Architectural Services for Shelter Conversion and Renovation Project

The Delaware State Housing Authority is requesting proposals for architectural services to design and renovate existing properties in Kent County and Sussex County to establish homeless shelters with integrated supportive services, with proposals due September 23, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. This is a federally funded project with potential for multiple contract awards.

Responding firms must be registered architects in Delaware in good standing. The scope spans comprehensive design services for the Kent County site (conversion of a former hotel at 1570 N. Dupont Highway in Dover into residential shelter facilities, medical facility, commercial food kitchen, dining area, and community pantry) and a yet-to-be-identified Sussex County site with comparable scope. The selected firm must deliver design services either through in-house expertise or formal partnerships in healthcare facility design, commercial kitchen design, and residential shelter design. Proposers must provide at least five comparable project references, document experience with federally funded projects and adaptive reuse work, and identify all key personnel and subcontractors with their qualifications.

The project is funded entirely by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as part of a $157.4 million financial assistance award, with potential supplemental funding through HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships Program and Community Development Block Grant funds. All work must comply with Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements, Section 3 economic opportunity requirements, and equal opportunity and non-discrimination standards.

Evaluation criteria include firm qualifications and experience, demonstrated federal funding compliance, project approach quality, subcontractor qualifications, and fee proposals. The RFP reserves the right to conduct interviews or award multiple contracts based on response strength. Questions are due September 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., with responses distributed by September 16. Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format to Stephanie Griffin at the Delaware State Housing Authority. All proposal materials are public records under Delaware Freedom of Information Act provisions.