Architect for Water Conservation House Design

The Madison Water Utility (MWU) is soliciting proposals from qualified architectural design firms to develop a Water Conservation House demonstration project located in the Allis Heights subdivision of Madison, Wisconsin. The project requires a comprehensive architectural design for a single-family residence that complies with EPA WaterSense specifications and features innovative water-saving fixtures, appliances, and landscaping. Key design objectives include maintaining aesthetic compatibility with the existing Lake Edge neighborhood, achieving cost structures comparable to average homes, and incorporating energy-saving and green sustainability features within budget constraints. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on August 31, 2017, with critical dates including September 13, 2017, for question submissions, September 15, 2017, for answer postings, and September 28, 2017, at 2:00 PM CST for proposal submissions. Evaluation criteria will focus on compliance with water and energy conservation standards, architectural fit and aesthetics, design innovation, relevant project experience, and prior experience working in Madison. Proposers must submit one cost proposal copy, three technical proposal copies, and one complete electronic PDF copy, with selection based on comprehensive technical and cost assessments.

The RFP does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises, though the City of Madison Standard Terms and Conditions suggest potential considerations for affirmative action and non-discrimination provisions. The contract will require professional liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 and commercial general liability coverage of $1,000,000. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any proposals and is not obligated to award a contract. Upon project completion and acceptance, all design documents, specifications, and renderings will become the property of the City. While a specific budget range is not detailed in the RFP, the project calls for a cost-effective approach that maintains financial comparability with standard residential construction in the area. The resulting contract will incorporate standard city procurement terms and will focus on creating an exemplary water conservation residential model that can potentially serve as a demonstration project for sustainable urban housing design.