: May 22, 2026, 2:00 pm

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityofrockhill

City of Rock Hill

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

2107-RFQ

On-Call Stone Sculpture Art Commissions

I. Introduction II. Request for Qualifications

III. Scope of Work IV. Submission Format V. Terms and Conditions

VI. Evaluation Process VII. Evaluation Criteria

VIII. Vendor Questionnaire

Attachments:

A - City of Rock Hill Agreement for Services SAMPLE

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) #2107-RFQ Title: On-Call Stone Sculpture Art Commissions

1. Introduction

1.1. Summary

The City of Rock Hill ("City") is seeking qualified artists to provide various stone art installations of a certain size, with a range between 4-10 feet tall, on a by-request basis. This initiative will feature a series of unique, creatively designed rock sculptures placed throughout the City to enhance the visual experience, celebrate the community’s identity, and reflect the rich history and heritage of Rock Hill.

1.2. Background

Up to 40 locations are being identified for future installations. Artists are encouraged to create pieces that are both visually engaging and meaningful, drawing inspiration from the culture, stories, and historical significance of Rock Hill, South Carolina. Select installations may incorporate water features, adding an interactive and dynamic element to the overall experience.

1.3. Contact Information

Sarah Kesler

Procurement Analyst

757 S Anderson Road

Purchasing Building 103

Rock Hill, SC 29730

Email: sarah.kesler@cityofrockhill.com

Phone: (803) 329-7070

Department:

Economic & Urban Development

1.4. Timeline

Solicitation Release Date May 7, 2026

Question Submission Deadline May 14, 2026, 4:00pm

Qualifications Submission Deadline May 22, 2026, 2:00pm

The City of Rock Hill's eProcurement Portal only.

NOTE: The qualifications opening is virtual. No in-person meeting will be held.

mailto:sarah.kesler@cityofrockhill.com tel:(803)329-7070

2. Request for Qualifications

PROJECT: On-Call Stone Sculpture Art Commissions

RFQ Number: 2107-RFQ

Qualifications DUE DATE: Friday, May 22, 2026 before 2:00 pm

2.1. General Information

Electronic submissions will be received by the Procurement Division of the City of Rock Hill, South

Carolina, via the City's eProcurement Portal up to but not later than the published date and time. The eProcurement Portal clock is the official timekeeper for determining all deadline dates and times.

Without exception, responses will not be accepted after the submission deadline, regardless of any technical difficulties, such as poor internet connections. The City strongly recommends completing your response well ahead of the deadline.

2.2. Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to gather information from artists/artist teams interested in providing commissioned outdoor public artworks for the City of Rock Hill. The City will utilize the information provided in the response to evaluate each interested artist/artist team by using the criteria outlined in this RFQ. The Economic & Urban Development Department is responsible for this project.

2.3. No Pre-Qualifications Meeting

There will be no pre-qualifications meeting for this project. Companies are expected to fully inform themselves as to the conditions, requirements, and specifications necessary to submit qualifications.

2.4. Anticipated Contract Schedule

The anticipated start date is upon the execution of a contract. The initial term will be thirty-six (36) months with two (2) 12-month options if options are exercised.

2.5. Selection Consideration

To be considered for selection, the artist/artist team shall be qualified and capable of delivering the following services for the projects described in the Scope of Work (Section 3). If sub-consultants are to be used for any portion of the work, the sub-consultant should be identified, and pertinent information related to their aspect of the team should be provided.

3. Scope of Work

3.1. Introduction

The City of Rock Hill (SC) is actively investing in the enhancement of downtown, including preventative maintenance of existing artworks, installation of new pathway lighting and security cameras, and the addition of updated signage, public benches, and refuse receptacles. As part of this ongoing effort to improve and refresh the surrounding scenery, the City seeks to expand its collection by commissioning and acquiring additional completed works of art to complement and enhance the existing installations.

3.2. Understanding of Project

The City of Rock Hill is soliciting proposals from qualified professional artists or artist teams for the commission and acquisition of finished artwork plus the services to transfer, site, and install it at various locations across the City. These proposals should be for the commission of finished stone, outdoor public artwork to be installed in designated locations within downtown Rock Hill. Downtown currently features permanent sculptural works integrated into landscaped public grounds.

The commissioned artwork(s) are intended to enhance the cultural and aesthetic character of downtown, while continuing to tell the history of Rock Hill. The sculptures should be durable, safe, and appropriate for long-term outdoor display, with options for interactive and water features. Preference will be given to proposals that incorporate rock as the primary material and demonstrate feasibility in fabrication, transportation, and installation within Rock Hill.

