Project Information

Bid Title

Beacon of Service: An Innovative Sculpture for Fire & EMS 19

Issuing Agency

City of Durham

Location

North Carolina

Published Date

May 18, 2026

Closing Date

Jun 18, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

26-1067

Original Source

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Inquiries

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Documents

Join to Access Full Details

Project Description

Bid Number:	26-1067
Bid Title:	Beacon of Service: An Innovative Sculpture for Fire & EMS 19
Category:	Requests for Proposals/Qualifications and Services
Status:	Open

Description: **** Pre-Submittal Conference date, time, via ZOOM:  Friday May 29, 2026, at 12:00 PM Zoom Meeting Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TofKkiWmSRaRjsxdQBLMUg **** RFI date, time, via EMAIL:  Thursday June 18, 2026, by 3:00 PM - Send to: Submittable (see RFI for the link) **** Publication Date/Time: 5/18/2026 9:00 AM Closing Date/Time: 6/18/2026 3:00 PM Contact Person: Stephanie Minor [email protected] Related Documents: Fire EMS 19 Public Art RFI_final for release_5-13-2026

Attachment Preview

@CreativeDurham

Arts@DurhamNC.Gov

DurhamNC.Gov/5528

Beacon of Service:

An Innovative Sculpture

for Fire & EMS 19

Request For Interest (RFI)

CALL FOR

ARTISTS

Call for Artists: Request for Interest (RFI)

Beacon of Service: An Innovative Sculpture for Fire & EMS 19

Date Issued: May 18, 2026

RFI Deadline to Apply: 3:00 p.m. ET, June 18, 2026

The City of Durham’s Cultural & Public Art Program (referred to as “City”) in partnership with the Durham

County Public Art Program is seeking an Artist, Artist Team, or Artist and Fabricator Team (referred to as

“Candidates”) with experience in creating site-specific public art installations for the new Fire and EMS Station

19, located on Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. This project is part of a broader initiative to

expand public safety facilities and enhance community engagement in the RTP area. The total budget for this

public art project is $255,000, encompassing all aspects of the project from design through installation.

The project seeks a signature artwork that communicates the critical, life-saving work of Fire & EMS personnel

and highlights the unseen networks of care, coordination, and vigilance that protect the community every day.

The selected Candidate should incorporate technology and may incorporate light, movement, form, dynamic,

responsive elements, or other methods to visualize service patterns, response journeys, or other metrics that

illustrate Fire & EMS operations over a set period, or as a dynamic representation of Fire & EMS activity.

Key project components may include:

• Interpretations of Fire & EMS service through contemporary, forward-thinking design, including kinetic,

data-responsive, or visually dynamic elements.

• Integration with the facility’s LEED Gold commitment.

The selected Artist(s) will work with the City, County, Fire & EMS staff, the design team, and construction team

to ensure a high-quality public artwork that enhances both the facility and the public realm. The selected

Artist(s) will be under contract throughout the design and construction phases of the new Fire & EMS Station

19, from 2026 through 2028.

1

Early site rendering of new Fire & EMS Station 19.

2

20. Project Manager and Contact with City; Questions about this RFI.................................................................. 4

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND NATURE OF RFI........................................................................................................ 4

30. Project Description ........................................................................................................................................... 4

31. Site Description ................................................................................................................................................ 5

32. Project Background .......................................................................................................................................... 5

33. Community Engagement.................................................................................................................................. 6

40. Scope of Work .................................................................................................................................................. 7

50. Project Budget and Compensation Amount .................................................................................................... 8

60. Definitions in this RFI: City, RFI, Proposal, Candidate, Contractor, Should ..................................................... 9

70. Contract ............................................................................................................................................................ 9

70.1 Interpretation and translation services ......................................................................................................... 9

100. Insurance Requirements of Selected Candidate(s) ...................................................................................... 10

110. Discretion of the City.................................................................................................................................... 10

SCHEDULE................................................................................................................................................................. 10

120. Proposed Schedule ....................................................................................................................................... 10

140. Deadline to Receive Submissions ................................................................................................................. 11

141. Concurrent Release Notice........................................................................................................................... 11

GETTING MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT AND RFI PROCESS ..................................................................... 11

150. Questions...................................................................................................................................................... 11

151. Pre-submittal Meeting ................................................................................................................................. 11

EVALUATION CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................................. 12

180. Evaluation Criteria ........................................................................................................................................ 12

190. Call for Artists/RFI Eligibility ......................................................................................................................... 13

200. Project Partners............................................................................................................................................ 13

240. RFI Submission RequirementsThe RFI submissions shall include the following: ......................................... 15

300. Candidate to Bear Expense; No Claims against City .................................................................................... 17

310. State Treasurer’s lists regarding Iran and Boycott of Israel ......................................................................... 17

320. Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act ....................................................................................... 17

330. Values of City of Durham regarding Treatment of Employees of Contractors ............................................ 17

Sample Artist Contract and Non-Collusion Affidavit................................................................................................ 18

3

20. Project Manager and Contact with City; Questions about this RFI

Direct questions and concerns to:

Att: Stephanie Minor

Cultural & Public Art Program

General Services Department

2011 Fay Street

Durham, NC 27704

(919) 560-4197, ext. 21243

stephanie.minor@durhamnc.gov

If you have concerns about this RFI that you believe are not being addressed by the project manager, please

contact:

Att: Rebecca Holmes

Cultural & Public Art Program Manager

General Services Department

2011 Fay Street

Durham, NC 27704

(919) 560-4197, ext. 21245

rebecca.holmes@durhamnc.gov

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AND NATURE OF RFI

30. Project Description

The City of Durham in partnership with Durham County is developing a new Fire and EMS Station in Research

Triangle Park, located on Davis Drive, south of NC-54. As part of this project, the City and County are

commissioning public art that will honor the dedication of first responders and enhance the public and staff

experience. This RFI seeks to identify Candidates with the vision and technical expertise to deliver site-specific,

durable, and impactful artwork that reflects the mission, readiness, and community trust embodied by Fire &

EMS personnel.

The goal of this public art project is to use technology to highlight Fire & EMS service and develop a signature

artwork that communicates the critical, life-saving work of Fire & EMS personnel through contemporary

approaches. Candidates may incorporate light, movement, form, technology, and/or data visualization to reveal

the unseen networks of care, coordination, and vigilance that sustain Fire & EMS operations. Opportunities may

include dynamic, responsive, kinetic, or data-driven installations that visualize metrics such as response

patterns, number of personnel on duty, and/or community impact.

The City and County seek to identify Candidates with demonstrated experience in large-scale public art and a

proven interest or track record in site-integrated design that employs technology, interactivity, or data-driven

elements to create engaging, adaptive, and dynamic public experiences.

The selected Candidate(s) will work to:

• engage Fire & EMS personnel, City & County staff, and community members through in-person or virtual

engagement sessions;

4

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

* Disclaimer: Government BidHub provides information on bids, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) solely for convenience and informational purposes. This site is not an official public notice board. For official details, responses, or inquiries, please contact the relevant government agency directly.