THC Sam Bell Maxey House Interpretive Planning Services

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has issued Request for Proposals (RFP #808-25-231611) for Interpretive Planning Services at the Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site located in Lamar County, Texas. The procurement seeks a qualified firm to develop a comprehensive Interpretive Master Plan that will identify and communicate critical historical themes related to the Reconstruction Era, late 19th-early 20th century race relations, and historic house interpretation. The primary deliverables include a detailed plan for interpreting approximately 12 rooms in the main house, an outbuilding with admissions/museum store/gallery space, and surrounding grounds. Each proposal team must include an academic scholar specializing in relevant historical areas and commit to conducting a minimum of four workshops with THC staff and stakeholders. The RFP will be evaluated using three primary criteria: project approach narrative (40%), experience/qualifications/references (40%), and price schedule (20%). Proposals are due on December 6, 2024, at 2:00 PM Central Time, with an anticipated contract start date of January 10, 2025. The initial contract term is two years, with an optional one-year extension, and the project is expected to take 18-24 months to complete.

While no mandatory set-aside requirements exist, the THC encourages participation from Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB). No specific budget range is disclosed, as pricing is part of the proposal scoring process. Contractors are required to include all travel and related expenses in their total proposed price, with detailed breakdowns of staff classifications, hourly rates, estimated hours, and administrative costs. Insurance requirements include workers' compensation and commercial general liability coverage. The selected contractor will work directly with THC Historic Sites central office staff in Austin and on-site Maxey House personnel, including interpretive specialists, architects, education specialists, curators, and administrative staff. THC will provide organized electronic files upon contract award and handle stakeholder workshop logistics. Deliverables will include monthly progress reports, a preliminary site analysis report, stakeholder meeting analysis, and multiple draft submissions before final plan acceptance. Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF containing all required documentation and evidence of financial responsibility and stability.