3.3. Scope of Services

• Artwork Description and Condition o The art will embrace inspiration from the culture and history of Rock Hill o Art will not be politically or socially charged o Provide a completed, original work of art as proposed o Confirm that the artwork is fully fabricated and ready for installation o Provide current photographs and a condition report of the artwork

• Ownership and Rights Transfer o Transfer ownership of the artwork to the City of Rock Hill upon purchase o Provide documentation verifying clear title and that the artwork is free of liens or encumbrances o Grant agreed-upon rights for display, promotion, and documentation of the artwork

• Transportation and Delivery o Coordinate and provide secure transportation of the artwork to the designated site o Ensure proper packing, handling, and protection during transit

• Installation Coordination o Coordinate installation of the artwork, including supervision or direction of installers as required o Design foundation paperwork included, taller pieces may require engineer drawings o Work with the City of Rock Hill and site representatives to ensure proper placement o Comply with all applicable safety, site access, and installation requirements

• Insurance and Risk o Maintain insurance coverage for the artwork during transport and installation o Assume responsibility for the artwork until final acceptance

• Documentation and Maintenance Information o Provide installation instructions and requirements o Provide specific construction materials used as well as fabrication/construction information.

Also include all finish information including paint or coatings used (with serial number, PMS, or powdercoat number), manufacturer and supplier.

o Provide maintenance and conservation guidelines, including recommended materials and schedules o Provide any required warranties or guarantees related to workmanship or materials

• Final Acceptance o Participate in a final inspection following installation o Address any issues related to damage incurred during transport or installation

4. Submission Format

4.1. Proposal Format

To facilitate the review of the Statement of Qualifications by the City of Rock Hill, please ensure the submission conforms to the following format:

4.2. Coversheet

List the RFQ Statement, the name of the artist/artist team, and the name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number of a contact person for questions concerning the qualifications submitted.

4.3. Qualifications & Experience of the Artist/Artist Team

Brief history and organization, the legal entity that will enter into the contract, the location where the work will be performed, and the name and title of the person authorized to enter into a master contract agreement (must be an officer, partner, or member of the team if not an individual artist). List any sub-consultant companies that will support your team, if any. Provide a narrative of the artist’s or vendor’s experience with public art, permanent installations, or comparable projects pertaining to the Scope of

Work and provide the list of stonework projects with the following information requested below:

• A brief description of the completed artwork, including title, year, medium, and dimensions -pictures included

• An explanation of the artwork’s relevance to the project site, audience, or goals

• Any prior exhibition, installation, or ownership history of the artwork, if applicable

4.4. Project Team

If an artist team, provide a list of the team members (including the location where they currently work) that you propose to use and identify each team member's responsibility, clearly detailing each team member's experience.

4.5. Approach to the Project and Quality Control

Demonstrate approach to this project and quality control methods employed by the artist/artist team.

4.6. Capacity and Response Capability

Provide a statement of the artist/artist team's current workload, proposed schedule of action for when the City requests these services, and capacity to meet the project schedules.

4.7. History of City of Rock Hill Projects

Provide a list of projects that the artist/artist team has completed (or is currently working on) with the

City of Rock Hill over the past 5 years. Be sure to identify the project manager, total cost, year completed, or status if it is currently in progress. If the artist/artist team has no experience with the City of Rock Hill, provide similar projects located within North/South Carolina.

4.8. References

Provide the name, address, and telephone number of at least three (3) references familiar with the quality of work done by the artist/artist team of a similar nature as contained in the above Scope of

Work. By submission of the references, you are authorizing the City of Rock Hill to contact these references. References are not required if the artist/artist team has worked for the City of Rock Hill on at least two (2) projects over the past two (2) years.

4.9. Legal, Safety, Insurance, and Financial

The submittal shall provide documentation of any history of litigation associated with project performance or professional liability during the past ten years. A short statement of any safety problems that the artist/artist team may have encountered in projects. A statement or other information to describe the general financial standing and current insurance coverage.

4.10. Insurance Capacity

The submitting artist (lead artist if submitting as a team) shall be able to post the minimum, specified insurance requirements for this project as follows:

Commercial General Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,00 in aggregate, naming the

City as Additional Insured. Coverage must remain active through installation and acceptance of sculpture with coverage for completed operations one to three years after installation.

Automobile Liability: $1,000,000 Combined Single Limit - covering all owned, hired and non-owned vehicles.

