Historic Fort Lowell Operations

The City of Tucson is seeking a contractor to program, operate, and maintain the historical assets and areas of Historic Fort Lowell Park through a Request for Proposal (RFP No. 250002). The procurement aims to establish a self-sustaining organization that will manage multiple historical sites, including adobe ruins, a museum, rehabilitated officer's quarters, Commissary apartments, and other historical structures. The selected contractor will be responsible for developing and implementing programming, maintaining the site, managing exhibitions, providing educational programs, and seeking additional grant funding to support the site's maintenance and development. Key objectives include creating an entrepreneurial business model that generates revenue to offset operational costs, with specific opportunities for developing a small event space, cafe, and retail spaces within the Commissary, and office and meeting spaces in the Donaldson House. The pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for July 26, 2024, at Fort Lowell Park, with proposals due on September 6, 2024, at 2:00 PM local time. The initial contract term is one year, with the potential for up to four additional one-year renewals. Recent rehabilitation efforts, funded by the 2018 Proposition 407: Parks and Connections Bond and an Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund Grant, have already updated the Museum's adobe facade and electrical system, with ongoing rehabilitation of the Commissary Apartments and Donaldson House expected to be completed in 2025.

The solicitation does not explicitly specify set-aside designations, but the RFP likely adheres to federal requirements for equal opportunity and minority business participation, as indicated by the attached ARPA Terms and Conditions. The potential contract appears to have multiple revenue streams, with estimated annual lease revenues of $39,219.60 for Commissary units and $35,607.00 for the Donaldson House, totaling approximately $74,826.60 in potential annual income. The city is seeking a contractor with the capability to not only maintain the historical integrity of Fort Lowell Park but also generate sufficient revenue to support ongoing operations. While specific budget ranges are not directly stated, the project involves multiple rehabilitated historical structures totaling approximately 18 distinct site locations, including Officer's Quarters, Cavalry and Infantry Company Quarters, a Hospital, Donaldson House, Adkins Residence, Museum, and Community Garden. The contractor will need to demonstrate expertise in historical site management, programming, and entrepreneurial approaches to site operations. Compliance with federal transit and ARPA regulations will be required, including provisions for equal employment opportunity, buy America requirements, and various federal procurement guidelines.