PUBLIC ART

Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Alameda Point, Site A

Issued by: Alameda Point Partners

Location: Site A Development, Alameda Point, Alameda, CA

Release Date: July 17, 2019

Submission Deadline: September 18, 2019

Project Overview

Alameda Point Partners (APP), is inviting artists as individuals or teams, to submit qualifications to create public artwork to be incorporated at two (2) locations within Site A at Alameda Point. Alameda Point is a former Naval Air Station in the island city of Alameda, California. The budget for this initiative is $300,000.

Background

The City of Alameda is a 23‐square mile island in the San Francisco Bay located between San Francisco and Oakland (see Exhibit A in "Site Plan" upload). Alameda has a population of nearly 80,000 and an enthusiastic arts and culture community. The former Naval Air Station Alameda, commonly referred to as Alameda Point, is located at the most westerly tip of the city, surrounded on three sides by water. Alameda Point boasts stunning views of the San Francisco skyline and an impressive stock of historic military structures from the 1930s and early 1940s.

Since the Naval Air Station was decommissioned in 1997, Alameda Point has experienced pockets of organic success as a center for emerging technologies and craft manufacturing, including craft beverage manufacturing and tasting rooms, and has become a popular location for regional tourists. Despite these successes, the area had remained largely underutilized, and in 2015 the City of Alameda approved a comprehensive plan for the redevelopment of Site A at Alameda Point.

Site A Development Overview

The City’s vision for Alameda Point is to create a vibrant, mixed‐use community with urban neighborhood centers, open space, waterfront access, and quality public transportation and commuting options. The development will include the adaptive reuse of many historic Navy buildings complemented by thoughtfully designed new construction. Site A is the first phase of the ambitious redevelopment of the former naval base.

APP was selected by the City to deliver on this vision to plan and develop the 68‐acre Site A. APP sees this as a meaningful opportunity to invite artists to create pieces that will highlight the site’s unique attributes, create a cultural benefit to the community, and create a unique sense of place at Alameda Point.

In March 2018, APP broke ground on the multiphase project, which will include:

• Approximately 15 acres of public parks and waterfront plaza
• Construction of a new ferry terminal at Seaplane Lagoon
• Up to 600,000 sq. ft. of commercial space targeting makers and new technologies
• Up to 100,000 sq. ft. of retail
• 800 multi‐family residential units
• A 150+ room, full service hotel
• Two public art installations

The full Site A Development Plan, which includes renderings, preliminary vision for artwork, and additional details on public art locations, can be downloaded here. Additional information about Alameda Point and Site A can be viewed on the City’s ‘Base Reuse – Alameda Point’ webpage.

Artwork Locations

Two locations for artwork have been approved by the City of Alameda. However, artists are welcome to suggest alternate locations for evaluation.

Location 1: Gateway

One public art concept will be installed at the “gateway” to the former Naval Air Station and new Alameda Point community. The median or western corners of the intersection of Main Street and West Atlantic Avenue has been identified as a preferred location for the piece. 

Location 2: Waterfront Park

An additional piece will be located in the waterfront park along Seaplane Lagoon. The future park is a 6.7‐acre area with views of the San Francisco skyline. An exact location for the artwork has not been determined.

Guidelines for Artwork

Selected artwork must be:

• Permanent art (50+ year life)
• Durable and able to withstand elements (high wind, saltwater, direct sun, rain, seismic activity)
• Safe (not likely to cause injury)
• Require minimal maintenance/programming

Acceptable artworks include, but are not limited to:

• Sculpture
• Painting/Mural
• Mosaic
• Crafts
• Mixed Media
• Restored artifacts

Budget

The total budget for both installations is $300,000. These funds will cover costs allocable to:

• Artists’ fees
• Fabrication
• Structural engineering
• Transportation of artwork
• Installation
• Signage
• Necessary infrastructure (pedestals, mountings, etc.)

