What the buyer needs
AI summaryThe City of Pittsburgh Office of Management and Budget, on behalf of the Department of City Planning, seeks an artist or artist team to realize a public art project in Lewis Park within the Hazelwood neighborhood. The selected artist must conduct community and project planning sessions, design a durable concept reflecting community cares, present designs to reviewers and the public, secure required approvals and support letters, manage fabrication and site installation by the deadline, and provide a lifetime maintenance plan. Eligibility requires onshore USA organizations. Applicants must submit proposals electronically via ProcureNow by 3:00 pm on December 21, 2026. The city will hold a non-mandatory pre-proposal conference on November 17, 2026, at 11:00 am, and written questions are due December 14, 2026, by 5:00 pm. Proposals will be evaluated on previous work samples, experience, narrative, and proposed cost breakdown. The total allocated project budget is $90,000, with up to 20% permitted as an artist fee and the remaining 80% dedicated to itemized project expenses.
Scope of work
- Engage in planning including internal project design sessions, community planning meetings, and outside engagement
- Create a feasible, constructable artwork concept designed to last at least ten years without extensive upkeep
- Create and execute a plan for fabrication and installation of the artwork within the project budget
- Present detailed proposals of concept and design at various stages to city reviewers and the community
- Obtain approval from Public Art and Civic Design Commission and required department letters of support
- Manage site prep, fabrication, and installation of the approved artwork by the project deadline
- Draft a maintenance plan for the life of the artwork, including material specifications and VARAV waiver
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Artistic background and portfolio samples | 30 (30% of Total) |
| Experience in the successful completion of previous public art project(s) | 20 (20% of Total) |
| Demonstrated success in working collaboratively with community groups, non-profits, and/or municipalities | 20 (20% of Total) |
| Proposed cost breakdown based on the scope of work and budget | 20 (20% of Total) |
| MWDBE/VOSB Good Faith Effort | 10 (10% of Total) |
Minimum qualifications
- Experience coordinating all aspects of implementing at least one public artwork of significant impact and/or scale
- Artist teams must designate a lead artist who has completed at least one prior artwork of significant impact and/or scale
- Willingness to solicit feedback and participate in on-site meetings in Pittsburgh throughout the process
Documents to include with your response
- Cover letter with statement of interest
- Artist Approach narrative, methodology, proposed work schedule, and team structure
- Resume or CV of relevant experience
- Work Samples (up to 10 images or video links with title, location, completion date, budget, and collaborators)
- Three professional references
- Cost Proposal and rate schedule
- MWDBEVOSB Commitment Form and solicitation correspondence
- Pre-Award Good Faith Checklist / EORC Participation Form
- Vendor Contact Sheet and Vendor Registration Form
- W-9
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via the agency portal
- Instructions
- Responses must be submitted electronically to https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa in MS Word or PDF format, with each numbered section uploaded as a separate file.