Art Collections Maintenance Consultant

The City of Tampa is seeking an Art Collections Maintenance Consultant through a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Department of Neighborhood & Community Affairs. The selected consultant will coordinate routine and unplanned maintenance of the city's art collection, serving as a critical liaison between Arts & Cultural Affairs staff and external contractors such as conservators and artists. Key responsibilities include developing preventative maintenance strategies, coordinating conservation efforts, and managing maintenance issues. The consultant will work approximately ten hours per week, totaling an estimated 480 hours, with a twelve-month contract term and potential two one-year renewal options. Minimum qualifications include five years of relevant experience, a bachelor's degree, project management skills, and reliable transportation. The proposal evaluation will be weighted across six criteria: cost (10 points), firm's experience (30 points), project team qualifications (20 points), responsiveness to service scope (20 points), criminal history screening practices (5 points), and Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) participation (15 points). Critical dates include a non-mandatory pre-proposal conference on January 9, 2026, at 2555 E Hanna Avenue, with questions due by January 13, 2026, and proposals due electronically by January 28, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. through the OpenGov eProcurement Portal.

The RFP includes specific provisions for Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) participation, with up to 15 evaluation points available for SLBE involvement. Proposers must be prepared to document SLBE participation using DMI Forms 10, 20, and 50, with points awarded based on the extent and meaningful nature of SLBE subcontractor engagement. All participating SLBE firms must hold current City of Tampa certification. The solicitation requires comprehensive documentation, including an Accessibility Conformance Report demonstrating compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards and Section 508 accessibility requirements. Proposers must also provide detailed information about criminal history screening practices and have no contract terminations for default in the past five years. While a specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the scope suggests a moderate-scale professional services engagement focused on art collection maintenance. The consultant will be responsible for providing their own technology, including a laptop and cell phone, and must be prepared to work closely with city staff, conservators, and vendors to establish maintenance timelines and priorities.