RFP-26-002 - Underpass Gateway Activation & Public Art Coordination

The City of Fairburn, Georgia (located in Fulton County) is soliciting qualified artists, artist-led teams, or creative placemaking consultants through Request for Proposal RFP-26-002 to design, coordinate, fabricate, and install public art for the Historic 1917 Underpass and Entry Gateway in downtown Fairburn. The primary deliverable is a mural measuring approximately 7 feet in height by 140 feet in length on an exterior retaining wall at 27 Southeast Broad Street, Fairburn, Georgia 30213, along with installation of a creative pedestrian crosswalk, gateway monuments, interpretive elements, and site furnishings. Selected artists must facilitate two public input meetings and deliver one public artist talk upon project completion. Qualified vendors must be at least 18 years old with 1-3 years of experience painting murals, crosswalks, or public artworks and must be authorized to work in the United States. The artwork must be original, historically reflective of Fairburn's diversity and transportation heritage, and free of profanity, nudity, gang symbols, political or religious content, and advertisements. All artwork must utilize exterior acrylic latex-based paint followed by a sealant with non-skid/slip-resistant additive and a final coat of grip paint; oil-based paint is prohibited. Questions must be submitted through the BidNet portal by February 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., and final proposals are due on March 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with the contract term set at 120 days from the Notice to Proceed Letter.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to disadvantaged enterprises or particular organizational types are detailed in the available documentation. Selected artists are required to maintain $1 million liability insurance throughout the project duration and must submit standard compliance certifications including Drug-Free Workplace certification, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Debarment and Suspension Form, and Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance documentation. The project budget shall not exceed available National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Creative Placemaking award funding, with payment issued in 80/20 installments—80 percent upon project initiation to cover project costs and 20 percent within 30 days of successful completion. The detailed budget must include itemized costs for design, fabrication, installation, materials, supplies, insurance, and transportation. The crosswalk artwork is expected to have a lifespan of 3-5 years before major maintenance is required, and compensation to the selected Service Provider will be based on a detailed invoice reflecting actual work performed, with the maximum price for materials, labor, and expenses specified in Exhibit K of the bid schedule.