Call for Artists / Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 22-1002689

It is recommended that you read the entire RFQ, including the Legal Agreement section of the RFQ to have a full understanding of the requirements of the contracting process should you be selected as a finalist for this project. 

San Bernardino County Transit Authority (SBCTA) seeks to commission three (3) artists, or artist teams, to design and execute original public artwork that will be installed as part of the shelter design at selected stations along the new West Valley Connector Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line to be operated by Omnitrans.

SBCTA is responsible for cooperative regional transportation planning and furthering an efficient multi-modal system for San Bernardino County. The San Bernardino Valley will experience growing traffic congestion and one million more people by 2030. SBCTA and Omnitrans are working to improve mobility in the Valley with an enhanced, state-of-the-art bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The West Valley Connector BRT project runs west to east through Pomona, Montclair, Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga. Information on this project can be found at:  https://www.gosbcta.com/project/west-valley-connector-brt/

Certain shelters throughout the corridor at center and side stations will have chosen artwork installed as part of the shelter design. All stations with a shelter along the corridor will have one of the three selected artworks.  The selected original artwork will be used to create perforated metal panels or windscreens that will be incorporated into the standard shelter design of the alignment.

The six selected honorarium artists will prepare a preliminary design concept, which includes the following submission materials:

1.     Artist statement that includes an explanation of the theme and references of the design concept; and

2.     A minimum of two black and white sketches or renderings showing all dimensions of the proposed design.

The preliminary design concept must be completed and submitted by February 18, 2022.

The design must satisfy certain other requirements as necessary to incorporate the art into a perforated metal panel as part of the standard transit shelter design for the project. The additional design requirements will be provided to the Artist once selected.

The Artist also may be required to present the submission materials to the joint meeting of the art selection committee.

Selected Artist or Artist teams must be available and present for meetings with the project team staff.

The three (3) selected finalists will prepare a final design for the artwork. The finalists selected will prepare final design documents within given deadlines, review and approve design plans, and review and approve material samples provided by the shelter fabricator. The finalists will be expected to attend meetings and to work collaboratively with the design team for up to 18 months following selection. The details of the scope of work are as follows:

As requested by the SBCTA, the Artist shall provide and coordinate, with the applicable team, all services and materials related to the preparation of Final Design Documents for the following:

The Artist shall prepare designs for an artistically designed perforated wind screen panel substantially in accordance with the Artist’s preliminary submission to the art selection panel with the intent that the design will be fabricated and installed in one or more transit shelters for the project (“Artwork”).

The Artwork shall adhere to all applicable laws, rules, regulations and codes. In addition, the design requirements for the Artwork are as follows:

1.     Constructability as a perforated metal panel that will hold up to public use.

2.     Shall consider standard requirement of no more than 4” of open space in any part of the design to adhere with current safety requirements.

3.     Shall fit within the dimensions specified for the panel.

4.     Final design shall provide for 60% opacity per safety requirements.

5.     Final artwork design document shall be provided in either a PDF, vector or illustrator file as determined by project contractor.

The Artist shall not use images, symbols, logos, or photos owned by others, except without the prior written permission of SBCTA.

The Artist shall work with the design team to develop a final design and shall be available to meet with the design team. The Artist shall meet initially with project design team representatives to discuss comments from the artist selection committee to further refine the design concepts. At that meeting, the design team and Artist will review the design requirements for the Final Design Documents.  The Artist will also meet with the Project architect or other design team representative to confirm the format of Final Design documents that depict the artwork within the defined frame for the art panel.

The Artist shall respond in writing to comments from the art selection panel and any other entity that reviews the plans or printed samples. The Artist shall prepare and provide the Final Design Documents to SBCTA or its contractor, who will provide to the shelter fabricator to fabricate and install the Artwork. The parties will establish a mutually agreeable schedule for submission of the design documents.

The Final Design Documents shall be subject to review and approval by the project art consultant and Omnitrans.

The artwork shall be installed along with other improvements as part of the project and will be operated and maintained by Omnitrans or the local municipality in accordance with an Operations and Maintenance Agreement between Omnitrans and the local municipality.

