RFP-883 Architect Parks - JJ Audubon New Conference Center

The Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, Division of Engineering and Contract Administration, on behalf of the Department of Parks, is soliciting architectural design services for the development of a new conference center at John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky, through Request for Proposals RFP-883. The procuring jurisdiction is Hardin County, Kentucky, and proposals are due electronically through the Commonwealth's eProcurement system (VSS) by July 24, 2025, at 1:30 PM Eastern Time. The new facility must be a multi-function, lakeside conference center accommodating 400 persons in main convention space with movable partitions, smaller breakout conference rooms, a bridal lounge, catering kitchen, staff areas, an entry lobby with high ceilings and natural lighting, conveniently located restrooms, outdoor event spaces overlooking the lake, and adequate parking, while reflecting contemporary lodge aesthetics while maintaining the classic Civilian Conservation Corps-era architectural character of the existing park. The consultant team must include, at minimum, an architect, mechanical engineer, interior designer, electrical engineer, structural engineer, and civil engineer, with all architects and engineers required to hold current Kentucky registration and demonstrate relevant experience. The design process follows a structured timeline consisting of programming (30 days), Phase A Schematic Design (60 days), Phase B Design Development (45 days), Phase C Contract Documents (90 days), bidding (30 days), and Phase D Construction Administration (timeline to be determined). Key dates include a shortlist meeting on August 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET and virtual interviews on August 13, 2025, at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM ET. Proposals will be evaluated using a 100-point scoring system assessing firm experience by discipline, related project experience, work to be performed in Kentucky, and overall responsiveness to the solicitation requirements.

Set-aside preferences apply to this procurement, including reciprocal preference for Kentucky resident bidders and additional preferences for qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries and nonprofit organizations serving individuals with disabilities. Respondents must provide evidence of minority business enterprise participation efforts and compliance with campaign finance and resident bidder status requirements. The project budget is established at $7,500,000 with potential additional local funding of $7,500,000, totaling a potential $15,000,000 scope. Compensation will be structured as a total lump sum price with phase-based payments, where Phase A is a fixed amount, Phase B comprises 40 percent of the total price less Phase A payment, Phase C comprises 60-75 percent of the total price less previous payments, and Phase D comprises 20-25 percent of the total price distributed across construction milestones. The selected architect/engineer must maintain professional liability insurance of $1 million per claim/$2 million aggregate, general liability of $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate, and statutory workers' compensation with $500,000 employer's liability. No incumbent contractor information or existing infrastructure integration requirements are specified in the solicitation documents provided.