Thrive Allen County seeks a proposal from consultants with proven experience in historic preservation to prepare a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the Kress Building in Iola, Kansas.

RFP Issuance: 02/02/2022
Deadline for Response: 03/04/2022

Questions regarding the RFP should be directed to Kate Schroeder, Director of Communications, at 620-365-8128 or kate@thriveallencounty.org.

Project Description

Thrive Allen County, a community-based rural health and wellness nonprofit, seeks a qualified preservation consultant to prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the historic building housing the organization’s office. Thrive Allen County, Inc. is the owner and occupant of the Kress Building in downtown Iola, Kansas. Thrive Allen County hopes to place the property on the Register in order to more effectively preserve the historic character of this building and our community.

Thrive Allen County is the recipient of a Rural Preservation Grant from the Kansas Historical Society. This grant will support repairs to the interior brickwork on the building. Nomination to the National Register is a requirement of this grant, and a major portion of the consultant fee will come from grant funds. The budget for this project is $7,500.
The Kress Building at 9 S Jefferson in Iola, Kansas has been determined eligible for the National Register for its architectural design and its association with the Kress company in Iola. A Preliminary Site Information Questionnaire (PSIQ) was created by Thrive Allen County and approved by the Kansas Historical Society as part of the grant application process. The PSIQ and related materials will be made available to the selected consultant.

Scope of Work

The consultant will develop a work plan and coordinate with Thrive Allen County to prepare a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The necessary activities will include:

• Conduct necessary historical and architectural research on the Kress Building
• Gather current and archival photographs of the Kress Building
• Prepare the standard National Register of Historic Places Registration Form according to the guidance in National Register Bulletins 15 and 16a, including required photographs, maps, and other nomination attachments.
• Provide a high quality of historical and architectural research and writing for the nomination form
• Submit draft nomination, in Microsoft Word format digitally to Kansas State Historic Preservation Office in Microsoft Word format. Submit photographs and other attachments digitally with the draft nomination.
• Edit and revise nomination as needed based on SHPO comments
• Provide copies of research and nomination form to Thrive Allen County for organization’s records
• Ensure that all work done by the consultant follows the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be sent to Kate Schroeder, Director of Communications, Thrive Allen County. Submissions must be received no later than 5 PM on 03/04/2022. Incomplete proposals will not be considered. Submissions may be sent electronically to kate@thriveallencounty.org or by mail to:

Thrive Allen County
9 S Jefferson
Iola, KS 66749

Submissions should include:

• A brief overview of company, length of time in business, and location of office(s), including contact person for this RFP
• Describe company’s experience in historic preservation, including ability to meet completion schedules and performance standards
• Detail which individuals will be assigned to this project and in what capacity, including qualifications such as experience and education. Consultants must meet the appropriate Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards (48 FR 44716)
• Include name, address and telephone number of 3 (three) project references of similar projects completed. Give a brief description of each project scope including size and nature of work
• Work schedule including estimated time frame to complete the project, detailed by milestone or activity. Target dates completion of draft and final nominations should be included, allowing necessary review time by SHPO.
• Not-to-exceed cost proposal, including all personnel and benefit costs, travel expenses, printing costs, and all other costs associated with the work

Selection Criteria

One applicant will be selected using the following criteria:

• General quality and responsiveness of proposal
• Qualifications of key personnel—must meet the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards: https://www.nps.gov/articles/sec-standards-prof-quals.htm
• Documented past performance conducting successful nomination processes
• Cost of services

Terms and Conditions

• Proposals shall be valid for 30 (thirty) days from the proposal due date. Thrive Allen County reserves the right to request an extension of time if needed.
• Thrive Allen County reserves the right to accept or reject, in part or in whole, any or all proposals for any reason, to cancel in part or in whole the Request for Proposal, to re-advertise for new proposals, and to waive minor irregularities and informalities.
• All proposals must be signed by a duly authorized individual.
• All submitted materials become the property of Thrive Allen County.
• No applicant will be compensated for submission of a proposal or for any times or services provided as part of the proposal, evaluation or negotiation process.
• The subject project of this request is receiving Federal funds from the National Park Service. Regulations of the U. S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental Federally Assisted Programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Director, Equal Opportunity Program, U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20240.

Questions regarding the RFP should be directed to Kate Schroeder, Director of Communications, Thrive Allen County at 620-365-8128 or kate@thriveallencounty.org.