RFP: Monroe Downtown National Register Historic District Survey Update and...

Location:	North Carolina
Posted:	Dec 10, 2025
Due:	Dec 31, 2025
Agency:	City of Monroe
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	B - Special Studies and Analyses - Not R&D F - Natural Resources and Conservation Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Request for Proposals

Monroe Downtown National Register Historic District

Survey Update and Boundary Increase

City of Monroe Planning and Development Department

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Submission Deadline:

Project Manager:

Introduction

Issued: December 4, 2025

Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at 5:00pm EST

Keri Mendler, Senior Planner

City of Monroe

P.O. Box 69

Monroe, NC 28111

Phone: 704-282-5797

Email: kmendler@monroenc.org

The City of Monroe is seeking a professional consultant to conduct an architectural survey

update and complete a National Register Nomination boundary increase for the Monroe

Downtown National Register Historic District including the following:

• Update the district’s architectural inventory by conducting an architectural

survey of the proposed survey area (NRHD and Study List Boundary Increase –

Attachment A). Each primary and secondary resource within the survey area will

be photographed (survey photos will adhere to current HPO standards which

are outlined in Practical Advice for Recording Historic Resources), and an

architectural description will be entered into a shell survey database provided by

the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO) using survey site numbers (provided

by the HPO) for each primary resource.

• Define and justify the proposed updated National Register boundary.

• Complete the National Register nomination form with a physical description,

inventory list, history and appropriate context(s), and strong arguments

supporting the district’s significance and architectural integrity.

• Create location and boundary maps to support the nomination. A full-scale

boundary map will include the status for each primary and secondary

resource and include a key/legend that defines the selected symbology.

• A separate photo key of the National Register photo set.

Funding will come from a $15,000 federal pass-through Historic Preservation Fund grant

for Certified Local Governments from the State Historic Preservation Office and a local

match of $8,000 from the City of Monroe for a total project budget of $23,000.

This RFP provides complete information on the services being sought, the submittal requirements,

and project expectations.

Proposal Deadline: December 31, 2025 by 5pm

Questions regarding the RFP due: December 10, 2025 by 5 pm

Submittal Format: Digital PDF and four printed copies (Details below in Proposal

Submission Section)

Project Description and Requested Services

The proposed Monroe Downtown Historic District Additional Documentation and

Boundary Increase (Survey Site Number UN1235) was added to the North Carolina Study

List in February 2025. The survey area measures approximately 16 acres and contains

approximately 57 parcels. The Monroe Downtown Historic District was listed in the NRHP in

1988 as locally significant for commerce and architecture with a period of significance

of 1874-1935 (35 resources).

As the county seat, Monroe has been a major part of politics and government in Union

County. During the early to mid-1970s a new government center and plaza were

erected on the north end of the downtown commercial district. The updated

nomination would likely include this area and provide context for a new area of

significance. The original nomination boundary excluded parts of the west side of N.

Main Street between W. Jefferson and W. Morgan Streets. An update would address

these areas and likely add resources for a boundary increase.

This request is for proposals to complete an Updated National Register nomination for

the Monroe Downtown Historic District and the associated architectural survey

documentation, which will include a combination of survey records and survey

photography. The narrative descriptions entered into the database will be the same text

used in the nomination’s Section 7 inventory. Survey photographs can be limited to

visibility from the right-of-way. Photographs can be limited to two to four images per

building (Refer to Practical Advice for more information).

The consultant will work with the HPO to complete editing of the document and prepare

it for evaluation by the National Register Advisory Committee and the National Park

Service. The consultant will also be responsible for editing and making changes

requested by the National Park Service in order to achieve listing in the National

Archives and History. Both HPO supervisory staff and the consultant will meet 36 CFR 61

qualifications.

