Grand Portage Land Port of Entry Art in Architecture

The General Services Administration (GSA) Art in Architecture Program commissions American artists (citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents of Permanent Workers of the United States) to create publicly scaled and permanently installed artworks for federal buildings nationwide. GSA announces an opportunity for a federal art commission in conjunction with the redesign and modernization of the U.S. Land Port of Entry in Grand Portage, Minnesota.

The project site is located within the Grand Portage Reservation and will replace and upgrade the existing U.S. Land Port of Entry. This project will be a gateway to the United States and will transform an obsolete border facility into a state-of-the-art commercial port of entry, which will improve safety, security, and efficiency. It shall make a distinct architectural statement that will respond to local culture and identity; support efficient movement of trade and commerce; reflect the security requirements of law enforcement agencies; and welcome visitors, members, and citizens to the Grand Portage Reservation and the United States of America. 

GSA allocates one half of one percent of the estimated construction costs of new or modernized federal buildings for art commissions. The art budget for this project is currently estimated to be $387,993.00. One or more artists will be awarded a fixed-price contract for a commission. If more than one contract is awarded, the budget will be divided among the contracts.

Artists who wish to be considered for this and all future GSA art commissions should submit application materials to GSA’s National Artists Registry (Registry). Artists already on the Registry need not resubmit, but may elect to update their information. Instructions on how to join the Registry are attached and available on the GSA website:

https://www.gsa.gov/real-estate/design-and-construction/art-in-architecturefine-arts/art-in-architecture-program/art-in-architecture-national-artist-registry.

GSA evaluates artists based on the following criteria: the media, materials, content, style of the artist’s work, as well as the artist’s past performance and experience with commissions or projects similar to the one described in this synopsis. Shortlisted artists will be contacted and asked to submit additional information including a statement that they can perform the work associated with the GSA commission within the identified budget. GSA will count the combined weight of all the selection criteria as significantly more important than price.

At minimum, the scope of services for this commission will require collaboration with the lead designer selected for the land port of entry project; travel to the project site; development and presentation of preliminary and final concepts; fabrication of the artwork; participation in meetings and conservation reviews as necessary; delivery and installation of the artwork; professional documentation of, and detailed maintenance planning for the artwork at the project site. For informational purposes: Artists selected for the contract award must be Permanent Residents or Citizens of the United States of America. Artists selected for the contract award will be required to have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time of award. Instructions for creating an account and activating registration in SAM may be found at www.sam.gov. Artists selected for the contract award will be required to renew the registration in SAM on an annual basis for the duration of the project.