STATE OF TENNESSEE

TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

FOR

RESTORATION AND PLACEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE

RED GROOMS FOX TROT CAROUSEL

RFI # 31627-RG_FTC2025

NOVEMBER 10, 2025

1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

The State of Tennessee, Tennessee State Museum issues this Request for Information (“RFI”) for the purpose of restoration, placement, and operation of the red grooms fox trot carousel. We appreciate your input and participation in this process.

2. BACKGROUND:

The Tennessee State Museum (hereinafter Museum) issues this Letter of Interest (LOI) to solicit responses from interested parties to partner with the Museum in the restoration, placement, and operation of the Red Grooms Fox Trot Carousel for the purpose of public benefit. Criteria for a successful partnership will include:

Care: The Museum is seeking a partner to provide an operational plan for its restoration, placement, and operation in conversation with the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee State Museum.

Place: The Museum is seeking a partner to provide a space to locate the Carousel for public benefit. The Carousel will need appropriate structure to protect the item from the elements and to aid its long-term care.

Focus: The Museum is seeking a partner that embraces the stories and the history of the Carousel, including the figures depicted on the Carousel.

Fund: The State is seeking to establish a partnership with respondents that can provide funding to support this project.

3. HISTORY OF THE RED GROOMS’ FOX TROT CAROUSEL:

• In 1995, the Carousel was proposed to be created and manufactured by the artist Red Grooms and his studio. The Fox Trot Corporation was a 501c3 created for the purpose of raising funds for the creation of the Carousel. With the support of individuals and corporations, the Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel was finished in 1998 and placed in Downtown Nashville for the enjoyment of the public. The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation in partnership with the City of Nashville assisted the Fox Trot Corporation in the management of the Carousel.

• The Carousel was stationed at Riverfront Park in Nashville, in an open-air pavilion. During its operations, thousands of visitors rode the Carousel. Ridership declined with the decrease of General Jackson tourism from Opryland to downtown. Therefore, the Carousel ceased operations;

• In 2003, the Carousel was transferred from the Tennessee Fox Trot Corporation to the Tennessee State Museum. Since that time, the Carousel has been stored awaiting its next chapter;

• In 2019, the Tennessee State Museum and the Douglas Henry State Museum Commission created a working committee of the Commission to explore next steps with the Carousel. The Museum engaged with consultants to complete an assessment of the Carousel condition. A report details the conservation needs of the Carousel. Planning for the Carousel paused in 2020;

• In 2024, the Museum and the Commission re-engaged to discuss the future of the Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel and determined that the next steps were to gauge interest from interested parties on partnership including planning for adequate funding for the project. It was determined to explore the options of a public-private partnership to successfully plan for the future of the Carousel for the benefit of the public.

4. COMMUNICATIONS:

4.1. The State has assigned the following RFI identification number that must be referenced in all communications regarding this RFI:

RFI # 31627-RG_FTC2025

4.2. Unauthorized contact about this RFI with employees or officials of the State of Tennessee except as detailed below may result in disqualification from consideration under this procurement process.

4.3. Prospective Respondents must direct communications concerning this RFI to the following person designated as the Solicitation Coordinator:

Will Harmon, Sourcing Account Specialist Department of General Services, CPO Nashville TN 37243-1102 will.harmon@tn.gov

4.4. Any prospective Respondent having questions and comments concerning this RFI must provide them in writing to the State no later than the Written Questions & Comments Deadline detailed in the RFI Section 5, Schedule of Events.

4.5. Please submit your response to this RFI to:

Will Harmon, Sourcing Account Specialist Department of General Services, CPO will.harmon@tn.gov

4.6. Only the State’s official, written responses and communications with Respondents are binding with regard to this RFI. Oral communications between a State official and one or more Respondents are unofficial and non-binding.

4.7. Potential Respondents must ensure that the State receives all written questions and comments, including questions and requests for clarification, no later than the Written Questions & Comments Deadline detailed in the RFI Section 4, RFI Schedule of Events.

5. RFI SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

EVENT

TIME

(central time zone)

DATE

1. RFI Issued NOVEMBER 10, 2025

2.

Written “Questions and Comments” Deadline

2:00 p.m. NOVEMBER 19, 2025

3.

State Response to “Written Questions and Comments”

DECEMBER 5, 2025

4. RFI Response Deadline 2:00 p.m. DECEMBER 17, 2025

6. GENERAL INFORMATION:

6.1. Please note that responding to this RFI is not a prerequisite for responding to any future solicitations related to this project and a response to this RFI will not create any contract rights. Responses to this RFI will become property of the State.

6.2. The information gathered during this RFI is part of an ongoing procurement. In order to prevent an unfair advantage among potential respondents, the RFI responses will not be available until after the completion of evaluation of any responses, proposals, or bids resulting from a Request for Qualifications, Request for Proposals, Invitation to Bid or other procurement method. In the event that the state chooses not to go further in the procurement process and responses are never evaluated, the responses to the procurement including the responses to the RFI, will be considered confidential by the State.

6.3. The State will not pay for any costs associated with responding to this RFI.

7. INFORMATIONAL FORMS:

The State is requesting the following information from all interested parties. Please fill out the following forms:

RFI #31627-RG_FTC2025

TECHNICAL INFORMATIONAL FORM

1. RESPONDENT LEGAL ENTITY NAME:

2. RESPONDENT CONTACT PERSON:

Name, Title:

Address:

Phone Number:

Email:

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING SIMILAR SCOPE OF SERVICES AS IT

RELATES TO RESTORATION OF HISTORIC ARTIFACT.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING SIMILAR SCOPE OF SERVICES AS IT

RELATES TO PLACEMENT OF HISTORIC ARTIFACT.

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING SIMILAR SCOPE OF SERVICES AS IT

RELATES TO OPERATION OF CAROUSELS OR SIMILAR.

6. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIENCE FUNDING PUBLIC PROJECTS, FACILITATING

CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS, WORKING WITH FOUNDATIONS AND/ OR FRIEND GROUPS.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Please provide input on alternative approaches or additional things to consider that might benefit the State: