1. Introduction to RFQ
Submittals will be received electronically at NaomiS@scidpda.org until 5:00 PM PDT on May 15, 2026 for:
Providing design team services for preparing the Nihonmachi Alley Concept Plan for implementation. The previous work is more fully described and depicted in Exhibit A.
The Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) is requesting statements of qualifications from Design Teams consisting of engineers, landscape architects, and designers.
The response to this Request for Qualifications should describe the specific type of experience, identify the composition of the design team, and include resumes of all key personnel who will be assigned to the project. The response must also describe the scope of services to be provided, team organization, and project management plan.
The submission should be limited to responding to the above and as further described later in this Request for Qualifications. The Project Team’s intent is to issue this Request for Qualifications, review all submitted information, short list for interview, and then make a final selection.
Teams may be asked to submit supplemental information during the review of submittals or at the interview. The proposed schedule in 2026 for design team selection is as follows:
- April 21, 2026: Public Issuance of RFQ
- May 15, 2026: Submittals due electronically to NaomiS@scidpda.org by 5:00 PM PDT. Please submit one (1) electronic copy, PDF format only.
- May 27, 2026: Applications are reviewed and interviews are scheduled with finalists.
- June 10, 2026: Interviews with Teams are completed
- June 24, 2026: Select Team and Contract Execution
The remaining sections of this solicitation are organized as follows:
- Part 2 presents an overview of the project.
- Part 3 describes the project budget and timeline.
- Part 4 describes the required tasks of this effort.
- Part 5 describes the criteria for selecting the contractor who will perform these services.
- Part 6 delineates other conditions and requirements of this solicitation.
- Part 7 specifies the instructions for submittals.
Please read the entire RFQ carefully prior to preparing the submittal.
2. Overview of the Nihonmachi Alley Project
Project Summary & Background
The Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) is seeking a design team to determine the technical details for the sculpture lighting fixtures (“gateways”) to allow for implementation of the 2024 Nihonmachi Alley Concept Plan.
A main objective of the 2024 Concept Plan was to repave Nihonmachi Alley and to install permanent public art sculptures. The 2024 Concept Plan only has drawings of this vision, so this phase of the project will utilize landscape architects, designers, and engineers to determine the technical details required for the construction of the sculpture lighting fixtures into engineering and architectural design plans. The design team will work with Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to ensure the fixtures can be installed alongside repaving plans.
This Request for Qualifications only pertains to the creation of a design package for implementation and does not include implementation funding.
Project Site: Nihonmachi Alley
Nihonmachi Alley is located in the heart of Seattle’s Japantown neighborhood between S Jackson St & S Main St and 6th Ave S & Maynard Ave S. Nihonmachi Alley and the buildings that surround it are incredibly important in telling the story of Japanese Americans in Seattle and American history.
Nihonmachi Alley is and will continue to be a highly utilitarian space. Trash and food waste containers line the alley, which serve nearby restaurants, other businesses, and residents. Service trucks drive through at least three times to pick up waste bags, and personal vehicles may use the alley to access the public parking lot located on the north end of the alley. Concepts proposed will consider these restrictions and other alley and right-of-way (ROW) requirements from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and International Special Review District Board (ISRD).
Design Documents
3. Project Budget and Timeline
This is a community-driven project and funds from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods are available through November 30, 2026. The selected design team will have a budget of $30,000. This budget will cover time working with any necessary sub-consultants, all work for creation of design files, and meetings with SCIDpda and City partners.
Project Budget
| $30,000 | Goal: Design package for the implementation of the 2024 Nihonmachi Alley Concept Plan of public art installations and permitting with SDOT. Budget includes: Creation of design files – including engineering details for foundations, electrical specifications for lighting elements, and structural details for sculpture elements Subcontracts with other professional consultants on an as needed basis (engineering, structural, lighting, etc.) Meeting time with SCIDpda and City partners, including but not limited to Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), and Seattle Fire Department (SFD) Site visits and engagement with Japantown stakeholders, including design package review |
Timeline and Process (2026)
(1) April 21 – RFQ is released
(2) May 15 – RFQ closes and applications are due by 5:00 PM PDT
(3) May 27 – Finalists are notified via email
(4) June 10 – Finalist interviews are completed
(5) June – Selected consultant is under contract with SCIDpda
(6) June – Consultant meets with SCIDpda and SDOT staff
(7) September – Complete feasibility design package and review internally.
(8) October – Begin to review design package with key stakeholders including SDOT and receive approval.
(9) November - Publish design package and plan for next steps including implementation.
4. Required Work Tasks
Design Team
The Design Team will take the Artist’s Renderings from the Preferred Alley Design in the 2024 Nihonmachi Alley Concept Plan and create the design and planning documents necessary to bring the gateway sculpture lighting fixtures to life. The completed design package should be ready to take into permitting and be used by a fabricator to implement all the necessary elements for the gateways.
Using the 2024 Nihonmachi Alley Concept Plan, the design team will:
- Gateway Sculptures: Create design files and flesh out fabrication details for the gateway structures. This includes metalworking details for the main section of the gateway post as well as the use of wood and Japanese joinery techniques for the overhead lighting section of the gateways.
- Lighting: Create plans for the internal lighting structure and electrical design of the gateway posts. This includes the Glowing Gateway Post Lights and Overhead Gateway Lights. Final product should include an electrical sheet, including power source, conduit routing between gateway elements, and any connections to civil infrastructure (foundations).
- Foundations: Create engineering plans for the foundation of the gateway structures. This includes structural requirements and other technical details to support L-shaped gateway posts. Collaborate with SDOT to create foundations that complement the repaving plan.
- Implementation and Operational Costs: Provide project fabrication estimates – either internally or through sub-consultant. Provide yearly operational cost estimates based on electrical design.
- Final Product: Create an implementation design package including all of the items above. The final product should include renderings that can be shared for approval by various entities and technical details behind each element. The final product should be in the form of design intent drawings or comparable.
Throughout the project, the design team will consult with SCIDpda, Japantown stakeholders, and City Partners, including Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), and Seattle Fire Department (SFD), as needed. The design team should be prepared to present an overview of project details with Japantown stakeholders and present technical details to SDOT and other relevant City departments.
The Design Team’s work will be completed in tandem with Seattle Department of Transportation – SDOT’s capital project design & planning. SDOT is responsible for all repaving, water, and electricity work related to the alley itself. The work the Design Team completes on the foundations of the gateways are intended to be fabricated and installed by SDOT.
Project fabrication estimates should focus on costs related to the gateway structures and relevant components. Estimates should be made for the foundations and electrical sheet that can be shared with SDOT, but will not be part of the total estimated fabrication cost.
5. Criteria for Selection
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
The ideal candidate and RFQ response should demonstrate:
- Understanding of project scope and alley context and network
- Experience with similarly scaled projects and projects in the right-of-way (other alleys, parks, streets, sidewalks, etc.)
- Experience with local municipal entities (Seattle Department of Transportation – SDOT, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), and Seattle Fire Department (SFD), Seattle Office of Arts & Culture – OAC)
In order to qualify for consideration for an interview, the respondent must meet the following requirements. Failure to meet all the requirements is just cause for rejection of the response by the Project Team.
The Respondent shall specifically address, in order, each of the following requirements in the response to this RFQ:
Criterion #1: The respondent must have provided design services for a similar project(s) within the past five (5) years. The submittal must identify the specific project(s) which qualify under this criterion.
Criterion #2: The respondent identifies and has staff who have experience in similar projects. Specific roles, including a Project Lead and a Project Manager, should be identified. The submittal must include resumes for all key team members and identify their availability during the project schedule as described.
Criterion #3: The respondent demonstrates the ability of the team to absorb the anticipated workload during the anticipated time period and to provide sufficient qualified staff commensurate with the proposed schedule at all times.
Criterion #4: The respondent provides a proposed scope of services which describes all work tasks and explains how the team will complete each task or work element.
Criterion #5: The respondent provides at least 3 references for similar projects.
6. Other Conditions & Requirements
- All submittals for this Request for Qualifications received by the Project Team shall remain valid for ninety (90) days from the date of submittal.
- The Project Team reserves the right to reject any or all submittals if none of the submissions are responsive to its needs.
- The Project Team is not liable for any cost incurred by the submitter prior to execution of the contract.
- The contract between the successful submitter and the Project Team shall include all documents mutually entered into, specifically including the contract instrument and the response to the RFQ. The contract must include, and be consistent with, the specifications and provisions stated in the RFQ.
- The Project Team prioritizes minority- and women-owned firms and community-based organizations to submit proposals. Women-owned firms shall be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by women, and minority-owned firms at least 51 percent owned and controlled by minority persons. Minority person shall mean any ethnic minority person who is a resident of the United States or its territories, including Asians/Pacific Islanders, persons of African descent, Hispanics, and Native Americans/Alaskan Natives. Minority- and women-owned firms shall be certified with the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises.
7 . Required Submittal Instructions
How to Apply & RFQ Deliverables
Please send your Request for Qualifications response via email to project coordinator Naomi Saito (NaomiS@scidpda.org; (206) 838-8716) by Wednesday, May 15, 2026 by 5:00 PM PDT.
Please send one (1) electronic copy in PDF only of the information to be submitted shall be prepared in accordance with, and in the order of, the format guidelines below. The order of information presentations must be as follows:
- On the cover sheet of the response, the respondent shall list the following information of the prime consultant: firm name, address, phone number, email address, and name of contact person. The title of the submittal shall be: Nihonmachi Alley Design Team: Statement of Qualifications
- Section 1: Response to the Request for Qualifications. Please outline your philosophy or vision for how your work and experience would contribute to this project.
- Section 2: Specific responses to each of the five criteria described in Part 5 of this solicitation. Relate responses to the specific work tasks when possible. Submitters may include suggestions for additional tasks, innovative ideas, or alternative procedures for completing this project.
- Section 3: Supplemental Relevant Project Descriptions. As a supplement, expand on the previously identified projects in the Criteria for Selection section. Please include a list of references for similar other projects performed by the design team
- Submittals are limited to ten (10) double-sided pages for a total of twenty (20) pages.
Please direct any questions to Naomi Saito (NaomiS@scidpda.org; (206) 838-8716)