Workers’ Compensation: As required by state law, with Employer’s Liability of not less than

$500,000. This applies if the artist has employees as assistants. If the artist is the sole proprietor with no employees, the City may allow a waiver to be documented in writing.

Inland Marine / Fine Arts Insurance: Covering the full value of the artwork during fabrication, storage and transit until final acceptance by the City.

All coverage shall be primary and non-contributory. Certificates of insurance must be provided prior to commencement of work. Artist should agree to defend, indemnify and hold the City harmless from claims related to work.

Coverages must be maintained throughout the life of the contract, including any applicable warranty period.

4.11. Qualifications Submission

Statement of Qualifications must be submitted via the City's eProcurement Portal. It must be submitted before 2:00 pm on Friday, May 22, 2026. Mailed, facsimile, or e-mailed copies will not be accepted. The

City assumes no responsibility for late submittals.

The e-Procurement Portal uses an 'electronic lock box' system to receive and protect all responses. Only the artist/artist team can see that they have submitted a response and the information contained in that response. The submitting artist/artist team may withdraw its submission and resubmit anytime until the due date and time. Once the submission phase has ended, the City can view the submissions and begin the evaluation.

4.12. Availability of the e-Procurement Portal

All responses to the Solicitation must be submitted electronically through the e-Procurement Portal.

Should any technical issues with the Portal (not user/Supplier issues) prevent any Supplier from submitting a response within the two (2) hours immediately before the due time, the Solicitation due date and time shall be extended for a period of 24 hours. The technical issue must be with the Portal provider (OpenGov) and affect all participating Suppliers. The City shall verify the technical issue or unavailability of the Portal with OpenGov, the system provider. Technical issues localized to a single supplier will not be considered cause for an extension.

The e-Procurement Portal will not allow submissions after the established due date and time have passed.

4.13. Contract

A master contract will be developed with the selected companies, and fees shall be established based upon provided draft plans to be used to determine an agreed-upon scope of work by and between the selected companies and the City of Rock Hill.

The selected artist(s) will be required to use the City of Rock Hill's standard contract (see attached). The

City intends to award contracts to selected companies within 60 days of receipt of qualifications.

4.14. Submission Requirements

This section provides details for preparing and submitting materials required from responding entities to be considered for selection.

1. Submission Preparation: All RFQ responses shall be submitted electronically through the City's eProcurement Portal. The Statement of Qualifications shall be submitted by an authorized representative of the artist/artist team. Each submission constitutes an offer and may not be withdrawn except as provided herein.

2. Qualifications Submission:

The response shall be submitted before 2:00 pm on Friday, May 22, 2026.

No submission may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the due date unless approved in writing by the Procurement Office. All submissions must be approved by the Rock Hill City

Manager and the department(s) in charge of the project. Failing an agreement, the City may reject all submissions and request new submissions or make any other decisions it deems to be in its own best interest.

3. Errors in Submittals: Submitters or their authorized representatives are expected to fully inform themselves as to the conditions, requirements, and specifications before submitting the requested materials. Failure to do so will be at the company's own risk. If an error is made, the submittal may be withdrawn before the submission deadline, edited, and resubmitted before the deadline. The City reserves the right to waive any informalities, technical defects, and minor irregularities in submittals received.

4. Discrepancies and Questions: Artists/Artist Teams shall have no contact related to this project with the City of Rock Hill elected or appointed officials or employees during the solicitation process, other than the contact person specified within this solicitation. Any such contact will subject the artist/artist team to immediate disqualification for consideration.

Should the artist/artist team have questions, find discrepancies in the plans and/or specifications, or be in doubt as to the meaning or intent of any part thereof, the Company shall request clarification from the City via the eProcurement Portal, not later than 4:00 pm on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

All questions will be answered and any changes will be communicated through an addendum posted on the City’s eProcurement Portal. As a registered artist/artist team, you will also receive addenda notifications via email by clicking “Follow” on this project. It is the responsibility of the artist/artist team to check the website for this information before submitting. Failure to request such clarification is a waiver of any claim by the artist/artist team for additional expenses because its interpretation was different from the City’s.

5. Compliance with laws: The successful entity shall obtain and maintain all licenses, permits, liability insurance, and worker's compensation insurance, and comply with all other standards or regulations required by federal, state, county, or City statutes, ordinances, and rules during the performance of any purchase between the artist/artist team and the City. Any such requirement specifically outlined in any purchasing document between the artist/artist team and the City shall be supplementary to this section and not in substitution thereof.

