Holiday Lighting - Gipson Play Plaza and Moore Square

The City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department is requesting proposals for design, furnish, installation, maintenance, and removal of coordinated holiday lighting displays at Gipson Play Plaza (Dix Park) and Moore Square, with proposals due September 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST.

The scope spans Gipson Play Plaza lighting centered on the Woodland Garden and Fountain Plaza with extensions to four connecting pathways (Fountain Plaza Stairs, Woodland Walk, Lake Wheeler Road Path, and Picnic Grove Path), and Moore Square's foundational month-long December display emphasizing mature trees and the café building. Moore Square includes optional Winterfaire enhancements (December 11–13, 2026) featuring potential illuminated archways and photo opportunities. Proposers must submit designs addressing thematic approach and demonstrate understanding of both locations. Site visits are encouraged during operating hours; no formal pre-proposal meeting is scheduled.

Evaluation uses a two-stage process. Stage 1 criteria are proposed design/thematic approach (30 percent), corporate background and previous experience (20 percent), past performance on similar projects (20 percent), project understanding (15 percent), and proposed cost (15 percent). Cost awards maximum points to the lowest bidder with remaining proposals scored proportionally on a not-to-exceed basis with itemized cost breakdowns for modular and scalable components. Qualified proposers advance to Stage 2 interviews and demonstrations.

Proposers must provide three business references from similar projects within the past ten years and carry Commercial General Liability ($1 million each occurrence/$2 million aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1 million combined single limit), and Worker's Compensation with statutory limits. Financial documentation requires audited or reviewed financial statements, compiled statements with supporting evidence, or a certified CPA statement of viability. Written questions are due August 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM. The anticipated evaluation meeting is September 18, 2026, with interviews the week of September 21 and selection announcement tentatively September 29, 2026. Contract term and completion dates will be established upon award.