Design Fabrication & Install - History Museum Exhibit - RtS

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is seeking a qualified exhibit production contractor to design, fabricate, and install a temporary museum exhibit titled "Revolution to Statehood: Kentucky's Founding in Myth and Memory" located in the Keeneland Gallery at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort, Kentucky. The project, specific to Elliott County, requires comprehensive design and installation services for a 2,250-2,750 square foot exhibit space anticipated to open in April 2026 and run for 16-18 months. The procurement involves creating an intergenerational, accessible learning experience that re-examines Kentucky's settlement and founding narratives, with a focus on storytelling and highlighting infrequently seen artifacts from the KHS collection. The evaluation process will utilize a total of 1,005 possible points, with 850 points allocated to the technical proposal, 150 points for cost, and 5 points for potential oral presentations. Key deliverables include a detailed exhibit design, artifact display strategies, and an installation plan that incorporates themes of historical memory, frontier life, and Kentucky's transition from revolution to statehood. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was released on 07/15/2025, with proposals due by 08/15/2025 at 4:00 PM EST, and the initial contract term spanning from August 25, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

The solicitation does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types. The contract appears open to professional exhibit design and fabrication firms with demonstrated experience in museum installations. The estimated project budget is implied through the comprehensive RFP documentation, with potential for a total contract value around $2.5 million, though an exact budget is not definitively stated. The project will utilize existing infrastructure in the Keeneland Gallery, including specific display cases, exhibition furniture, and architectural specifications detailed in accompanying attachments. The exhibit will integrate over 80 historical artifacts, archival materials, and interpretive resources spanning from 1774 to 1792, with a focus on telling Kentucky's founding story through multiple perspectives. The contract includes potential for one additional one-year renewal, suggesting the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet views this as a strategic, long-term interpretive project. Vendors will need to demonstrate capabilities in historical exhibit design, artifact preservation, and creating engaging, educational museum experiences.