6. Suspension and Debarment: The artist/artist team certifies, by the response to this RFQ, that neither it nor its principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal, state, or local agency. Where the submitting entity is unable to certify any of the statements in this certification, such Offeror shall attach an explanation to this proposal.

7. Subcontractors: The selected artist/artist team agrees that they shall not delegate, subcontract, or assign all or any portion of the project to any third party without the express written consent of the

City.

8. Brand Name: The use of a brand name, if applicable, is for the sole purpose of describing the standard of quality, performance, and a characteristic desired and is not intended to limit or restrict competition.

9. Local Providers: Artists/Artist Teams tendering submissions should keep in mind the City's goal of supporting local businesses and supply houses for materials and labor whenever practicable, so long as pricing and other contract conditions are not adversely affected.

5. Terms and Conditions

Any submitting Artist/Artist Team shall be referenced hereinafter as "Company".

5.1. Insurance

The Company agrees that the Company shall provide, in a form acceptable to the City, certificates of all insurance required as specified in this solicitation. Coverages must be maintained throughout the life of the contract, including any applicable warranty period.

5.2. Illegal Immigration Reform Act Compliance

The company certifies that the company will comply with the requirements of Chapter 14, Title 8 of the

South Carolina Code of Laws titled Unauthorized Aliens and Public Employment and agrees to provide to the City of Rock Hill any documentation required to establish either; (a) the applicability of such law to the company, subcontractor, and sub-subcontractor; or (b) the compliance with this law by the company and any subcontractors or sub-subcontractors.

5.3. Indemnification

The Company shall indemnify and hold the City harmless from and against all liability, loss, damages, or injury, and all costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs of any suit related thereto), suffered or incurred by the City, to the extent arising from the company’s or its contractor’s negligent performance of the services under this agreement, intentional misconduct, negligent acts or omissions, or breach of any term, covenant, representation, or warranty of this agreement.

5.4. Freedom of Information Act

All submissions will be public information, per FOIA guidelines.

5.5. Iran Divestment Act

By signing its submission, the Company certifies that it is not identified on the list of persons determined by the Executive Director of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority to engage in investment activities in the country of Iran as described in South Carolina Code of Laws Section 11-57-310 (as amended), or any other list of prohibited investments created by the State legislature; will not take any action causing it to appear on any such list during the term of the Final Contract; and will not utilize any subcontractor that is identified on any such list to provide goods or services thereunder.

5.6. Agreement

The selected company will be required to use the City of Rock Hill’s standard agreement. See attached sample agreement.

5.7. Non-Appropriation of Funds

This agreement shall be subject to the availability and appropriation of funds by Management and City

Council. If the Council does not appropriate the funding needed by the City to make payments under this agreement for a given fiscal year, the City will not be obligated to pay amounts due beyond the end of the last fiscal year for which funds were appropriated. No act or omission by the City, which is attributable to non-appropriation of funds, shall constitute a breach of or default under this agreement.

5.8. City Business License

The successful Company, prior to execution of the contract, must possess or obtain a City of Rock Hill business license. Such license must be maintained throughout the contract. The fee for such a license is based on the amount of the contract with the City if the company is not currently doing other business inside the City limits. If the company is currently doing other business within the City limits of Rock Hill and does not possess a business license, then the fee for the license is based on the total gross receipts from customers within the City limits. Contact the City Business License Office at 803-329-5590 to determine the exact amount or to ask other pertinent questions regarding doing business in the City of

Rock Hill. Companies do not need to possess a business license to submit their qualifications.

5.9. Excluded Companies

Submissions from companies may be excluded for any of the following reasons:

(i) Reason to believe collusion exists among the companies

(ii) The Company is involved in any litigation against the City

(iii) The Company is in arrears on any existing contract or has defaulted on a previous contract with the

City

(iv) Lack of financial stability

(v) Failure to perform under previous or present contracts with the City

(vi) Is currently debarred by the State of South Carolina Procurement Services

Excluded vendors/contractors can resubmit complete company information with references for City review after a minimum of one (1) year from the last excluded Bid. The City will contact the submitting vendor/contractor with its decision within thirty (30) days of company information submittal. The City reserves the right to include or exclude said vendor/contractor based on findings.

5.10. Customer Service

Please remember, although you are a contracted City service, you each represent the City of Rock Hill during all work performed, face-to-face as well as telephone conversations. These guidelines are to give all contract employees a solid feeling of what the City of Rock Hill expects from any contracted service.

