CLEANING AND PRESERVATION OF STONE MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL CARVING

STATE OF GEORGIA

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

ISSUED BY: STONE MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION

PROPOSAL RELEASE DATE: JULY 22, 2026

CLEANING AND PRESERVATION OF STONE MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL CARVING

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Stone Mountain Memorial Association ("SMMA" or the "Owner") is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to provide cleaning and preservation services for the Confederate Memorial Carving (the "Carving") on the north face of Stone Mountain. The Carving is a historic resource of significant importance, and all work must be performed with a high degree of care to ensure that the cleaning method does not damage, abrade, or otherwise degrade the Carving in any way.

BASIC GUIDELINES FOR THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The Stone Mountain Memorial Association has determined that the use of competitive sealed proposals will be most practical and advantageous to the State in completing the acquisition of the services described herein.

All submitted proposals shall be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in this Request for Proposals. After the opening of the sealed proposals, discussions may be conducted by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association with responsible Contractors who may be selected for award, for the purpose of clarification to assure full understanding of, and responsiveness to, the solicitation requirements. Contractors shall be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion and revision of proposals; and such revisions may be permitted after submissions and prior to award for the purpose of obtaining best and final offers.

In conducting such discussions, there shall be no disclosure of any information derived from proposals submitted by competing Contractors. All such discussions shall be jointly conducted by the Issuing Officers named below:

An award may be made to the Contractor whose proposal is determined in writing to be the most advantageous for the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, considering all the evaluation factors set forth in this RFP. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association reserves the right to reject all proposals submitted in response to this request and to not proceed with an award from this solicitation.

RFP SCHEDULE

SCHEDULING SITE VISIT

Each respondent will be given the opportunity to evaluate the Carving in person. Site visits must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. Scheduling requests must be made via email to .

RESTRICTIONS ON COMMUNICATION

From the issue date of this RFP until a successful Contractor is selected and the selection is announced, Contractors are not allowed to communicate for any reason with any SMMA board member or any staff member or other personnel associated with the State of Georgia, including the SMMA and the current park operator, except through the Issuing Officers named herein, their appointed representatives, or as provided by existing work agreement(s). For violation of this provision, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association shall reserve the right to reject the proposal of the offending Contractor. All substantive questions concerning this RFP must be submitted in writing to the Issuing Officers. No questions other than written will be accepted. No response other than written will be binding upon the Stone Mountain Memorial Association.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Contractor: Respondent to this Request for Proposal

Owner: Stone Mountain Memorial Association

RFP: Request for Proposal

SMMA: Stone Mountain Memorial Association

BACKGROUND

CARVING DESCRIPTION

The Carving is cut directly into the native granite of the mountain's north face and depicts three figures on horseback. It measures approximately 190 feet wide by 90 feet high, is recessed as much as 42 feet into the rock and sits roughly 400 feet above the surrounding ground. Carving commenced in 1923 and was completed in 1972. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association was established, and the memorial provided for, under O.C.G.A. 12-3-190 et seq.

CURRENT CONDITION OF CARVING

The Carving is currently structurally sound, with no significant new structural concerns identified. Primary issues are aesthetic and biological, as detailed in Exhibit A.

Cleaning test sites established in 2017 are now in significant decline. Of the approaches tested, high-pressure hot-water steam combined with chemical treatment demonstrated the best long-term retention of results, particularly in areas subject to direct water flow (Exhibit C). Current conditions, photographs, and prior results are documented in the SMMA 2025 Annual Monitoring Report (Exhibit A).

SCOPE OF WORK

Pre-Construction Condition Assessment

Prior to beginning any cleaning, preservation, or repair work, the Contractor shall conduct and submit to the Owner a comprehensive Pre-Construction Condition Assessment of the Carving. The assessment shall establish the baseline condition of the Carving and shall include, at a minimum:

High-resolution color photographs of the entire Carving, surrounding tablet, and all significant features;

Close-up photographs and documentation of all existing cracks, exfoliation, dutchmen, caulking, patches, previous repairs, and other areas of concern;

Documentation of the extent and location of biological growth, including lichen, algae, moss, vegetation, staining, and accumulated surface deposits;

Documentation of existing water runoff patterns, staining, and moisture-related conditions;

Identification and mapping of any loose rock, debris, or vegetation requiring attention;

A written condition assessment identifying any existing deterioration, defects, or maintenance concerns; and

Documentation of any additional conditions identified during the pre-construction assessment, together with recommendations for corrective action.

The Pre-Construction Condition Assessment shall be submitted to and accepted by the Owner prior to commencement of any cleaning or preservation activities and shall serve as the baseline for evaluating the completed work.

TEST PANEL

Prior to beginning the full cleaning, the Contractor shall clean a discrete, inconspicuous test panel of approximately two feet by two feet for each representative surface and soiling type, using the proposed method(s) and product(s). Test panels shall be evaluated and approved in writing by the Owner before general cleaning proceeds. The approved test panel shall serve as the standard of quality for all subsequent work.

CLEANING AND BIOLOGICAL GROWTH REMOVAL

The Contractor shall perform comprehensive cleaning of the Carving and surrounding tablet using preservation methods appropriate for historic granite. The work shall include:

Removal of lichen, algae, moss, vegetation, and other biological growth;

Removal of environmental staining, discoloration, and accumulated surface deposits;

Cleaning of carved surfaces without damaging or altering the historic granite or carved details; and

Protection of adjacent granite surfaces during all cleaning operations.

PRESERVATION REPAIRS

The Contractor shall inspect and perform preservation repairs identified in the SMMA 2025 Annual Monitoring Report (Exhibit A) and the pre-construction condition assessment as necessary, to maintain the integrity of the Carving. The work shall include:

Stabilization, maintenance, repair, or replacement of deteriorated caulking, Dutchmen, and localized preservation features; and

Removal of loose rock and debris located above the Carving and below the fence line, where safely accessible and directed by the Owner.

FINAL CONDITION ASSESSMENT

Upon completion of the work, the Contractor shall submit a Final Condition Assessment Report documenting the completed project. The Contractor shall prepare a written and photographic condition report documenting the same features identified in the Pre-Cleaning Condition Report, including:

A summary of all cleaning and preservation activities performed;

Documentation of all repairs completed;

Areas where satisfactory cleaning could not be achieved and the reasons;

Any new conditions identified during the work; and

Recommendations for future monitoring and maintenance.

PROJECT COST

Proposals should be structured to deliver the full scope of work inclusive of all labor, materials, equipment, access and rigging systems, supervision, environmental and safety compliance, and the documentation deliverables required under Section 4. The Owner reserves the right to negotiate scope, phasing, or unit pricing with the selected firm to align the final award with available funds.

EXPECTATIONS

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide all labor, materials, tools, equipment, staging, access systems, personal protective equipment, Safety Data Sheets, supervision, transportation, and operations required to complete the work described herein. The Contractor is responsible for full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and codes.

All cleaning shall employ the gentlest means possible that will achieve an acceptable result. The Carving is a significant historic resource on exposed granite; protocols developed for masonry or softer stone are not applicable and shall not be used. Aggressive cleaning intended to make the Carving look new is neither expected nor permitted. Reasonable expectations include the retention of some weathering, patina, and biological staining consistent with the age of the resource and its exposed outdoor position.

PROTECTION OF THE MONUMENT, SITE, AND PUBLIC

The Contractor shall take all necessary precautions to protect the Carving, surrounding site, park visitors, and adjacent improvements throughout the duration of the project. At a minimum, the Contractor shall comply with the following requirements:

Isolate and secure the work area with fencing and other appropriate measures for the duration of the work to prevent unauthorized access by the public.

Adjacent plantings, turf, hardscape, plaques, and site furnishings shall be protected from overspray, runoff, and chemical exposure; planted areas exposed to cleaning solutions shall be rinsed with water.

Runoff shall be managed and disposed of in compliance with all applicable environmental regulations; no cleaning solutions shall enter storm drains where prohibited.

Comply with all OSHA requirements, provide appropriate personal protective equipment, and maintain Safety Data Sheets on site for all products used.

Continuously monitor the condition of the Carving throughout all phases of the work. If any evidence of cracking, spalling, exfoliation, sugaring, loss of material, discoloration, or any other condition indicating potential damage is observed, the Contractor shall immediately suspend work in the affected area, notify the Owner, and take no further action until authorized by the Owner.

SITE ACCESS AND WORK AT HEIGHT

The Carving is on a near-vertical granite face several hundred feet above grade. The Contractor is responsible for furnishing and operating all access and fall-protection systems required to reach the work, which may include rope access / industrial climbing, suspended scaffolding, or other engineered systems. Personnel performing rope-access or suspended work shall hold current, recognized certification (for example, Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) or Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), or an equivalent acceptable to the Owner). The Contractor shall work with the Stone Mountain Memorial Association Public Safety Department to draft a site-specific access and rescue plan and a fall-protection plan for the Owner's review prior to mobilization. SMMA Public Safety Department should be alerted to all days and times that the Contractor will be on premises. The Contractor shall coordinate all access with the Owner.

SCHEDULE AND CONDITIONS

The services are anticipated to commence by September 2026 with anticipated completion in January 2027, when air and surface temperatures are reliably above45 degreesF, and shall not be performed when freezing temperatures are forecast within 72 hours of water application. The Contractor shall coordinate work hours with the Owner and shall observe all event blackout dates and times, including the evening drone and laser show which are listed in Exhibit B. The Owner will provide the confirmed blackout calendar before notice to proceed. The Owner will work with the Contractor to minimize the impact on Park operations and the project delivery deadline.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall demonstrate, at a minimum, the following:

At least five years of experience cleaning and conserving historic stone, with at least three completed projects of comparable scale, sensitivity, or access difficulty within the previous five years. Provide project descriptions and owner references.

Demonstrated capability to safely perform work-at-height on a vertical rock face using industrial rope-access or equivalent work-at-height systems. The Contractor shall have a minimum of five (5) years of experience performing comparable rope-access or work-at-height projects on large rock faces, monuments, dams, bridges, or similar structures. All personnel performing rope-access work shall be certified through the IRATA, SPRAT, or an equivalent nationally recognized certification program. The Contractor shall utilize the access and fall-protection systems described in Section 5.3 and maintain insurance that does not exclude rope-access or work-at-height operations.

Working knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and relevant NPS Preservation Briefs, the U.S. General Services Administrations guidance on cleaning historic masonry, and familiarity with the gentlest-means-possible approach for natural stone.

A full-time field supervisor experienced in comparable historic-treatment work, present on site whenever work is in progress. The supervisor shall not be changed during the project except for causes beyond the Contractor's control.

If proposing high-pressure steam or laser ablation, documented experience with that specific method on stone of comparable character.

All business licenses required in the State of Georgia, workers' compensation coverage, and the insurance required under Section 8.

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall carry, at a minimum, the following coverage, with the Owner named as additional insured where applicable. Final limits are subject to confirmation by the Owner's risk office:

Commercial General Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate.

Automobile Liability: $1,000,000 combined single limit.

Workers' Compensation at statutory limits; Employer's Liability $1,000,000.

Umbrella / Excess Liability: $5,000,000, as required by the Owner given the work-at-height exposure.

CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY

The Contractor shall exercise the highest degree of care in performing all work on the Carving and surrounding site. The Contractor shall be responsible for protecting the Carving and all adjacent improvements from damage resulting from its operations.

If damage to the Carving or the site occurs as a direct result of the Contractor's operations, negligence, or failure to comply with the requirements of the Contract Documents, the Contractor shall promptly notify the Owner and, upon direction of the Owner, repair or restore the affected area at no additional cost to the Owner. Any repair or restoration shall be performed using methods and materials acceptable to the Owner and, where appropriate, by a qualified stone conservator or other approved specialist.

Changes to the scope of work may be made only through a written modification executed by the Owner's authorized representative.

The contract that the State Entity expects to award will be based upon the RFP, the successful contractor's final response as accepted by the State Entity and the contract terms and conditions, which terms and conditions can be downloaded from the RFP. The "successful contractor's final response as accepted by the State Entity" shall mean: the final cost and technical proposals submitted by the contractor and any subsequent revisions to the contractor's cost and technical proposals and the contract terms and conditions due to negotiations, written clarifications or changes made in accordance with the provisions of the RFP, and any other terms deemed necessary by the State Entity, except that no objection or amendment by a contractor to the RFP requirements or the contract terms and conditions shall be incorporated by reference into the contract unless the State Entity has explicitly accepted the contractor's objection or amendment in writing.

Please review the State Entity's contract terms and conditions prior to submitting a response to this RFP. Contractors should plan on the contract terms and conditions contained in this RFP being included in any award as a result of this RFP. Therefore, all costs associated with complying with these requirements should be included in any pricing quoted by the contractors. The contract terms and conditions may be supplemented or revised before contract execution and are provided to enable contractors to better evaluate the costs associated with the RFP and the potential resulting contract.

Any exceptions to the contract must be redlined with comments explaining the rationale for the proposed revision, uploaded and submitted as part of the contractor's response, and should be provided as a red-line markup of the posted contract with inserted comments specifying the need for the changes. In the event the contractor is selected for potential award, the contractor will be required to enter discussions with the State Entity to resolve any contractual differences before an award is made.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All proposals shall include the following, organized in the order listed:

A cover letter signed by an individual authorized to bind the firm.

A firm overview, relevant experience, and at least three references for comparable historic-stone or monument cleaning projects.

A proposed approach and methodology, including the specific cleaning methods, products (with technical data sheets and Safety Data Sheets), equipment, water pressures, and a test-panel plan for each surface and soiling type.

A site-specific access plan, fall-protection plan, and proposed rescue plan, with the certifications of personnel performing work at height.

Key personnel and field-supervisor qualifications.

A project schedule covering mobilization, test panels, cleaning, and closeout.

An itemized cost proposal within the budget stated in Section 4, including any unit pricing for optional or supplemental methods (e.g., steam or laser areas).

Certificate(s) of insurance evidencing the coverage required under Section 8.

All required forms and certifications identified by the Owner

Proposals are due no later than 5:00PM EST on August 12, 2026. and shall be submitted as directed there. Late proposals will not be accepted. Submissions should be sent to with all requirements combined into one PDF document. Physical copies of submissions are not needed and will not be accepted. Questions must be submitted in writing to ; responses will be issued to all known proposers by addendum.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive informalities, and to make the award determined to be in its best interest. Lowest cost will not be the sole basis of award, and any proposal that relies on a prohibited method will be deemed non-responsive. The following are the general factors Stone Mountain Memorial Association will consider:

Relevant experience and references (comparable historic stone/monument work)

Cleaning methodology and project timeline

Access, safety, and proposed rescue plan for work at height

Qualifications of key personnel and field supervisor

Cost of project

Contractor RFP Instructions

RFP SUBMISSIONS AND AMEND

The Stone Mountain Memorial Association reserves the right to reject all proposals submitted in response to this request. Furthermore, SMMA reserves the right to amend the RFP prior to the date of proposal submission. Amendments will be sent to all Offerors who originally received a copy of the RFP.

PROPOSAL WITHDRAWL

Prior to the proposal due date, a submitted proposal may be withdrawn by the Contractor by submitting a written request to the Issuing Officers named herein. All such requests must be signed by a person authorized to sign for the Contractor.

COST FOR PREPARING PROPOSALS

The cost for developing the proposal is the sole responsibility of the Contractor. The SMMA will not provide reimbursement for such costs, nor for related legal and travel fees.

LIABILITY PROVISIONS

When Contractor enters or goes onto SMMA property to inspect the Carving or prepare the proposal, Contractor does so at its own risk and expense. By submitting a Proposal, Contractor hereby agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless SMMA, the State of Georgia and its departments, agencies and instrumentalities and all of their respective officers, members, employees and directors (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Indemnitees") from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, losses, costs or expenses, including attorneys' fees, due to liability to a third party or parties, for any loss due to bodily injury (including death), personal injury, or property damage, including but not limited to intellectual property claims, arising directly or indirectly from the submission of a proposal, including any Inspections, by the Contractor or its agents, employees, associates, subcontractors or others working for or on behalf of Contractor

COMPLAINCE WITH GEORGIA STATE LAW

The Contractor shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, including all laws of the State of Georgia, in the performance of this RFP and any resulting contract. Submission of a proposal constitutes the Contractor's representation that it is fully knowledgeable of, and in compliance with, all such legal requirements. Failure to comply may result in disqualification or termination of any contract.

DISCLAIMER

Information contained in any exhibit of this RFP is provided for information purposes only and is not warranted as accurate by the SMMA. Each Contractor making a proposal should exercise its own due diligence to ascertain the information on which it chooses to base its proposal.

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A: SMMA 2025 Annual Monitoring Report

Exhibit B: 2026 Drone/Light Show Dates

Exhibit C: 2017 Cleaning Site Test

Exhibit D

Exhibit E: Contractor Affidavit

Exhibit F: Contract