Request for Qualifications: Design Services for the Pearl Moore Center Expansion

Location:	South Carolina
Posted:	Dec 4, 2025
Due:	Jan 9, 2026
Agency:	City of Florence
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction
Solicitation No:	2025-83
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Office of Purchasing/Contracting 324 W. Evans Street Florence, South Carolina 29501

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NO. 2025-83

DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE PEARL MOORE BASKETBALL CENTER EXPANSION

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 9, 2026 at 2:00 pm

PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

The City of Florence (City) is issuing a Request for Qualifications to professional firms for

architectural and engineering services associated with the construction of a new 1500 seat arena

that will be adjacent to the current Pearl Moore Basketball Center. This RFQ seeks to hire the

services of a broadly experienced athletic facilities designer who will take the project from design

phase through construction.

The City intends to select one (1) team. It is anticipated that the City and the selected Team will

discuss and define a detailed scope of work and negotiate a contract for the project.

This RFQ is being publicly advertised. The City will make the selection based on the responses

submitted, interviews, and then negotiate a final agreement with the selected design team. Design

teams are welcome to establish consortiums or teams of firms in connection with this RFQ. The

final selection of the firm or firms will be based on the criteria set forth in this RFQ.

All responses must be sealed and have “RFQ 2025-83 Pearl Moore Basketball Center” clearly

marked on the outside for ease of identification by the City. Responses may be hand-delivered

to 324 W. Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501 prior to the submission deadline. The City does not

accept electronic and/or emailed proposals. Directions may be obtained by calling (843) 665-

3165. Any response received later than the submission deadline will not be accepted or

considered.

Responses submitted by mail should be addressed to: City of Florence, Attn: Lynwood F.

Givens, Purchasing Agent, 324 W. Evans Street, Florence, SC 29501. The City will not be

responsible for late submission caused by the postal service, other carriers, or any other delivery

problems regardless of the reason.

This solicitation does not commit the City of Florence to award a contract, to pay any costs

incurred in the preparation of a response, or to procure or contract for services. The City of

Florence reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submissions received as a result of this

Request for Qualifications, or to cancel it in part or in its entirety if it is in the best interest of the

City of Florence.

Lynwood F. Givens

Purchasing Agent

MINORITY, WOMAN, AND VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS

The City of Florence welcomes and encourages submissions from minority, woman, and

veteran owned businesses. Please indicate that you are a minority or woman owned business

with your request for bid documents.

Minority Business Owners (minority, woman, and veteran owned businesses) will be afforded

full opportunity to submit proposals in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated

against on the grounds of race, color, creed, sex or national origin in consideration for an award.

It is the policy of the City that minority, woman, and veteran owned business enterprises

(MBE/WBE/VBE) have an opportunity to participate at all levels of contracting in the

performance of City contracts to the extent practical and consistent with the efficient

performance of the contract.

The successful company must ensure that all subcontractors, agents, personnel assigned by or

employees of prime company and subcontractors are not discriminated against because of their

race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Bidders must make positive efforts to provide equal

employment opportunity for minority and women owned businesses.

INSTRUCTIONS

Responses to the Request for Qualifications will only be accepted from responsible and

responsive companies that have an established reputation in the field of history, architecture,

architectural history, or historic preservation, as well as demonstrated experience creating design

guidelines and experience working with local design review boards and commissions.

No response may be withdrawn for a period of ninety (90) days after the submission date.

A responsive company is defined as one that has the capability in all respects to perform fully the

requirements mentioned in the RFQ document and the integrity and reliability which will assure

good faith performance.

A responsive company is defined as one that has submitted a response which conforms in all

respects to the RFQ requirements.

Protest Period: Any actual or prospective company that is aggrieved in connection with the

solicitation or award of a contract/purchase order may formally protest in writing to the Chief

Financial Officer. The protest may be submitted at any time during the procurement process.

However, if a prospective company wishes to protest, the formal protest must be submitted in

writing and must be received by the City no later than seven (7) days from the date that the

aggrieved actual or prospective company has been informed of the proposal results by the

Purchasing Agent. Protests received by the City after the expiration of the seven (7) day protest

period will not be considered by the City.

Disputes: In cases of disputes as to whether or not an item or service quoted or delivered meets

the scope of work, the decision of the City of Florence shall be final and binding on all parties.

The Purchasing Agent may request in writing the recommendation of the head of the department

of the end user or other objective sources.

Deviations: Any deviations from the scope of services contained herein must be stated in the

response for the City of Florence’s consideration.

Changes: Any changes in this Request for Qualifications after a contract agreement has been

awarded must be with the written consent of the Purchasing Agent or the City Manager; otherwise,

the responsibility for such changes lies with the company. Any changes to the scope of services

in this Request for Qualifications package shall be in writing and an addendum will go out to all

prospective respondents so each respondent can compete equitably.

Ownership Of Material: Ownership of all data, material and documentation originated and

prepared for the City of Florence pursuant to this contract shall belong exclusively to the City of

Florence.

QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES: The deadline for the submission of any and all questions

and inquiries concerning this RFQ is January 2, 2026 at 5:00 pm. All questions must be

directed to Lynwood F. Givens, Purchasing Agent in written format and e-mailed to

lgivens@cityofflorencesc.gov

A complete copy of the City of Florence Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual can

be downloaded from the City of Florence website at https://www.cityofflorencesc.gov/public-

bid-information.

PURPOSE OF THE RFQ

The City intends to contract with one firm to develop a working design/plan that is acceptable to

the City; to integrate with the current facilities(Pearl Moore Basketball Center and Barnes Street

Administration Center); to prepare drawings, specifications and contract documents for the

Facility; to provide estimates of project cost at appropriate stages of the design project; to assist

the City in advertising the project for bids and execution of a contract for the construction work;

and to provide inspection and contract administration services during construction.

Project Budget

The expansion of the Pearl Moore Basketball Center Expansion Project has an approved budget

of approximately $6,000,000.00. This established budget includes all costs and fees associated

with the design services and the construction services. To ensure delivery within budget, the Team

shall provide up-to-date and professionally developed cost estimates; provide clear, detailed and

unambiguous construction documents; specify cost-effective materials and construction

techniques; develop bid schedules that, if necessary, allow flexibility in making post-bid

adjustments to the size and scope of the construction. The City intends to utilize best commercial

practices to accomplish the goals of this project, expects the Team to proactively address risks

and challenges in the process, and participates in improvement activities to achieve project

success. The City also expects to work with the Team to maximize the overall quality, cost savings,

and goals to be outlined by the City.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Pearl Moore Basketball Center Expansion Project is located at 513 Barnes Street and is

shown on the map appended to this RFP. The Firm will also be responsible for coordination and

connection of all building systems and utilities necessary for a complete and functional Pearl

Moore Arena.

The Pearl Moore Basketball Center Expansion Project has a firmly established construction

budget of $6,000,000 to include all architectural/engineering services, permitting, and all

construction and construction related fees. It shall be the Firm’s responsibility to ensure that the

design and contract documents provide for a functional facility which can be delivered within the

limits of this construction budget. To insure delivery within budget, the Firm shall provide up-to-

date and professionally-developed cost estimates; provide clear, detailed and unambiguous

contract documents; specify cost-effective materials and construction techniques; develop bid

schedules that, if necessary, allow flexibility in making post-bid adjustments to the size and scope

of the construction contract to be awarded; and prepare designs and solicitations that maximize

competitive interest in the work.

The Design Team’s scope of work will include, but is not limited to:

SCOPE OF WORK

The City of Florence Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Department is seeking qualified firms

to provide comprehensive design and construction services for a new indoor sports arena to be

located across the street from the existing Pearl Moore Basketball Center. The project’s goal is

to expand the City’s capacity to host regional and state-level basketball and volleyball tourna-

ments, youth leagues, and community events while maintaining architectural and operational

consistency with the existing facility.

The total project budget is approximately $6 million, and the facility should be designed to ac-

commodate up to 1,500 spectators.

The selected firm will be responsible for delivering a turnkey facility inclusive of design, engi-

neering, permitting, and construction. The scope of work shall include, but is not limited to, the

following:

1. Site Preparation and Infrastructure

• Conduct all necessary site and geotechnical assessments to verify existing conditions

and inform design.

• Complete site clearing, grading, drainage, stormwater management, and utility connec-

tions.

• Coordinate vehicular and pedestrian circulation, parking, and site lighting with the Pearl

Moore Basketball Center to ensure cohesive access and operations.

• Provide landscaping, sidewalks, and signage consistent with City standards and the sur-

rounding park environment.

2. Facility Design and Construction

• Design and construct a modern indoor multi-court sports arena featuring:

o One regulation-size basketball court convertible into two volleyball courts using

floor sleeves and divider nets.

o High-performance hardwood sports flooring with line markings for basketball and

volleyball play.

o Spectator seating for approximately 1,500, with a combination of retractable and

fixed bleachers to maximize flexibility.

o Competition-grade equipment, including ceiling-suspended basketball goals, vol-

leyball systems, LED scoreboards, and timing systems.

o Professional-grade sports lighting designed for uniform illumination, energy effi-

ciency, and minimal glare.

• Building design and materials should complement the Pearl Moore Basketball Center

and be constructed for durability, ease of maintenance, and long-term energy efficiency.

3. Interior Features and Amenities

• Include a welcoming main entrance and lobby with ticketing, concessions, and public re-

strooms.

• Provide locker rooms for teams and officials, storage areas, staff offices, and multi-pur-

pose or meeting spaces.

• Design for efficient spectator flow and full ADA accessibility, including accessible seating

and restrooms.

• Incorporate sound and PA systems, Wi-Fi and data infrastructure, and provisions for

live-streaming or tournament management technology.

4. Building Systems

• Provide full mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems designed for

performance, maintainability, and code compliance.

• Incorporate LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC, and building automation systems con-

sistent with modern energy standards.

• Include security and surveillance systems, card-access entry, and integration with City

facility monitoring systems.

5. Coordination and Deliverables

• Work closely with City staff throughout the design and construction phases to ensure

functionality, aesthetics, and operational alignment with the existing basketball center.

• Deliver conceptual design options, detailed construction documents, cost estimates, and

a phased construction schedule aligned with the City’s budget and project timeline.

• Obtain all necessary permits, inspections, and approvals required for construction and

occupancy.

The City desires to occupy the completed Pearl Moore Basketball Center Expansion by 2026.

If services such as geotechnical investigations, topographic surveys or initial wetlands

delineations are required as a part of this project, these services and their costs should be

included in the Proposal submitted to the City. All questions regarding this Request for Proposals

or the Scope of Services should be directed to:

Lynwood Givens, Purchasing Agent

City of Florence

324 W. Evans Street

Florence, South Carolina 29501

Phone: (843) 665-3165

lgivens@cityofflorencesc.gov

STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

At a minimum, successful submittals shall demonstrate experience and technical competence

with the following requirements:

1. Information regarding the Team history including, but not limited to, location of main and

satellite offices, length of time in business, annual design service workload for the past

three (3) years;

2. Demonstrated history of successful public projects;

3. Education, technical training, and experience of owners and key personnel;

4. The team’s experience in designing and construction of similar projects, stating the names

of the projects, dates of completion, locations, owners, a brief description of the project,

the budget of the project, and whether there were any cost or completion date overruns;

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

bid number	bid description	cloising date	bid file
2025-83 Request for Qualifications: Design Services for the Pearl Moore Center Expansion	The City of Florence is accepting sealed statements of qualifications from qualified firms to provide architectural and engineering services for the expansion of the of the Pearl Moore Basketball Center.	Fri, 01/09/2026	2025-83-request-for-qualifications.pdf

Request for Qualifications: Design Services for the Pearl Moore Center Expansion

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