Overview:

• Be friendly, courteous, and helpful

• Company uniforms must be worn at all times

• Employees must look and act professionally at all times

Company's Employees:

Before the company's employees can enter the project site, it shall investigate and determine that its employees working on the project site are not listed on the sexual offender registry. The contractor shall require all subcontractors to make a similar investigation. One such investigation within six (6) months of commencement of the project work, by the employer, fulfills the City’s requirement for the project.

The Rock Hill Police Department along with the City of Rock Hill also reserves the right to cancel any contracts, agreements, purchasing or distribution, etc., if they feel the project, purchasing, vehicle(s), and or property(s) may be in jeopardy due to the company's employee(s) having a criminal history which may lead to ethical issues while dealing with City workings or investigative activities.

6. Evaluation Process

1. All responses are subject to a determination of "responsive" and "responsible" prior to selection. The

Procurement representative is the sole judge as to the submitting entity's "responsiveness" and

"responsibility." The City reserves the right to request additional information.

2. The Evaluation Team will review all submissions and reserves the right to request necessary modifications, waive minor technicalities, reject all submissions, reject any submission that does not meet the mandatory requirement(s), or cancel this RFQ, according to the City's best interests. The City assumes no responsibility for costs incurred in responding to this RFQ.

3. The Evaluation Team may elect to first rank submissions with a simple numeric score and then detail score only the top tier of submissions.

4. The Evaluation Team will evaluate responses on a weighted evaluation system. The categories and points assigned for each category are listed in the Evaluation Section.

5. After completion of evaluations, it is possible that multiple artists or artist-led teams may be chosen.

It is also possible that criteria may not be met as determined by the Evaluation Team, and no artists will be selected in this process.

7. Evaluation Criteria

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Qualifications and Past Projects Points Based 40 (40% of Total)

2. Approach to the Project and Quality Control Points Based 25 (25% of Total)

3. Capacity and Response Capability Points Based 25 (25% of Total)

4. Historical Performance Points Based 10 (10% of Total)

8. Vendor Questionnaire

8.1. Artist/Artist Team Information*

Please provide the following information as it should appear in a potential agreement:

• Company Name, if applicable (legal entity that will enter into the contract)

• Name and Title (person authorized to enter into contract)

• Address (location of the office where or from which the work will be performed)

• Telephone Number

• Email Address

*Response required

8.2. Submission Confirmation*

The artist/artist team affirms that we have read and understand the enclosed RFQ requirements and specifications and submit this Statement of Qualifications for On-Call Stone Sculpture Art Commissions.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

8.3. Submission of Qualifications *

Upload the Statement of Qualifications.

*Response required

8.4. Other Supporting Documentation

Include any additional information relevant to this selection.

8.5. References

Provide the name, address, and telephone number of at least three (3) references familiar with the quality of work done by this artist/artist team of similar nature as contained in the Scope of Work. By submission of the references, you are authorizing the City of Rock Hill to contact these references. This is not required if you have worked for the City of Rock Hill on at least two (2) projects over the past two

(2) years.

8.6. Sub-Consultants

Please provide the following information for each of the sub-consultants to be utilized for this project:

Discipline, Contact Name, Company, Address Line, Phone Number, and E-mail Address.

If you are not employing sub-consultants or this information is noted in the Qualifications submitted, no response is required.

8.7. Suspension and Debarment Certification*

The Company certifies, by submission of this RFQ, that neither it nor its principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal, state, or local agency. Where the submitting entity is unable to certify any of the statements in this certification, such company shall attach an explanation to the submission.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

8.8. Illegal Immigration Reform Act Compliance *

The Company certifies that it will comply with the requirements of Chapter 14, Title 8 of the South

Carolina Code of Laws titled Unauthorized Aliens and Public Employment and agrees to provide to the

City of Rock Hill any documentation required to establish either; (a) the applicability of such law to the

Company, subcontractor, and sub-subcontractor; or (b) the compliance with this law by the Company and any subcontractors or sub-subcontractors.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

8.9. Iran Divestment Act *

The Company certifies that it:

1) is not identified on the list of persons determined by the Executive Director of the State Fiscal

Accountability Authority to engage in investment activities in the country of Iran as described in South

Carolina Code of Laws Section 11-57-310 (as amended), or any other list of prohibited investments created by the State legislature;

2) will not take any action causing it to appear on any such list during the term of the Final Contract; and

3) will not utilize any subcontractor that is identified on any such list to provide goods or services thereunder.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

8.10. Customer Service*

The Company representative has read and agrees to the standards set forth in the City's Customer

Service agreement.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required