Architectural and Engineering Design Services - Aquatics Center / Maintenance Building

September 7, 2026
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
RFP 26-012
The City of Cartersville is soliciting competitive sealed proposals from qualified design professionals to provide
Architectural and Engineering Design Services for a new Aquatics Center Project and potential Maintenance
Building.
Proposals must be returned in a sealed container marked on the outside with the Request for Proposal number 26-
012 and Company Name. Proposals will be received until 3:00 P.M. local time on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at
the Cartersville Parks & Recreation Department 100 Pine Grove Road, Cartersville, GA 30120. Any proposal
received after this date and time will not be accepted. Proposals will be publicly opened and only names of
submitting firms will be read at 3:00 P.M. Proposals are legal and binding upon the bidder when submitted. One
unbound original, five (5) bound copies without FEE PROPOSAL should be submitted and one form of
electronic media in Adobe PDF format should be submitted.
The FEE PROPOSAL should be in a separate sealed envelope.
Questions regarding proposals should be directed to David Archer, Jr. at darcherjr@cartersvillega.gov no later than
5:00 P.M. on September 24, 2026.
Successful design professional firm will be required to meet insurance requirements. The Insurance Company should
be authorized to do business in Georgia by the Georgia Insurance Department and must have an A.M. Best rating of
A or better.
The written proposals supersede any verbal or written prior communications between the parties.
Selection criteria are outlined in the request for proposal documents. The City of Cartersville reserves the right to
reject any or all proposals to waive technicalities, and to make an award deemed in its best interest.
We look forward to your proposal and appreciate your interest in the City of Cartersville.
My regards,
David G. Archer, Jr., Director
Cartersville Parks & Recreation Department
100 Pine Grove Road
Cartersville, GA 30120

RFP 26-012
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Professional Design Services
The City of Cartersville Georgia (the "Owner") is seeking Requests for Proposals (RFP) from firms
interested in providing professional design services for a new Aquatics Center and potential
Maintenance Building in Cartersville, GA. All respondents to this Request for Proposal are subject to
instructions and additional terms and conditions communicated in this document. The City reserves
the right to reject any or all request for proposals, and to waive technicalities and informalities at the
discretion of Owner.
1. GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION
The City of Cartersville is seeking professional architectural and design services for the planning,
programming, design, and development of a new comprehensive Aquatics Center and potential
Maintenance Building to be located at 1155 Douthit Ferry Road, Cartersville, Georgia 30120. The
project site is identified in Exhibit C of this Request for Proposal.
The proposed Aquatics Center is anticipated to contain approximately 51,000-52,000 square feet and
will be designed as a comprehensive facility capable of supporting competitive swimming, aquatic
programming, therapeutic and recreational aquatic activities, spectator events, and related community
uses. The project shall incorporate and connect with the City's existing Senior Aquatics Center,
creating a unified aquatic complex with a cohesive architectural character, efficient circulation, and
shared public access.
The anticipated project scope and facility program include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following:
Competition Pool
* One (1) 50-meter competition pool capable of supporting 25-yard and 50-meter competitive
configurations, including appropriate bulkheads, lane configurations, timing equipment, starting
platforms, and other competition requirements.
* Provide approximately 8 to 10 feet of pool deck space around the competition pool, with
particular consideration given to adequate space for swim teams, coaches, officials, equipment, and
meet operations.
Warm-Up / Therapeutic Pool
* One (1) 25-meter warm-up/therapeutic pool.
* The pool shall support warm-up and cool-down activities associated with competitive events as
well as therapeutic, instructional, fitness, and other programmed aquatic uses.
* Appropriate accessibility, water-entry options, deck space, and support equipment shall be
considered as part of the design.
Locker Rooms and Changing Facilities
* Separate men's and women's locker rooms appropriately sized to support the anticipated facility
capacity and aquatic programming.
* Locker rooms shall include toilets, lavatories/sinks, showers, changing areas, lockers, benches,
and other appropriate amenities. Design shall incorporate accessibility and privacy considerations
consistent with applicable codes and contemporary aquatic facility standards.
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Public Restrooms
* Public restroom facilities separate from the primary locker room areas.
* Facilities shall include appropriate men's, women's, and unisex/family restroom
accommodations. Restrooms shall be conveniently located to serve spectators, visitors, program
participants, and other facility users.
Spectator Seating
* Permanent and/or appropriately designed spectator bleacher seating capable of accommodating
approximately 500-700 spectators.
* Seating design shall provide appropriate sightlines to the competition pool and consider
accessibility, circulation, ingress/egress, crowd management, and separation of spectator and athlete
circulation.
Timing / Sound Room
* A dedicated timing and sound room to support competitive events and facility operations.
* The space shall be positioned to provide appropriate visibility of the competition pool and
accommodate timing, scoring, public-address, sound, communications, and other meet-management
equipment.
Classrooms / Multipurpose Instructional Space
* Three (3) classrooms designed to support aquatics instruction, training, meetings, certifications,
staff development, community programming, and related activities.
* Each classroom shall be equipped or designed to accommodate whiteboards, ceiling-mounted or
otherwise appropriately located projectors, and drop-down projection screens. Appropriate
technology, electrical, data, lighting, acoustical, and storage needs shall be incorporated into the
classroom design.
Administrative Offices
* One (1) Aquatics Coordinator's office.
* Three (3) Aquatics Programmer offices.
* Offices shall be designed to accommodate appropriate furnishings, technology, storage, and wall-
mounted television/display screens. Administrative spaces should be positioned to facilitate effective
facility management, staff communication, and appropriate oversight of facility activities.
Concession Area
* A dedicated concession stand designed to serve spectators and participants during competitive
events, programs, and other activities.
* The concession area shall incorporate appropriate service counters, equipment, utilities, storage,
food preparation/service areas, and other features necessary for efficient operation and compliance
with applicable codes and health requirements.
* Main Entrance, Grand Foyer and Check-In
Existing Senior Aquatics Center
The new Aquatics Center shall be physically and functionally integrated with the City's existing
Senior Aquatics Center.
* The design shall establish a single, prominent, grand foyer/main entrance serving the overall
aquatic complex and providing a clear and welcoming point of arrival.
* The foyer shall incorporate a centralized one-stop check-in/customer service counter capable of
efficiently serving users of both the new Aquatics Center and existing Senior Aquatics Center.
* The entrance and foyer design shall consider customer service, access control, queuing,
wayfinding, security, visitor circulation, and efficient movement to the various components of the
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RFP 26-012
aquatic complex. The architectural design should create a visually cohesive relationship between the
existing facility and new construction so that the completed complex functions and presents itself as a
unified municipal aquatic facility.
Facility-Wide Design Considerations
* The architectural team shall consider all necessary support, operational, mechanical, electrical,
plumbing, structural, life-safety, technology, storage, custodial, pool-equipment, chemical-storage,
and building-service spaces required for a modern comprehensive aquatic facility.
* Particular attention shall be given to indoor air quality, humidity control, pool dehumidification,
corrosion resistance, acoustics, energy efficiency, water conservation, durability, and long-term
maintenance, recognizing the specialized environmental demands of an indoor aquatic facility.
* The facility shall be designed to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local building
codes, accessibility requirements, health and safety regulations, and other applicable standards.
* Site planning shall address pedestrian and vehicular circulation, accessibility, parking, emergency
and service access, utilities, drainage, landscaping, signage, exterior lighting, and appropriate
integration with existing facilities and site improvements. The overall design shall emphasize
functionality, durability, operational efficiency, accessibility, safety, energy efficiency, ease of
maintenance, and an attractive civic architectural character appropriate for a significant City of
Cartersville public recreational facility.
The above program represents the City's current anticipated facility requirements for the aquatics
center. The selected architectural team will be expected to work collaboratively with the City of
Cartersville to validate and refine the program, space requirements, adjacencies, circulation patterns,
operational needs, and overall project scope during the programming and schematic design phases.
The City anticipates that the final design will provide a high-quality, efficient, durable, and flexible
aquatic facility capable of meeting the community's recreational and competitive aquatic needs for
many years.
Potential Maintenance Building
The Owner is evaluating the potential inclusion of a separate maintenance/storage building as part of
the overall project. Architectural services may be needed for the design of a new 12,000 square foot
Maintenance Building. The building will include two offices, two bathrooms, a shower, space for a
washer and dryer, a conference area, and a kitchen, along with five vehicle bays and an accessible loft
for storage. The building will be surrounded by a 300' x 240' fenced and concreted area, with fencing
and a shrubbery buffer. The project will also include concrete bins for storage of materials.
Project Delivery Method
The delivery method for this Project will be Construction Manager at-Risk (CM), and, as a minimum,
will employ the services of a Construction Manager to be bid separately by the Owner in addition to
the services of the Design Professional.
Project Budget
The Owner currently anticipates a construction budget of approximately $30 million to $35 million
for the Aquatics Center and associated site improvements. This amount is a preliminary estimate and
may be adjusted by the Owner based upon final programming, design development, market
conditions, available funding, and other project requirements. Respondents shall identify any
assumptions regarding the construction budget used in developing their approach and fee proposal.
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RFP 26-012
Project Schedule
The Design Professional's services are anticipated to commence by Fall 2026 with construction
documents completed and permitted by late summer 2027. The desire is to have the facility open by
summer of 2028. The anticipated schedule is subject to refinement with the selected team, Owner and
CM.
2. DESIGN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
The Owner is seeking the services of an architectural/engineering firm (the "Design Professional" or
"Firm") to provide all design services, including the development of plans and specifications. The
Design Professional will provide complete programming, concept, schematic, design development,
and construction documents. The successful Design Professional will contract with the Owner in a
timely manner.
Scope of Work
It is anticipated that the Agreement between the Owner and the selected Firm will contain the following
scope of work:
1. Serve as the Owner's professional architectural consultant in all phases of the Project described in
the Agreement, and assist the Owner by developing the architectural design space program for the
Project after which the Firm will describe the major functional elements, space requirements and
relationships between the elements, requirements within each space (environmental, acoustical,
lighting, electrical, communications, technology, cabinetry, security, etc.), site development
requirements, code requirements, aesthetic requirements and other special considerations.
2. Enter into an Agreement with the Owner substantially in the form of a standard AIA Document.
The Basic Services shall consist of architectural design services, structural engineering, mechanical
engineering (including HVAC and plumbing), electrical engineering, fire protection engineering,
physical and electronic security systems, audio/visual/acoustics engineering, interior design,
furniture, furnishings and equipment services, civil engineering, landscape architecture, and any
other services included in the Agreement as part of Basic Services. The Design Professional shall
provide commissioning coordination and support as part of Basic Services for the Project. The
Design Professional shall incorporate commissioning requirements into the construction
documents and coordinate with the Owner, Construction Manager, commissioning provider,
contractors, and applicable consultants throughout the design, construction, testing, and closeout
phases.
3. The programming efforts of the Firm will include, but not be limited to, reviewing existing site
conditions, interviewing key stakeholders, attending and facilitating meetings and taking other
actions as necessary to establish the scope of the Project as dictated by the stakeholders' needs.
4. Provide a preliminary evaluation of the developed program and the Project budget requirements,
each in terms of the other, and review with the Owner.
5. Accept that the Owner will procure the services of a Construction Manager-at-Risk for the
construction phase of the work. They will be contracted to work diligently with the selected Firm
to provide costing feedback, constructability feedback, schedule feedback and Bid Package
assistance throughout the entire design/preconstruction phase of the Project typical with a
Construction Manager-at-Risk procurement process.
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RFP 26-012
Once a contract is executed between the Owner and the successful Firm, the successful proposer will be
required to provide the services as required by this RFQ by the members of the proposed project team, including
any and all consultants. The Owner must first approve any change in or substitution of project team members,
including any consultant, in writing.
The successful proposer will provide full architectural and engineering services including, but not limited to:
Full Architectural Programming
o
Conceptual Design
o
Schematic Design
o
Design Development Documents
o
Construction Documents
o
Construction Administration
o
Interior Design
o
Furniture, Fixture and Equipment Layout, Specification and Selection
o
Material Finish Boards
o
Signage/Wayfinding/Graphics
o
Civil Engineering
o
Parking/Traffic Design
o
Landscape and Irrigation Design
o
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection and Communication Systems Design
o
Structural Design
o
Acoustical Design
o
Audio/Visual/IT Design
o
Code Review and Compliance
o
Permitting through Approval from all Authorities Having Jurisdiction
o
Regular coordination with the Construction Professional during all phases of work
o
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
o
Coordination with consultants hired by Owner
o
Other requirements as per the Design Professional's contract
o
Owner will provide the following services through third party consultants:
Surveying - topography, location of structures/site utilities/trees, construction limits
o
Geotechnical Evaluation - subsurface investigations
o
Special Inspections and Material Testing
o
I. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
The following Schedule of Events represents the Owner's best estimate of the schedule that will
be followed. All times indicated are Eastern Standard Time. The Owner reserves the right to
adjust the schedule as the Owner deems necessary.
a. Owner issues RFP 9/4/2026 --------
b. Deadline for questions about the RFP 9/24/2026 5:00 PM
c. Owner provides responses to questions from interested firms 9/29/2026 --------
d. Deadline for submission of RFP and Fee Proposals 10/8/2026 3:00 PM
e. Interviews, if required TBA TBA
f. Selection Committee Recommends Firm to City Council TBA ---------
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RFP 26-012
II. SELECTION PROCESS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA
The Owner will receive and evaluate RFP and Fee Proposals to determine the firm that is most
advantageous to the Owner. Selection of the Design Professional may be a multi-step process -
an evaluation of RFPs, an interview and fee negotiations.
Step I - Qualifications/Fee Proposal Review, is initiated with this RFP, which is issued for the
purpose of acquiring statements of qualifications from prospective Design Professional firms. A
selection of finalist Firm(s) will be made by a Selection Team consisting of representatives of the
Project Stakeholders and the criteria for evaluation of the RFP are as follows:
0-10 Points: Stability of the firm, including the Firm's corporate history, growth, resources,
form of ownership, litigation history, financials, etc.
0-25 Points: Relevant Aquatic Facility Experience - demonstrated experience designing
comparable aquatic facilities, particularly indoor natatoriums, competition pools,
50-meter pools, aquatic mechanical systems, and facilities of similar size,
complexity and budget.
0-20 Points: Firm's relevant project experience and qualifications, including the demonstrated
ability of Firm in effective design of facilities comparable in complexity, size,
and function, for Owners such as the City of Cartersville and other similarly-
structured organizations. This includes relevant experience and qualifications of
the principal Design Professional(s) and lead staff, and evidence of relevant
competencies for this project.
0-15 Points: Qualifications of Proposed Key Personnel - qualifications, experience,
availability, and demonstrated capabilities of the proposed project manager, lead
architect, aquatic specialist, engineers, and other key personnel.
0-10 Points: CMAR/Preconstruction Experience - demonstrated experience working
successfully with Construction Manager-at-Risk teams, including estimating,
constructability review, value engineering, scheduling, GMP development, and
preconstruction coordination.
0 - 10 Points: Project Approach, Cost and Schedule Management - Quality and completeness of
the proposed approach to programming, stakeholder coordination, design, cost
control, schedule management, permitting, and coordination with the Owner and
Construction Manager.
