DNR - Carl T Johnson Exhibit Design Project

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Marketing and Outreach Division, is issuing Request for Proposal No. 260000001267 for professional design, fabrication, and installation services to renovate interpretive exhibits at the Carl T. Johnson Hunt and Fish Center in Mitchell State Park, Wexford County. The project involves replacing 25-year-old hunting and fishing exhibits within a 1,152 square-foot space and requires comprehensive exhibit design services that communicate Michigan's hunting and fishing heritage and the role of license fees in funding conservation efforts. Contractors must demonstrate detailed experience in interpretive display design, exhibit fabrication techniques, and installation methodologies through submission of a minimum of five similar projects completed within the last ten years, with documentation including project descriptions, completion dates, budget information, stakeholder engagement approaches, and photographic evidence of work product across all project phases. The work is structured in three phases: Conceptual/Schematic Design (30 days), Design Development, and Final Design, Fabrication, and Installation, with an anticipated contract start date of May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2029, plus two optional one-year renewal periods. Technical evaluation will be scored on a 100-point basis, with 25 points each allocated to vendor background and experience, Statement of Work completion, contractor qualifications, and contractor experience/portfolio examples; proposals scoring 80 points or higher will advance to price evaluation. Key deadlines include an optional pre-bid meeting on April 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. EST via Microsoft Teams; bidder questions due by April 3, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. EST; answers posted by April 7, 2026; and proposals due April 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. EST through the SIGMA VSS system as hard copy submissions only, with no digital files or mailings to the Solicitation Manager permitted.

The RFP does not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types eligible to respond. All contractors and subcontractors must register with the State at an annual fee of $500 and possess applicable Michigan licenses for electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work if such trades are utilized. The project is subject to prevailing wage compliance requirements under Michigan Public Act 10 of 2023, with wage rates established by Wexford County locality classifications ranging from $36.87 to $110.76 per hour for journeyworkers depending on trade classification, and contractors must submit certified payroll within ten days of each pay period. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is referenced in the solicitation materials. The RFP requires firm pricing for all project phases including design, fabrication, installation, and reimbursable travel expenses at State-approved rates, with payment by Electronic Funds Transfer within 45 days of invoice receipt. Liquidated damages of $1,000 plus $500 per day apply for late or improper completion, and $1,000 per individual per day are assessed for unauthorized removal or untrained replacement of key personnel. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the available solicitation documents.