Clock Tower Restoration
| Agency: | Cambridge city |
|---|---|
| State: | Maryland |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Posted Date: | Feb 22, 2026 |
| Due Date: | Apr 13, 2026 |
| Solicitation No: | 02202026 |
| Original Source: | Please Login to View Page |
| Contact information: | Please Login to View Page |
| Bid Documents: | Please Login to View Page |
| Bid Number: |
02202026
|
| Bid Title: |
Clock Tower Restoration
|
| Category: | Commissioners of Cambridge |
| Status: | Open |
|
Attachment Preview
Request for Proposals
The Commissioners of Cambridge invite qualified contractors to bid on the renovation and
repainting of the clock tower of the historic Cambridge Municipal Building, aka “Old City Hall”.
The work will consist of the restoration of original decorative details with appropriate “in-kind”
materials, the repainting of the exterior of the clock tower and the doors and trim on the
building’s façade.
PROJECT LOCATION:
Cambridge Municipal Building, aka “Old City Hall”
307 Gay Street, Cambridge, MD, 21613
PROJECT NAME:
307 GAY ST – CLOCK TOWER RESTORATION
ISSUE DATE: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE: Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 11 AM
DUE DATE AND TIME: Monday, April 13, 2026, at 11 AM
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION LOCATION:
Commissioners of Cambridge
Department of Public Works
1025 Washington Street, Cambridge, MD 21613
FUNDING SOURCES:
Maryland Historical Trust – Capital Grant 2023
Commissioners of Cambridge Annual Budget
The Commissioners of Cambridge, informally known as “The City of Cambridge,” invite interested
and qualified firms to submit a proposal for professional contracting services to be rendered
toward the restoration of the clock tower of the Cambridge Municipal Building, aka “Old City Hall”
at 307 Gay Street, Cambridge MD, 21613.
Proposals should be received in hard copy at the Department of Public Works, 1025 Washington
Street, Cambridge, MD no later than 11:00 am on Monday, April 13, 2026, at which time the
proposals received will be publicly opened and read aloud.
INTRODUCTION/ BACKGROUND
Cambridge was founded in 1684 and incorporated in 1793. It is the county seat for Dorchester
County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and has a diverse population of over 13,000. Cambridge is
located along the Choptank River and is less than 100 miles from Baltimore, MD, Washington, DC
and Wilmington, DE.
The Cambridge Municipal Building was designed by the architectural firm of Hopkins & Burton in
Baltimore and was built by Chas. E. Brohawn & Bros. Builders of Cambridge in 1926. The building
was dedicated as the seat of Cambridge’s government on April 19, 1927.
The building has been vacant since 2008, except for the seasonal presence of the annual RFC
Holiday Train Garden. Despite the building vacancy, the clock mechanism has been maintained,
thus it continues to be lighted, the hands are operational, and it chimes at the hour. We estimate
the clock tower was last painted about 15 years ago.
The Commissioners’ intent is to have the entire building renovated and returned to its original use
as the City’s municipal building through a series of projects.
The project will be executed with the involvement and oversight of the State Historic Preservation
Office (the Maryland Historical Trust, “MHT”). The Maryland Historical Trust holds a preservation
easement on the property, which restricts alterations to the exterior of the building.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
This RFP focuses specifically on the clock tower, cupola, and decorative trim work. The successful
offeror will provide construction phase services for the restoration of the clock tower of the “Old
City Hall” at 307 Gay Street, Cambridge MD.
Specific areas of concern which are anticipated to be addressed with current funding include:
restoration of the clock tower and the building’s façade. Tasks will include, but not be limited to:
• Investigate and analyze existing conditions
• Obtain required permits
• Restore/repair any rotten woodwork on the exterior using in-kind materials and
dimensions
• Repair/replace rotten/missing wood supports on interior clock faces using in-kind
materials and dimensions
• Replace the two missing finials (one urn and one acorn) with wooden replicas that
match the existing urns
• Replace the door to the roof and restore the awning over it using in-kind materials
• Scrape all peeling paint from the clock tower, all restored surfaces, and the doors
and molding/trim on the building’s façade and hose tower. Caulk gaps. Apply one
coat of primer and two coats of quality exterior paint to these surfaces. All wood
elements must be cleaned and prepared for painting using the gentlest methods
possible.
RFP- 307 Gay St – Clock Tower Restoration
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All work performed under this contract must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s
Standards for Rehabilitation. Please see https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/upload/treatment-
guidelines-2017-part1-preservation-rehabilitation.pdf for additional information.
The successful offeror should assume all paint has lead contaminants and proper protective
measures shall be taken for remediation and the safety of the workers and the environment.
The project will be partially funded through a Historic Preservation Capital Grant from the
Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). The Contractor will be required to carefully document and submit
project expenses with each request for payment. It may take 30-45 days or more to process
requests for payment to allow for review and processing by MHT.
The property is protected by a preservation easement that restricts alterations to the exterior of
the building, and the Commissioners of Cambridge have obtained the necessary approvals for this
project’s scope. The project will be executed with the involvement and oversight of the State
Historic Preservation Office (MHT).
Please provide a cost proposal using the attached form and breakdown. Provide unit prices for
additional work using the attached form. The Contractor may submit their standard quote sheet
but must ALSO submit the filled out and signed cost proposal and unit prices forms.
The contract that results from this RFP will be a fixed-price contract. A bid bond will be required.
See details under proposal submission requirements.
The contracted firm will be compensated upon submission and approval by MHT of detailed
invoices outlining deliverables and work steps completed and reflecting prices as submitted with
the financial proposal. Payment may be expected within 30-45 days or more of presentation of a
satisfactory invoice and any supporting documentation to MHT.
PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE / SITE VISIT
A pre-proposal conference will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 11:00 AM at City
Council Chambers, 305 Gay Street, Cambridge, MD 21613. A site tour will immediately follow the
pre-proposal conference. Attendance at the pre-proposal conference and site visit is mandatory
for firms wishing to submit a proposal.
TIMETABLE
The selected contractor should expect to begin the project no later than the first week of May
2026. It is anticipated that work should be completed by November 1, 2026.
QUALIFICATIONS
• The Contractor must hold a current license from the State of Maryland at the time of execution
of this document, applicable to the nature of the work.
• The Contractor and any subcontractors must demonstrate experience in working with historic
buildings. Please use the attached qualifications form.
RFP- 307 Gay St – Clock Tower Restoration
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• Please provide qualifications and references for contractors and any subcontractors on the
attached form.
• The Contractor must be insured and provide a Certificate of Additional Insured naming the
Commissioners of Cambridge.
• The preference is for a single proposal to cover all areas of scope; however, proposals focused
on a subset of the scope will be considered.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The selection of the contractor will be based on the following factors, in order of descending
importance:
1. Professional qualifications and experience.
2. Ability to complete the project within the time allotted.
3. Cost.
Professional qualifications, experience, and ability to complete the project within the time allotted
(technical merit) will have greater weight than cost (financial merit). The contract will be awarded
to the firm whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to the Commissioners of
Cambridge and may not necessarily be the lowest bidder. The Commissioners of Cambridge and
MHT reserve the right to reject any and all proposals, and/or waive informalities or irregularities,
and/or to accept or reject any items of any proposal, as it may deem best for its interest.
RFP PACKAGE
The RFP package consists of:
• This “Request for Proposals” document
• “Financial Proposal” blank form 1
• “RFP Narrative” form 2
• “Consultant / Subconsultant Qualifications Statement” blank form 3
• “Conflict of Interest Affidavit and Disclosure” blank form 4
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Proposals must be received in a sealed envelope clearly marked in the lower left-hand corner “RFP-
307 Gay Street Clock Tower Restoration” at:
Department of Public Works
City of Cambridge
1025 Washington Street
Cambridge, MD 21613
no later than11AM on Monday, April 13, 2026, at which time the proposals received will be publicly
opened and read aloud as to who the proposing vendors are and their financial bid. All material
submitted will become the property of the City, and the only information available at the proposal
opening will be the names of vendors submitting proposals and their bid. No facsimile of proposals
will be accepted.
Late submissions will not be considered.
RFP- 307 Gay St – Clock Tower Restoration
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A complete proposal submission consists of the following requirements:
1. A completed and signed “Financial Proposal” (form 1). Please enclose this form in a
separately sealed envelope within the larger envelope containing all of the other proposal
documents.
2. A completed “RFP Narrative” (form 2).
3. A completed “Consultant / Subconsultant Qualifications Statement” with no more than ten
pages of project-related supporting materials attached (form 3).
4. Resumes of up to four key project personnel: no more than twelve pages total for all
resumes together.
5. Completed “Conflict of Interest Affidavit and Disclosure” (form 4).
6. A sample copy of liability insurance certificate naming the Commissioners of Cambridge as
an additional insured (preferred with the proposal but MUST be submitted prior to signing a
contract).
7. A sample of your standard contract and warranties.
8. Copy of professional licenses and certifications.
9. Offeror’s estimate of start date and time frame for project (This can be included in a cover
letter).
10. If offeror intends to engage any subcontractors for a portion of the work, they shall also
take affirmative steps to ensure that small, minority and women’s businesses are used
when possible as sources of supplies, equipment, construction, and services. Identify
specific MBEs who would participate in the project as principals or subcontractors.
11. Each proposal must be accompanied by a Bid Bond payable to the Owner for five percent
(5%) of the total amount of the bid. No bidder may withdraw his bid within one hundred
(100) days after the actual date of the opening thereof.
Submit all proposal materials, marked “RFP-307 Gay Street Clock Tower Restoration” to:
Department of Public Works
City of Cambridge
1025 Washington Street
Cambridge, MD 21613
FAILURE TO INCLUDE ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION WILL RENDER THE PROPOSAL NON-
RESPONSIVE.
RFP- 307 Gay St – Clock Tower Restoration
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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.
* Disclaimer: This website provides information about bids, requests for proposals (RFPs), or requests for qualifications (RFQs) for convenience only and does not serve as an official public notice. Individuals who wish to respond to or inquire about bids, RFPs, or RFQs should contact the relevant government department directly.
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