Bladensburg Bus Garage Public Art Project

Contact InformationWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) - Art in Transit ProgramContact Email: [email protected]

Requirement OverviewLocation Eligibility Type: NationalEligible Applicant Types: ArtistSubmission Limit: 1Media RequirementsImages | Min: 15, Max: 17Audio | Min: 0, Max: 0Video | Min: 0, Max: 3Total | Min: 15, Max: 20

Opportunity SummaryThe WMATA Art in Transit Program is inviting professional Artists/Artist-led Teams to submit their qualifications to create a site-specific artwork as part of the Phase 2 of the Bladensburg Bus Garage Reconstruction Project. The three-dimensional artwork, such as a sculpture or a functional artwork, will be located by the Bus Entrance along Bladensburg Rd NE near 28th Street NE, and will serve as a welcoming landmark. The total public art budget is $330,000. Submissions are due November 15, 2026.

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General InformationBACKGROUNDA. WMATA Art in Transit Program (AIT)AIT was created to provide artwork and performances at the Authority's transit facilities to enhance public spaces and provide high-quality arts experiences for transit customers and the public. AIT is committed to working with artists, other arts professionals, architects, engineers, community representatives, and jurisdictional arts councils to develop projects that reflect the spirit and vitality of the arts and communities in the Metro service area. As part of its mission, AIT:● Utilizes the Authority's transit environment as a place where customers and the public can enjoy the arts as a regular part of their daily lives;● Contributes to the region's reputation as a place where art is recognized, valued, and celebrated;● Encourages public-private partnerships to support art projects that may not be achieved independently;● Mitigates the impact of construction on surrounding communities by incorporating visual artwork into new transit projects;● Increases enthusiasm for, and support of, the Authority; and● Encourages ridership by deterring vandalism and increasing safety and security.For information about WMATA's Art in Transit Program, visit https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/art-in-transit/. PART 1 — REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) AND TWO-PHASE SELECTION PROCESSThe following is an RFQ for interested professional Artists/Artist-led Teams who wish to be considered for a procurement that will include a three-dimensional artwork, such as a sculpture or a functional artwork, as part of the Bladensburg Bus Garage Reconstruction project located along Bladensburg Rd NE near 28th Street NE as identified in this RFQ. Part 4 of this RFQ sets forth the Scope of Work governing the resulting contract.A. Two-Phase Selection ProcessThe selection and creation of the site-specific artwork will be procured using a Two-Phase Selection Process under a single solicitation covering both phases, referred to as Phase 1 and Phase 2.Phase 1 — QualificationsProfessional Artists/Artist-led Teams shall prepare and submit Qualifications in accordance with Part 5 of this RFQ. Submissions will be reviewed by an Art Selection Panel comprising art and design professionals and community representatives. The Art Selection Panel will select a maximum of five (5) Phase 1 finalists based on the evaluation criteria in Part 6.Phase 2 — Design ProposalsPhase 1 finalists will be invited to submit Phase 2 site-specific design proposals through CaFÉ, in accordance with the Scope of Work at Part 4 and the submittal requirements at Part 5. The Authority expects proposals to include all costs required to complete the project on or ahead of the schedule set forth in Part 7.Each Phase 1 finalist will receive a $3,500 stipend to prepare and submit a Phase 2 design proposal consistent with the design principles and Scope of Work in Part 4. Phase 2 proposals shall include a cost estimate not to exceed $330,000 for the entire project — including artist fee, design (up to two design revisions), engineering and architectural services, permits, fabrication, concrete base, lighting, shipping, travel, insurance, overhead, installation, public talk and a community engagement activity related to the public artwork. Phase 1 finalists shall also submit a project schedule for fabrication and installation, and evidence of experience sufficient to demonstrate the ability to successfully complete the project as proposed.The Art Selection Panel will rank each Phase 2 design proposal based on the evaluation criteria in Part 6.B. Contract AwardThe resulting contract will be a firm-fixed-price contract for the amount set forth in Part 9.All applicable WMATA General Provisions and Standard Terms and Conditions apply to the resulting contract, as set forth in standard-terms-and-conditions_ver_012026.pdf.The Authority's Office of Procurement and Materials (PRMT) will enter into negotiations with the top-ranked Artist/Artist-led Team to finalize the contract award. If PRMT is unable to reach agreement with the top-ranked team, negotiations will end and PRMT will begin negotiations with the next-ranked team.Each offeror shall disclose, as part of its Phase 1 Qualifications, any actual or potential organizational conflict of interest arising from its participation in this procurement, together with a proposed mitigation plan, if applicable, for the Contracting Officer's review.PART 2 — BLADENSBURG BUS GARAGE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTA. About the Bladensburg Bus GarageThe Bladensburg Bus Garage sits on 17.59 acres bounded by Bladensburg Road NE, 25th Place NE, Douglas Street NE, and the CSX railroad line. It directly borders or is adjacent to the neighborhoods of Woodridge (to the east/northeast), Langdon (to the north/northwest), and Gateway (to the south/southwest).First built in 1962, the current facility is one of Metro's oldest assets and provides much-needed transportation services to Metro customers on routes throughout the entire District of Columbia and parts of Maryla