RFQ Timeline

RFQ Released: July 16, 2019
Question Deadline: August 9, 2019
Responses Distributed: August 16, 2019
Submission Deadline: September 18, 2019
Finalists Contacted: October 11, 2019
Selections Announced: December 20, 2019**

Public Art Program Timeline*

Refine Proposal: Q4 2019
Public Art Commission Review: Q1 2020
Execute Contract: Q1 2020 – Pending Public Art Commission Approval**
Installation of artwork: TBD – Contingent on fabrication timeline of selected artwork**

*specific dates subject to process for each artwork
**updated 9/13/2019

Selection Process

Submissions will be reviewed by an evaluation panel selected by APP. Finalists will be contacted and asked to provide a proposal for one of the two locations. APP will work with selected artists to refine proposals and budgets.

Selected artwork will be subject to application and approval process detailed in Section 30.98.6 from the City of Alameda’s Public Art Ordinance, which includes review and approval by City of Alameda Public Art Commission. The developer (APP) will assist selected artists/organizations with this process.

Submission Requirements

Please include the following information with your proposal:

Contact Information
Statement of Interest
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Documentation of Past Projects
Proposed Budget
Three (3) References

Questions

All questions related to this RFQ must be emailed to jjulian@tcr.com by 5:00pm on Friday, August 9, 2019. Responses to all questions will be distributed via email by August 16. Please send an email to the same address to sign up to receive notifications including updates and answers to inquiries.

UPDATE: Please view Q&A document here.

How to Apply

Please deliver submissions electronically on Café (callforentry.org) using the project’s unique URL by 5:00pm on Wednesday, September 18, 2019. Please review all materials and schedules carefully before submitting your qualifications. 

Incomplete submissions or late submissions will not be reviewed or considered.

Alameda Point Partners is not obligated to award funds solely to respondents of this RFQ and retains the right to re‐solicit qualifications.

Reservation of Rights by Alameda Point Partners

1. The issuance of this RFQ and the selected artist(s) pursuant to this RFQ are in no way a limitation of the discretion of Alameda Point Partners or any County or City board, commission, department, employee or official with respect to any review or approval required in connection with this RFQ or proposed artwork.

2. Alameda Point Partners’ selection of artwork is in no way deemed to be the final approval of any artwork proposed by artist(s).

3. The information in this RFQ is provided solely for the convenience of respondents.

4. Alameda Point Partners expressly reserves the right at any time to waive or correct any defect or technical error in any response or procedure, as part of the RFQ or any subsequent negotiation process; reject any or all responses, without indicating the reasons for such rejection; reissue a Request for Qualifications or Submissions; modify or suspend any and all aspects of the selection  procedure, the guidelines or proposed locations of artwork or the required responses, or the  processes indicated in this RFQ; request that respondents clarify, supplement or modify the information submitted; extend deadlines for accepting responses, or request amendments to responses after expiration of deadlines; negotiate with any, all or none of the respondents to this RFQ; make a selection based directly on the submissions, or negotiate further with one or more of the respondents; during negotiation, expand or contract the scope of artwork, or otherwise alter the public art concept in order to respond to new information, community or environmental issues; if at any time prior to the execution of binding agreements with the artist(s), Alameda Point Partners, in its sole discretion, determines that the selected artist(s) will be unable to proceed with a timely and feasible artwork installation in accordance with this RFQ, Alameda Point Partners may terminate negotiations.

5. The issuance of this RFQ does not obligate Alameda Point Partners to pay any costs whatsoever incurred by any respondent, including but not limited to costs incurred in connection with the preparation or presentation of submissions or proposals. Artist or artist teams responding to this RFQ do so at their own expense.

6. The issuance of this RFQ is only an invitation to submit qualifications and does not constitute an agreement by Alameda Point Partners that any contract will actually be entered into by Alameda Point Partners. This RFQ does not in any way limit the discretion of any City or County board, commission, employee or official with respect to any review or approval of any aspect of the selected proposals.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria