Design Inaugural Exhibitions for Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 33330226RF0010004
- Agency
-
Smithsonian Institution
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 712110 Museums
- Place of performance
- Washington, District of Columbia 20024, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Smithsonian Institution seeks design of inaugural exhibitions for its National Museum of the American Latino, with proposals due May 18, 2026. The procurement carries a restrictive minimum qualification requirement: offerors must demonstrate prior experience within the past seven years designing at least three complete or near-complete museum exhibitions, each with a total exhibition footprint of at least 35,000 square feet, with at least one exceeding 45,000 square feet. Subcontractor performance cannot satisfy this prime contractor minimum requirement, and failure to meet it results in non-evaluation of the proposal.
Place of performance is Washington, DC. The work encompasses approximately 80,000 square feet of exhibition space. The base contract covers 10% Concept Design services over 56 weeks, with priced options for 35% Schematic Design (56 weeks), 65% Design Development (69 weeks), 100% Final Design (82 weeks), and Fabrication Administration (104 weeks), plus unpriced options for Media Production, Interim Design Coordination, and Image/Media Licensing. The fabrication and installation budget is $100–$130 million. Contract award is anticipated for the end of September 2026.
Offerors must engage architects and engineers registered in the District of Columbia to oversee all architecture and engineering design and construction work specific to exhibitions. All work products are "work made for hire" owned exclusively by the Smithsonian. Contractors must maintain Commercial General Liability and Professional Liability insurance of $2 million each, and register in SAM. NAICS code is 712110, Museums; PSC is E1PB, Purchase of Exhibit Design (Non-Building). Questions were due April 13, 2026. Amendment 2 was issued May 12, 2026, clarifying A/E registration requirements and drawing standards; Amendment 1 addressed past performance, proposal formatting, and subconsultant cost documentation requirements.
Notice text
4 versions
Update #4 · Latest ·
Amendment 2 attached.
Responses to additional questions attached
Response to bidder questions attached
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
This solicitation has a minimum requirement that Offerors must demonstrate the capacity to design a multimillion-dollar museum exhibition experience of similar size and scope as the NMAL exhibits intend to be. Offerors must have worked with a diverse group of personnel, such as content developers, architects, curators, scientists, educators, exhibition evaluators, design coordinators, writers, collections managers, facility managers, engineers, media producers, museum technical staff, and exhibit fabricators, etc. Offerors must demonstrate this capacity by showing the Offeror’s prior experience from the past seven years designing exhibitions for at least three complete museum or very complex museum exhibits that integrated objects, images, and multimedia. For the purposes of this minimum requirement, a “museum” is defined as a not-for-profit institution that uses historical artifacts or living collections to create a participatory, transparent, and educational experience that enhances visitors’ understanding of the world. Each example of Offeror’s prior exhibition-design experience must involve a total exhibition footprint of at least 35,000 sq./ft.; and at least one example must involve a total exhibition footprint larger than 45,000 sq./ft. At least one example must have been fabricated and completed; the other examples may be in the process of fabrication. Note that subcontractor performance cannot satisfy the minimum requirement of the prime contractor. Failure of an Offeror to meet the minimum requirement will result in Offeror’s proposal not being evaluated. The Smithsonian reserves the right to determine the extent to which Offeror’s comparable projects meet the minimum requirement as set forth and as clarified herein, and the extent to which Offeror’s comparable projects are relevant to the subject project.
To obtain a link to the attachments below, bidders should contact Debra Berke, berked@si.edu. Once provided with the link, please check often for any updates to the materials.
No contract can be executed with a vendor who is not registered in SAM. Contractors must be registered in SAM no later than August 15, 2026.
Update #3 ·
Responses to additional questions attached
Response to bidder questions attached
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
This solicitation has a minimum requirement that Offerors must demonstrate the capacity to design a multimillion-dollar museum exhibition experience of similar size and scope as the NMAL exhibits intend to be. Offerors must have worked with a diverse group of personnel, such as content developers, architects, curators, scientists, educators, exhibition evaluators, design coordinators, writers, collections managers, facility managers, engineers, media producers, museum technical staff, and exhibit fabricators, etc. Offerors must demonstrate this capacity by showing the Offeror’s prior experience from the past seven years designing exhibitions for at least three complete museum or very complex museum exhibits that integrated objects, images, and multimedia. For the purposes of this minimum requirement, a “museum” is defined as a not-for-profit institution that uses historical artifacts or living collections to create a participatory, transparent, and educational experience that enhances visitors’ understanding of the world. Each example of Offeror’s prior exhibition-design experience must involve a total exhibition footprint of at least 35,000 sq./ft.; and at least one example must involve a total exhibition footprint larger than 45,000 sq./ft. At least one example must have been fabricated and completed; the other examples may be in the process of fabrication. Note that subcontractor performance cannot satisfy the minimum requirement of the prime contractor. Failure of an Offeror to meet the minimum requirement will result in Offeror’s proposal not being evaluated. The Smithsonian reserves the right to determine the extent to which Offeror’s comparable projects meet the minimum requirement as set forth and as clarified herein, and the extent to which Offeror’s comparable projects are relevant to the subject project.
