Updates to Unified Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa

Location:	Oklahoma
Posted:	Feb 2, 2026
Due:	Feb 25, 2026
Agency:	City of Tulsa
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction Y - Construction of Structures and Facilities
Solicitation No:	RFP 26-911
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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City of Tulsa

Finance Department

Request for Proposal

26-911

Professional Services for: Updates to Unified Design

Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa

Department: Planning and Neighborhoods

NIGP Commodity Code(s): 956-30, 918-31, 906-48, 925-86,

918-89, 962-52

RFP Schedule

EVENT

RFP Issue Date

DATE

2/4/2026

Pre-Proposal Conference

Virtual Teams Meeting – email buyer for invitation

Deadline for Questions

Submit to assigned buyer via email.

Proposal Due Date

Mail or deliver to City Clerk address. Proposals are open

the day after the due date.

Wednesday, February 11, 2026,

10:00AM – 11:00AM CST

2/16/2026

10 Days prior to RFP due date

2/25/2026

If You have any questions or need additional information, contact the Assigned Buyer:

Donny Tiemann | dtiemann@cityoftulsa.org

All questions should be emailed with RFP 26-911 in the subject line.

Submit proposals (sealed) to:

Office of the City Clerk

City of Tulsa

175 E. 2ND St.

Suite 260

Tulsa, OK 74103

RFP 26-911 | Updates to Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa | Issue Date: 2/2/26

OVERVIEW AND GOALS:

With this Request for Proposal (RFP), the City is soliciting proposals to secure

professional services to update the Tulsa Preservation Commission’s Unified

Design Guidelines for residential and non-residential structures within Tulsa’s

historic preservation (HP) overlay zoning districts. The goal of the project is to

update and add necessary details to the design guidelines to clearly describe

appropriate treatments of properties within HP overlay districts. The Unified

Design Guidelines are a guiding document the preservation commission uses in

its review of applications for HP permits. In addition, the design guidelines are a

resource for historic property owners in maintaining or altering their properties.

The project is funded by a federal matching grant-in-aid from the U.S.

Department of the Interior’s Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the

Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office (OK/SHPO).

We enthusiastically look forward to receiving Your proposal.

II. BACKGROUND:

Tulsa has eight (8) HP overlay zoning districts, in which an HP permit is required

for most exterior changes made to a property. This includes rehabilitation as well

as other types of projects, such as additions, new construction, demolition, and

some landscape features. In its review of applications for HP permits, the Tulsa

Preservation Commission must use adopted design guidelines to evaluate the

proposed work.

Prior to the adoption of Unified Design Guidelines, each HP overlay district in

Tulsa was governed by its own set of guidelines. The distinct neighborhood

guidelines were consolidated into one set of Unified Design Guidelines in 2012,

with subsequent amendments adopted in 2017 and 2024. The site of the Council

Oak Tree and Stickball Park maintains its own set of design guidelines. The

current Unified Design Guidelines may be found at

https://tulsapreservationcommission.org/hp-permit/guidelines/.

The Tulsa Preservation Commission would like to update the existing Unified

Design Guidelines. Identified concerns include lack of definitions and

explanations, outdated and sparse images and graphics, functionality of the

document, consistency with the Tulsa Zoning Code, and loss of details about

architectural features unique to each district that occurred when previous

guidelines were replaced.

RFP 26-911 | Updates to Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa | Issue Date: 2/2/26

III. TIMELINE:

The schedule below provides estimated dates for the RFP and contracting

process. The City of Tulsa may adjust this schedule as needed.

EVENT

RFP Issue Date

Pre-Proposal Conference

Deadline for Questions

PROPOSAL DUE DATE

Begin proposal evaluations

Interviews with Respondents (anticipated)

Award Recommendation presented at

SSA Committee meeting

Negotiations with apparent successful

Respondent begin (anticipated)

Execute contract (anticipated)

Begin service delivery (anticipated)

DATE

2/2/2026

2/11/2026

2/16/2026

2/25/2026

3/2/2026

3/9/2026

3/12/2026

3/13/2026

3/25/2026

3/30/2026

IV. SCOPE OF WORK:

The selected Respondent shall provide the following services:

1. Using the existing design guidelines as a foundation, the selected

Respondent shall update the residential and non-residential Unified Design

Guidelines. The updated design guidelines should include details, such as

diagrams, images, examples, and direct language, that are necessary to

clearly describe appropriate treatments of properties within HP overlay

districts. The updated design guidelines should reflect best practices in

preservation, including the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and

Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The updated design

guidelines should also reflect the periods of significance, architectural styles,

and character-defining features within the applicable HP overlay districts in

Tulsa. The design guidelines may be restructured but must cover the same

types of projects (rehabilitation, additions, new construction, demolition,

landscape features, etc.). The updated design guidelines must also be

consistent with the HP permit requirements found in Section 70.070 of the

Tulsa Zoning Code (https://tulsaplanning.org/plans/TulsaZoningCode.pdf).