The Artist shall attend meetings with Omnitrans and design team representatives from the project as reasonably necessary.

DELIVERABLES

The Final Design Documents deliverables to be prepared by Artist for this project shall include the following:

Phase I

Deliverables: Two design concepts in both a PDF and an Illustrator or appropriate “vector” file.

To be completed by: April 29, 2022

Phase II

Progress drawings of art panel that includes specific dimensions of the panel and perforated portions of the Artwork.

Artist statement corresponding with the Final Design that explains the artistic intent of the Artwork.

To be completed by: May 20, 2022

Phase III

Final Design Documents in a digital format. This shall include:

            Electronic file format of panel design

            Updated Artist Statement

            Photoshop image of design

Presentation materials of Final Design Documents and support materials for presentation to SBCTA and Omnitrans Board for final approval.

To be completed by: June 10, 2022

Phase IV

Written comments on the complete full-size printed sample of artwork substantially in accordance with the Final Design Documents prepared by the fabricator.

To be completed by: January 21, 2023

Phase V

Written comments on the complete 24” square sample panel prepared by the fabricator.

To be completed by: September 1, 2023

Schedule:

Applications are due December 3, 2021 5:00 p.m. PST. Any applications received after this deadline may be deemed as non-responsive. 

It is estimated that the six (6) artists selected to receive a Design Honorarium will be notified in writing by December 20, 2021. At that time, those artists will be given specific instructions and deadline for submission of their final design.

It is estimated that the three (3) finalists shall be selected and notified in writing by March 14, 2022. The finalists will enter into an agreement with SBCTA and Omnitrans.

The finalists will work with the design team periodically over a period of up to 18 months to implement the artwork design into the overall project design plans.

Application Requirements

To apply for this call, please submit the following items:

·        Resume (maximum 4 pages)

·        Professional references (minimum of two)

·        Letter of Interest (1‐2 pages), including an outline of your qualifications and relevant experience, interest in this project and a general approach to this project including why the art is applicable to an outdoor transit environment

·        6‐10 JPEG images of previous works

·        Annotated image list with descriptions, including title, date, location, materials, art budget, and a brief description (up to five sentences). For team application, please indicate the lead artist for each past project

·        If applying as a team, please describe previous collaborative work completed.

Eligibility Criteria

This RFQ is open to practicing, professional artists residing in the United States. Prior experience in public art is not required. Visual artists and those who may use text or prose combined with visual elements are encouraged to apply.

Application materials shall be submitted electronically via the CaFE (Call for Entries) system, a free online service to Artists interested in public art and exhibition opportunities in the United Sates.

Selection Process / Criteria:

Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel made up of one representative from each of the alignment cities (Pomona, Montclair, Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga), one representative from Omnitrans, the project architect representative, and project manager representative. The public art program consultant (Elwood and Associates) will serve in an advisory and administrative role and will not be a voting member.

Six (6) artists will be selected and asked to develop two preliminary design concepts for the project. These preliminary concepts will be reviewed by the same selection committee.  Three artists shall be selected as finalists.

The WVC Project team will receive the recommendations of the finalists and their designs for review and approval.

The selection committee will use the following criteria to select six (6) individual artists or artist teams.

·       Artistic merit (such as relevance to the community and development of the proposed idea), as evidenced by submitted digital images – 25%

·       Qualifications as evidenced by resume, letter of interest, references, professional recognition (awards, honors, exhibition record, etc.) – 25%

·       Demonstrated experience with projects that are community oriented – 25%

·       Familiarity with project area and reflection of local character, as demonstrated by the artist’s submission – 25%

The selection committee will use the following criteria to select the three (3) finalists:

·        Artistic merit of the proposal (such as relevance to the community and further development of the proposed idea) - 25%

·        The design proposal adds to the architectural design of the project – 25%

·        The design conveys a unique sensibility that is grounded in the history and aspirations of the region – 25%

·        Appropriateness of the proposal for the opportunity – 25%