To obtain a link to the attachments below, bidders should contact Debra Berke, berked@si.edu. Once provided with the link, please check often for any updates to the materials.
No contract can be executed with a vendor who is not registered in SAM. Contractors must be registered in SAM no later than August 15, 2026.
Update #2 ·
Response to bidder questions attached
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
This solicitation has a minimum requirement that Offerors must demonstrate the capacity to design a multimillion-dollar museum exhibition experience of similar size and scope as the NMAL exhibits intend to be. Offerors must have worked with a diverse group of personnel, such as content developers, architects, curators, scientists, educators, exhibition evaluators, design coordinators, writers, collections managers, facility managers, engineers, media producers, museum technical staff, and exhibit fabricators, etc. Offerors must demonstrate this capacity by showing the Offeror’s prior experience from the past seven years designing exhibitions for at least three complete museum or very complex museum exhibits that integrated objects, images, and multimedia. For the purposes of this minimum requirement, a “museum” is defined as a not-for-profit institution that uses historical artifacts or living collections to create a participatory, transparent, and educational experience that enhances visitors’ understanding of the world. Each example of Offeror’s prior exhibition-design experience must involve a total exhibition footprint of at least 35,000 sq./ft.; and at least one example must involve a total exhibition footprint larger than 45,000 sq./ft. At least one example must have been fabricated and completed; the other examples may be in the process of fabrication. Note that subcontractor performance cannot satisfy the minimum requirement of the prime contractor. Failure of an Offeror to meet the minimum requirement will result in Offeror’s proposal not being evaluated. The Smithsonian reserves the right to determine the extent to which Offeror’s comparable projects meet the minimum requirement as set forth and as clarified herein, and the extent to which Offeror’s comparable projects are relevant to the subject project.
To obtain a link to the attachments below, bidders should contact Debra Berke, berked@si.edu. Once provided with the link, please check often for any updates to the materials.
No contract can be executed with a vendor who is not registered in SAM. Contractors must be registered in SAM no later than August 15, 2026.
Update #1 ·
RFP from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Latino to develop the initial concept plan and design for its inaugural exhibitions. The Smithsonian is building the National Museum of the American Latino to recognize the accomplishments, history, and culture of Latino communities. This world-class destination will center and celebrate the Latino experience as essential to the American narrative. Through innovative and immersive exhibition experiences, the new museum will illuminate the full American story for all and inspire future generations.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
This solicitation has a minimum requirement that Offerors must demonstrate the capacity to design a multimillion-dollar museum exhibition experience of similar size and scope as the NMAL exhibits intend to be. Offerors must have worked with a diverse group of personnel, such as content developers, architects, curators, scientists, educators, exhibition evaluators, design coordinators, writers, collections managers, facility managers, engineers, media producers, museum technical staff, and exhibit fabricators, etc. Offerors must demonstrate this capacity by showing the Offeror’s prior experience from the past seven years designing exhibitions for at least three complete museum or very complex museum exhibits that integrated objects, images, and multimedia. For the purposes of this minimum requirement, a “museum” is defined as a not-for-profit institution that uses historical artifacts or living collections to create a participatory, transparent, and educational experience that enhances visitors’ understanding of the world. Each example of Offeror’s prior exhibition-design experience must involve a total exhibition footprint of at least 35,000 sq./ft.; and at least one example must involve a total exhibition footprint larger than 45,000 sq./ft. At least one example must have been fabricated and completed; the other examples may be in the process of fabrication. Note that subcontractor performance cannot satisfy the minimum requirement of the prime contractor. Failure of an Offeror to meet the minimum requirement will result in Offeror’s proposal not being evaluated. The Smithsonian reserves the right to determine the extent to which Offeror’s comparable projects meet the minimum requirement as set forth and as clarified herein, and the extent to which Offeror’s comparable projects are relevant to the subject project.
To obtain a link to the attachments below, bidders should contact Debra Berke, berked@si.edu. Once provided with the link, please check often for any updates to the materials.
No contract can be executed with a vendor who is not registered in SAM. Contractors must be registered in SAM no later than August 15, 2026.
Files
Similar open opportunities
| Opportunity | Agency | Set-aside | Responses due |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33330226RF0010010 Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) for Construction Services in Washington DC Metropolitan Area | Smithsonian Institution | Total Small Business | |
| Creative Exhibit Design Services | Library of Congress | No set-aside |
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity