City of Alma- Request for Proposals for Architectural Services

The City of Alma in Bacon County, Georgia is soliciting proposals for architectural services related to community and economic development projects, with a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on May 21, 2025, and responses due by June 24, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. The selected architectural firm will provide comprehensive pre- and post-award services including preparing preliminary architectural reports, planning, design, cost estimating, bidding, contracting, construction oversight, quality control, and project closeout. Key deliverables include obtaining and maintaining Build America, Buy America (BABA) documentation and preparing for potential federal and state funding through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) under programs such as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Employment Incentive Program (EIP), Redevelopment Fund (RDF), and Immediate Threat and Danger (ITAD) funds. Evaluation criteria will be based on the firm's qualifications, with a scoring system ranging from 1-4 points across multiple categories including ability to supply necessary disciplines, construction experience, community knowledge, staff expertise, prior CDBG project experience, and cost competitiveness. Firms must submit detailed documentation including years in business, resource capabilities, personnel qualifications, and references.

The procurement emphasizes Section 3 Business Concerns and is committed to providing equal access to services regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or age. Qualifying as a Section 3 Business Concern can be achieved through three primary paths: being 51% owned by low or very low-income residents, having over 75% of labor hours performed by Section 3 workers, or being 51% owned by current public housing or Section 8-assisted housing residents. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the contract opportunity suggests potential for future architectural services based on grant funding availability. The City of Alma is explicitly committed to affirmatively furthering fair housing and eliminating slums and blight to improve residents' quality of life. Architectural firms must be prepared to provide comprehensive documentation, including licensing information, insurance status, and certifications of compliance with federal and state contract provisions. The opportunity presents a potential multi-project engagement for a qualified architectural firm capable of meeting the city's community development objectives.