0 - 5 Points: QA/QC, Risk Management and Specialized Expertise - strength of the firm's
quality assurance/quality control procedures, identification and mitigation of
project risks, and specialized expertise relevant to aquatic facilities, including
dehumidification, corrosion control, acoustics, energy efficiency, and lifecycle
costs.
0 - 5 Points: Availability and Responsiveness of Project Team - demonstrated ability of the
proposed team to provide timely, accessible, and consistent services throughout
design, permitting, construction administration, and project closeout.
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RFP 26-012
During the first phase of the evaluation, the Evaluation Team will have access to all proposal
materials except separately sealed Pricing. Proposals will initially be scored based on the
technical criteria. The Selection Committee will shortlist the highest scoring Firms for interviews,
with the number of firms shortlisted at the discretion of the Selection Committee. Following
interviews, the Selection Committee will rank the Firms interviewed to determine the highest-
ranking Firm. Once the highest-ranking firm is determined, the Owner will open the Fee
Proposal. The Owner reserves the right to negotiate price and scope of work with the highest-
ranking Firm in an attempt to reach agreement. If negotiations with the highest-ranking Firm are
unsuccessful, the Owner may then negotiate with the second highest ranking Firm and so on until
a satisfactory agreement has been reached.
III. SUBMITTAL OF QUESTIONS AND REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION
Questions about any aspect of the RFP, or the project, shall be submitted in writing via email to:
David G. Archer, Jr. at darcherjr@cartersvillega.gov . The deadlines for submission of questions
relating to the RFP are the times and dates shown in the (Schedule of Events-Section II). From the
issue date of this solicitation until a successful firm is selected and the selection is announced,
respondents shall not communicate regarding this solicitation with City Council members, City
staff, selection committee members, project stakeholders, or other individuals involved in the
evaluation or selection process, except through the designated procurement contact identified in
this RFP.
IV. SUBMITTAL OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Proposals must be returned in a sealed container marked on the outside with the Request for
Proposal #26-012 and Company Name. Proposals will be received until 3:00 P.M. local time on
Thursday, October 8, 2026 at the Cartersville Parks & Recreation Department, 100 Pine Grove
Road, Cartersville, GA 30120. Any proposal received after this date and time will not be
accepted. Proposals will be publicly opened and only names of submitting Firms will be read at
3:00 P.M. Proposals are legal and binding upon the bidder when submitted. One unbound
original, five (5) bound copies without FEE PROPOSAL should be submitted and one form
of electronic media in Adobe PDF format should be submitted. One sealed envelope with
the fee proposal enclosed should be submitted.
All expenses for preparing and submitting responses are the sole cost of the party submitting the
response. The Owner is not obligated to any party to reimburse such expenses. All submittals
upon receipt become the property of the Owner. Labeling information provided in submittals such
as "proprietary", "confidential", or any other designated of restricted use will not protect the
information from public view. Subject to the provisions of the Georgia Open Records Act the
details of the proposal documents will remain confidential until final award.
V. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND FEE PROPOSALS
Submittals must be prepared in a manner that when printed would typically fit on standard (8 12"
x 11") paper. Responses are limited to using a minimum of an 11-point font. (The entire
response shall not exceed 50 pages. One page cover letter and tabs do not count. All other
pages count, no exceptions.) Emphasis should be on completeness, relevance, and clarity of
content. To expedite the review of submittals, it is essential that respondents follow the format
and instructions outlined below. Each RFP shall be prepared simply and economically, providing
straightforward, concise delineation of respondent's capabilities. The content of all Request for
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RFP 26-012
Proposals must be categorized and numbered, as outlined below, and responsive to all requested
information:
A. Description and Resources of Firm
A1 Provide basic company information: Company name, address, name of primary contact,
telephone number, fax number, E-mail address, and company website (if available). If
the firm has multiple offices; the qualification statement shall include information about
the parent company and branch office separately. Identify office from which project will
be managed and this office's proximity to the project site. Provide ownership, including
state of residency or incorporation, and number of years in business. Is the offeror a sole
proprietorship, partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), or other
structure?