The consultant will follow the guidance in Practical Advice for Recording Historic

Resources, updated in 2022 and available here:

https://www.hpo.nc.gov/2022architectural-survey-manualpractical-advice-

recording-historic-resources-1pdf/download?attachment

The consultant will obtain a survey database shell for this project from the HPO and will

follow the instructions in How to Populate the HPO Historic Property Data Entry Form,

located here: https://www.hpo.nc.gov/how-populate-hpo-historic-property-data-

entry-form-april-2021pdf/download?attachment

The consultant will follow the HPO Photography Policy regarding photos for both survey

documentation and National Register documentation. That policy is located here:

https://www.hpo.nc.gov/digital-photography-policypdf/download?attachment

The consultant should review and follow the HPO Submission Checklists for historic district

resources regarding submission of National Register documentation. Those checklists are

located here: https://www.hpo.nc.gov/national-register-submission-

checklistfinal102025pdf/open

City staff is available to assist with mapping if necessary.

Project Deliverables

The consultant will provide the following deliverables to the HPO and the City of Monroe:

1. All digital photographs on a USB drive or via shared cloud storage;

2. First and Final drafts of the National Register nomination.

3. Fully populated electronic database on a USB drive or via shared cloud storage (to

HPO only)

Project Schedule

Submittals to this Request for Proposals should include a proposed schedule for

completing the work. ALL WORK SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 31, 2027. As a note:

the selected consultant understands that some editing may be required of them after

the final submission date. This would result from either NRAC or NPS comments and/or

feedback.

Project Budget

The total project budget is $23,000. The budget covers consultant salaries and fees, as

well as travel, photography, and all other project expenses.

Consultant Selection and Qualifications

Consultants will be evaluated in part on the basis of the following criteria:

1. The person/firm must have successfully completed previous National

2. The person/firm must have adequate experience and staff to perform the

required work;

3. The person/firm must have the ability to meet the time schedule established

for the work;

4. The person/firm must meet the qualifications described in Federal Register, Part

V: 36 CFR 61: Appendix A;

5. The person/firm must have demonstrated ability to communicate

effectively with property owners and will be asked to attend at least two

community meetings, but no more than three community meetings;

6. The person/firm will be asked to present to the community at the beginning of the

project to explain the project and scope. City staff will assist with the meeting and

coordination.

7. The person/firm will solicit public input through the community meeting(s), social

media outreach, and other opportunities for garnering public input the

consultant may recommend. City staff will assist with social media or website

updates as necessary;

8. At the conclusion of the project the person/firm will be required to attend a final

meeting in which the results of the project will be shared. City staff will present the

information with support from person/firm for technical questions.

Work will include field survey and site visits (updating files and creating new ones as

needed); high-resolution digital photography; and preparation of written entries with

historical background based on site visits, archival research, reports, or other historical

documentation completed in the area, research in city directories, Sanborn maps, and

other sources as identified by the consultant. Other responsibilities include: coordinating

with city staff on community engagement efforts; creating records in the HPO’s Microsoft

Access survey database; creation of paper files with report forms generated from the

database, labeling of digital photographs according to HPO’s naming conventions,

creation of photographic proof sheets, and other relevant material gathered during the

survey including notes on historical background, locational street maps, and site plans

as appropriate.

The project will be accomplished under the supervision of the HPO, Office of Archives and

History. Both HPO supervisory staff and the consultant will meet 36 CFR 61 qualifications.

Proposal Submission

Consultants interested in the project are invited to submit a proposal that describes how

they would conduct the project, addresses the criteria listed above, and includes the

following:

1. A list of the types of services for which the person/firm is qualified.

2. Names of the principals, key persons, or associates who would be

involved in the project.

3. Availability of consultant/team for conducting work.

4. A list of similar projects completed by the person/firm with names,

addresses, and phone numbers of clients.

5. A copy of a recent nomination, preferably a district that resulted in successful

listing in the NRHP.

The submittal shall be printed on 8 ½” by 11” white paper, minimum 12-point font,

double-sided, and bound with a maximum total of 20 pages (10 sheets). Unless

absolutely necessary, all responses and copies should minimize or eliminate the use of

non-recyclable material or non-reusable materials such as plastic report covers, plastic

dividers, vinyl sleeves, and GBC binding. Paper clips and staples are acceptable. All

costs associated with the production of this proposal shall be borne by the Proposer.

Four physical copies of the proposal should be submitted in-person or via mail (addresses

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

RFP: Monroe Downtown National Register Historic District Survey Update and Boundary Increase - Available until December 31, 2025

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