HomeMy WebLinkAboutComplete RFQ Document WASHINGTON , USA
Request for Qualifications
Renton Utility Box Wrap Program
Introduction
The City of Renton is seeking one or more artists to create designs for wrapping utility
boxes with art. There is funding currently available for wrapping boxes in three
neighborhoods- Sunset, Benson Hill, and Downtown - but the City hopes to have additional
funding available in the future for other opportunities. The City of Renton plans to
commission the artwork from one or more artists working in the community. The
opportunity is open to visual artists working in any medium, provided the design can be
digitally reproduced as a vinyl wrap.
Program Overview
You may have noticed the utility boxes wrapped with art in Downtown Renton. The City
embarked on this place-making endeavor as part of a broader effort to beautify Downtown
Renton streets in 2015. We are now working to wrap more utility boxes with art in additional
neighborhoods in our community. There is currently funding available to cover five utility
boxes with art: three in the Sunset Area and one each in Benson Hill and Downtown Renton.
More utility boxes will be added in Renton neighborhoods as additional funds are available.
The designs will be printed professionally on heavy-duty vinyl wrap and affixed to utility
boxes for everyone to enjoy.
In the Sunset Area, funding will be provided in part through a Port of Seattle economic
development grant as part of the "Sunset Shines" marketing campaign to support public art
installations and tactical placemaking activities. The City believes in supporting local artists,
and in the power of placemaking as a tool for community and economic development.
City of Renton Utility Box Wrap Program - RFQ Feb 13 2018
What are utility boxes and �
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signal boxes, are the gray metal ____. ; p
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boxes can serve as canvases for Utility box with vinyl wrapping in Downtown Renton(City of Renton)
highlighting the work of local artists and contributing to the character of the neighborhood.
The City has had success with the wrapping utility boxes in Downtown Renton and is eager
to further develop this place-making strategy in our community.
Request for Qualifications
Inquiries
All inquiries related to this request are to be directed to:
Anthony Marris Swann
Department of Community and Economic Development
Renton City Hall, 6th Floor
1055 S Grady Way, Renton WA 98057
Telephone: (425) 425-7270
Email: amarris-swann�rentonwa.aov.
Closing Date
Complete submissions must be received by Friday, March 16 at 12:00 noon to be
considered for this program. Submissions should be clearly marked with the name and
address of the respondent and the program title.
Late responses may be permitted at the sole discretion of the City depending on the quality
of the submissions and the volume of the initial response. However, respondents are
strongly encouraged to submit materials before the posted deadline.
City of Renton Utility Box Wrap Program - RFQ Feb 13 2018
Eligibility
This request is open to any and all artists in the greater Seattle area, but artists living or
working in Renton are especially encouraged to submit their qualifications. This program is
not intended to support advertising or other signage.
Notification
The selected artist(s) will be notified as the City moves forward with the utility boxes in the
three neighborhoods identified above, and for any additional utility boxes as funding
becomes available. The City's intention is to begin with the utility boxes in the Sunset
neighborhood, followed by Downtown Renton, the Benson Hill, and potentially additional
neighborhoods.
Services
The City intends to select and commission one or more artists to create the utility box art
for the program. The selected artist(s) will need to submit a design for each utility box
commissioned, preferably in pdf format. The City will then provide the design(s) to a
contractor for fabrication and installation. Depending upon available funding and the
number of utility box art wrap designs commissioned, the City anticipates compensating
the artist(s) approximately $500 for each design.
Because this program involves several neighborhoods and is intended to be ongoing, the
City has not chosen a specific theme to inform the work. The final designs, however, should
be reflective of the identity of the community where the box is located. The selected
artist(s) may be asked to engage with the community to determine what kind of design
would best reflect the identity of the community. Additional compensation will be provided
if community engagement efforts are required. The City may include additional potential art
and/or placemaking elements as part of the community engagement, depending upon
available funding.
City of Renton Utility Box Wrap Program - RFQ Feb 13 2018
Evaluation Criteria and Selection
The City will consider the following criteria in selecting an artist(s) for this program:
• Artistic quality as exemplified in previous work
• Ability to think and work in a scale appropriate for outdoor public art
• Ability to convey the identity of a community through art
• Ability to relate to multiple audiences (pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, drivers)
• Ability and willingness to create the utility box art wrap design(s) and any related
community engagement within the City's available funding for each project.
The City reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to select one or more artists from the
respondents for the utility box art wrap program, or to accept no artists and to solicit
additional respondents.
Submission Requirements
To submit designs for consideration, please include in your application:
• a cover sheet with your name, mailing address, home and/or cell phone number,
email address and website (if applicable)
• A resume that includes exhibition history, past projects, and/or a brief description of
cooperative, community-based projects (do not exceed two pages)*
• A minimum of three examples of previous work including a brief description
• A statement of interest
Submit your application via email, mail, or hand-delivery to:
ATTN: Utility Box Wrap Program
City of Renton
Department of Community and Economic Development
Renton City Hall - 6t" Floor
1055 S Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
*If you are a student,a letter of recommendation from an art teacher may be accepted in lieu of a resume
City of Renton Utility Box Wrap Program - RFQ Feb 13 2018
Conflict of Interest
The City reserves the right to disqualify a respondent from the Utility Art Wrap Program or
for a specific utility box art wrap project if the City believes that the respondent has a
potential or apparent conflict of interest.
Terms and Conditions
All images and rights relating to them, including copyright and ownership rights, will remain
the sole and exclusive property of the artist. An agreement will provide the City of Renton
with the right to reproduce, publicly display, and distribute the images only for the terms as
agreed upon by both parties. Images used for any purpose not directly related outside of
those terms must be with the express permission of the artist.
The parties agree that the artist is an independent contractor and that the artist shall not be
deemed to be an employee of the City of Renton. No agency, partnership, joint venture, or
employee-employer relationship is intended or created by this agreement. Neither party is
authorized to act as agent or bind the other party except as expressly stated. The artist and
deliverables prepared by the artist shall not be deemed a work for hire as defined under
Copyright Law.
City of Renton Utility Box Wrap Program - RFQ Feb 13 2018