RFP 26-911 | Updates to Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa | Issue Date: 2/2/26

2. The selected Respondent shall work with City staff to gather feedback from

the preservation commission and conduct neighborhood engagement. This

should include at least one in-person meeting with the preservation

commission. City staff will begin the public hearing and adoption process

after the project is completed.

3. The selected Respondent shall submit a first draft and a final draft for review

by the City and the OK/SHPO. The Respondent will be responsible for

completion of revisions to the first draft and final draft as requested by the

City and the OK/SHPO.

V. DELIVERABLES:

The products, reports, and plans to be delivered to the City will include:

1) Editable template with updated residential and non-residential Unified Design

Guidelines for properties within HP overlay zoning districts, and

2) Redline version of design guidelines or summary of changes

VI. PERFORMANCE METRICS AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT:

Performance Metrics

The following performance metrics highlight key priorities that will be analyzed

with the awarded Respondent collaboratively during the life of the contract. This

is not an exhaustive list, but rather an indication of significant performance

metrics of interest to City of Tulsa. The City looks forward to working with

awarded Respondent to define additional important performance metrics during

contract negotiations. The final set of performance metrics and frequency of

collection will be negotiated by the successful Respondent and the City prior to

the finalization of an agreement between parties and may be adjusted over time

as needed.

Performance

Metric

Data Source

Work hours

expended

Respondent

Progress report on

project timeline and

status of any delays

First draft of

guidelines sent to

City and OK/SHPO

Final draft of

guidelines sent to

City and OK/SHPO

Final guidelines sent

to City and OK/SHPO

Respondent

and City

Respondent

Data Collection

Frequency

Quarterly by March

5, June 4, &

September 3, 2026

Monthly

Data Collection

Responsibility

Respondent

Respondent and

City

April 30, 2026

Respondent

June 30, 2026

August 15, 2026

Respondent

RFP 26-911 | Updates to Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa | Issue Date: 2/2/26

Contract Performance Monitoring

As part of the City of Tulsa’s commitment to becoming more outcomes-oriented,

we seek to actively and regularly collaborate with awarded Respondents to

enhance contract management, improve results, and adjust service delivery

based on learning what works. Reliable and relevant data is necessary to drive

service improvements, ensure compliance, inform trends to be monitored, and

evaluate results and performance. During the regular meetings that occur

throughout the term of the contract, it is anticipated that the following topics will

be regularly discussed:

• Current status of performance metrics

• Topics of interest or concern to the Respondent

• Discussion and troubleshooting of challenges

• Review of activities on the horizon

• Review of budget and spending this year-to-date

VII. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL:

Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. on

Wednesday, February 25, 2025, Central Daylight Time.

Please place proposals in a sealed envelope or box

clearly labeled “RFP 26-911, Updates to Unified Design

Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa”.

Proposals received late will be returned unopened.

Interested Respondents should submit:

One (1) unbound original and three (3) bound copies of

the proposal plus one (1) digital copy (USB drive).

Proposals shall be delivered and sealed to:

Deputy City Clerk

City of Tulsa

175 E. 2nd St.

Suite 260

Tulsa, OK 74103

D. All interested Respondents are required to register with the Buyer in order

to receive updates, addenda or any additional information required. You

can learn more about the registration process on the following website:

https://www.cityoftulsa.org/government/departments/finance/selling-to-

the-city/register-as-a-vendor/.

The City is not responsible for any failure to register.

E. Inquiries or questions to the Buyer requesting clarification regarding the

Request for Proposal must be made via e-mail and must be received prior

to the end of the business day on Monday, February 16, 2026.

Donny Tiemann, Assigned Buyer

dtiemann@cityoftulsa.org

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Bid ID:	RFP 26-911
Addendum:	0
Bid Due Date:	2/25/2026
Description:	Updates to Unified Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa
Bid Document:	RFP 26-911 Updates to Unified Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa.pdf
Attachments:

Updates to Unified Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts in Tulsa

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