A2 Briefly describe the history and growth of your firm(s). Provide general information
about the firm's personnel resources; including disciplines, number of employees,
locations, and staffing of offices.
A3 Has the firm been involved in any litigation in the past five (5) years? Describe your
experience with litigation with Owners, Architects or Consulting firms and/or
Contractors. List any active or pending litigation and explain. List any claims against
your firm or against Owners where your firm is named.
A4 Provide the name of the insurance carrier, types of coverage and deductible amounts per
claim.
A5 Describe the firm's financial capacity and resources available to successfully perform the
services. Provide annual gross revenue for the previous three fiscal years and identify any
material financial circumstances that could affect the firm's ability to perform the
contract.
A6 Identify any litigation, claims, arbitrations, or proceedings involving the firm during the
past five years that relate to professional services, construction projects, professional
negligence, breach of contract, or similar matters. For each matter, briefly describe the
nature and current status.
A7 Provide proof of the Firm's Registration with the state of Georgia.
A8 Complete City's E-Verify Form (Exhibit A).
B. Experience and Qualifications
B1 Provide an organizational chart for the project team. Please designate all specific
individuals and their roles on your team. At a minimum, the project organization chart
shall show the names of key designers and staff, and descriptions of responsibilities for
all proposed staff.
B2 Provide for each of the above personnel current resumes listing relevant project
experience and the percentage of the person's time to be committed to this project.
B3 Identify the individual who, from project start to finish, will be the leader of your team
and the principal point of contact between your firm and the Owner/Construction
Manager. Provide detailed information on the qualifications of this individual and the
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RFP 26-012
direction, authority, and management tools that will be provided to the individual by the
firm.
B4 Provide information on the firm's experience with projects of similar type, size, function
and complexity. Respondents shall demonstrate specific experience designing indoor
aquatic facilities, including natatoriums, competition pools, therapeutic/recreation pools,
aquatic mechanical systems, pool dehumidification, humidity control, corrosion-resistant
building systems, aquatic lighting, acoustics, pool equipment, and aquatic facility
operations. Describe no more than ten (10) and no less than five (5) projects, in order of
most relevant, which demonstrate the firm's capabilities to perform the anticipated
services listed in this RFP for the proposed project. For each project, the following
information should be provided:
a. Project name, location and dates during which services were performed.
b. Project delivery method (construction manager at risk, design-build, design-bid-
build, etc.).
c. Brief description of project and physical description (square footage, number of
theatre seats, site area).
d. Exact services performed by your firm and relevance to services required for the
proposed project.
e. Provide initial budget and final cost amounts.
f. List the individuals from your proposed project team that worked on these projects.
Identify their roles for the submitted projects.
g. Owner's stated satisfaction with the design and service of your firm (include letters
or statements of reference).
h. Owner's current contact information.
i. Contractor's current contact information.
C. Statement of Suitability
C1 Provide any information that may serve to differentiate the firm from other firms in
suitability for the project. Provide evidence of the firm's fit to the project and/or needs of
the Owner, any special or unique qualifications for the project. Provide the proximity of
office to project location and any services offered by the firm that may be particularly
suitable for this project.
C2 Describe the proposed team's approach to managing the specialized design requirements
associated with indoor aquatic environments.
C3 Provide firm's overall project approach for this specific project. Describe approach, at a
minimum, related to management of program, cost, schedule, and quality. Respondents
shall provide a proposed timeline, identifying the critical path for design and permitting,
major schedule risks, assumptions necessary to achieve the Owner's target schedule, and
proposed mitigation strategies.
Fee Proposal
See Fee Proposal Form attached as Exhibit B. This form must be completed and
submitted in a separately sealed envelope.
Fee Proposals will not be scored as part of the initial qualification's evaluation.
Following completion of the qualifications evaluation and ranking of respondents, the
Owner will negotiate scope and compensation with the highest-ranked firm. If an
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