Historic Design Guidelines Update Service

The City of Portsmouth, Virginia, is seeking a vendor to update the historic design standards and guidelines for its five predominantly residential historic districts. The agency needs to ensure these guidelines provide clear, understandable, and detailed design standards and review criteria for property owners, staff, and agency members. This update aims to protect the historical character of each district while assisting property owners in planning projects and understanding acceptable materials and design concepts. The selected vendor will evaluate the existing guidelines and administrative procedures to identify extraneous sections and recommend revisions. These revisions must ensure compatibility with the newly updated Zoning Ordinance, confirm the clarity and ease of use of the guidelines, and complement the existing design and character of the districts. Additionally, the vendor will evaluate existing language that implies rigidity and provide alternative language recommendations to ensure users understand the purpose of flexible guidelines. The agency requires all work to be performed offsite by vendors located within the United States. The contract period will run for one year, and the agency is currently looking for proposals to determine the budget. Bidders must submit all questions regarding this opportunity no later than May 29, 2026.