Request for Qualifications from Artists for a Transportation Art Project, State Route 99 Steel Art Panel Project

The Sacramento County Department of Transportation (County), in partnership with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is seeking qualified artists to design a series of steel art panels along the State Route 99 corridor between Broadway Undercrossing and Stockton Boulevard Overcrossing. The project aims to select up to 5 artists or artist teams to create 18 steel art panel triptychs across 5 installation locations, with two designs per location. Selected artists will be required to participate in up to four community engagement workshops, develop design concepts in collaboration with pre-established workgroups, and provide input during the fabrication stage. Evaluation criteria will focus on innovation, creativity, community outreach experience, graphic design proficiency, and ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders. The panels must express community attributes without using text, symbols, or potentially distracting elements, and will be fabricated using 8-gauge galvanized steel plates with cutout linework, stained to resemble weathered steel. The submission deadline is August 26, 2022 at 3pm, with a project timeline including contract execution from August 26, 2022 to September 16, 2022, community outreach and design phase from September 16 to October 21, 2022, and installation scheduled for June 1, 2023.

There are no specific set-aside designations or restrictions mentioned for disadvantaged enterprises in the procurement documents. Each selected artist or artist team will receive a flat rate of $4,000 per design, with a total potential compensation of $20,000 for the project. Artists must be prepared to sign a copyright assignment and service agreement, which transfers full copyright ownership to Caltrans while granting the artist a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to use the artwork in their portfolio and promotional materials. The project does not identify any incumbent vendors or specify existing infrastructure requirements beyond the current sound wall structures along State Route 99. The artwork will be mounted on existing concrete masonry sound walls using specific technical mounting specifications, including 3/8" studs with mechanical expansion anchors and precise positioning instructions. Artists will be required to provide original designs that do not infringe on existing copyrights and must be willing to collaborate closely with county and transportation authorities throughout the design and installation process.