Calling all Artists! Regularly throughout the year we seek out new art pieces for the city. This page will have our latest requests for public art. If you would like to be notified when you we are seeking new art pieces, sign up to add your name to our Artist Database.

C A L L  T O  A R T I S T S

Request for Artist Qualifications (RFQ) -  AWTF Biogas Flare Artwork Project - $75,000 Budget

The City of Coeur d’Alene seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create an outdoor sculptural installation at the City’s Advance Wastewater Treatment Facility.  The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is a call for artists to submit their qualifications for the City’s consideration for an outdoor sculpture erected around the Advance Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF) Biogas Flare.

OVERVIEW AND PROJECT

Nestled alongside the Centennial Trail and the Spokane River is the Coeur d’Alene Advance Wastewater Treatment Facility.  A publicly-owned treatment facility, the AWTF is subject to one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and the country’s most restrictive effluent discharge requirements. The AWTF employs some of the latest advancements in tertiary treatment technologies prior to discharging nearly four-million gallons of effluent into the adjacent Spokane River…every day. In an effort to increase the public’s awareness of the AWTF, the City of Coeur d’Alene Wastewater Department is actively seeking creative and fun ways to engage and educate trail users of “what is biogas and what is it used for?”  In short, biogas is a byproduct of one of many wastewater treatment processes and is often used for power generation or as a heat source.  Excessive biogas is flared or flamed (burned) off.  

SITE LOCATION AND SCHEDULE

Beginning in the fall of 2023, the city will be upgrading the existing AWTF’s biogas flare (pictured below).  The biogas flare is located at the southeast corner within the facility grounds (881 Hubbard Avenue) and runs parallel with the Centennial Trail.  It is visible from the Spokane River and is secured behind an eight-foot fence separating trail users from the AWTF.  

While the flare operates under pressure, the actual flame burns continuously with a flickering effect.  The city intends to bid out this upgrade project with a completion date of 2024.  The artwork should be scheduled for installation in August of 2024.

THE PROJECT

There is no specific theme for the artwork other than the AWTF has requested that the final piece be safe, FUN, and appropriate for viewers of all ages.  It should complement and include open flame into its final design and reflect the amazing transformation of recycling wastewater into a viable “Class A” clean water source.  The goal is to significantly beautify and delight those passing by the AWTF, while at the same time providing an educational element pertaining to biogas along the trail.  The city will develop, fund, and install the educational element associated with the biogas flare project.  The completed final artwork and educational product will become the property of the City of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

ARTWORK

Artwork must be an original work by the submitting artist and/or artist team.  It may not contain advertising, religious references, convey political messages, sexual content, or contain or advocate violence of any kind.  In addition, the artwork may not be on display in other public art programs within a 300-mile radius of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. 

PROJECT DIMENSIONS AND DESIGN CRITERIA

As shown above, the existing biogas flare is a 36” diameter steel barrel securely mounted at the top of a 4” diameter steel stand pipe.  It rises 12 feet vertically above the finish grade (ground).  There is a connecting 2” diameter steel gas feed pipe parallel to the stand pipe and extends 3 feet above the ground running 14 ft horizontally from the stand pipe to the control panel box.  The control panel box will not be a part of this artwork project.

The design criteria are as follows:

• Sculpture must permit an unobstructed access to the biogas flare infrastructure. Artist must demonstrate how this may be accomplished prior to selection;
• Sculpture cannot impede and/or otherwise restrict access of the AWTF’s daily operations and maintenance of the biogas flare, infrastructure, electrical, and controls. Artist must demonstrate how this may be accomplished prior to selection;
• Sculpture must not impose any removal or alterations to the biogas flare, infrastructure, electrical, or See dimensions contained herein RFQ;
• Sculpture must incorporate into its design an elevated continuous open flame of varying heights without altering or deflecting said flame;
• Sculpture must not hinder the intended performance of the biogas flare;
• Sculpture must be inclusive of all materials and medium that can withstand fire up to 1,000°F without compromising structural integrity due to stress, strain, stiffness, strength, and thermal expansion;
• Sculpture must not contain any melting, flammable, combustible, or otherwise volatile materials;
• Sculpture must be self-standing, static structure mounted onto concrete footing. No kinetic structures will be considered;
• Sculpture must be fully comprised of low-maintenance materials that are North Idaho all-weather resistant and can withstand the wear and tear of prolonged outside exposure;
• Sculpture may include or encompass all biogas flare piping. Control panel is not included.

BUDGET

The budget for this project is $75,000, which is inclusive of all costs related to the artist and/or artist team’s design and project which include the following: management fees, all subcontract and consultant costs including engineers, electricians, fabricators, studio and overhead costs; fabrication, lighting, transportation, delivery and installation of all art components, including foundations, concrete pad and footings; liability and insurance costs as required; and all other costs associated with the art project. Artwork should meet all applicable city building codes.  All finalist proposals must include a 10% contingency as part of their budget, included with the overall $75,000 budget, to be used only with written permission from the City.

ELIGIBILITY

This RFQ is open to all artists, designers, or creative individuals or artist teams regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, physical or mental disability.  Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission members and selection committee members are not eligible for participation.

TIMELINE

August 2023           CALL OPENS-Request for Qualifications Announced (Submissions ONLY accepted through the CaFE website, www.callforentry.org)

December 1, 2023   Artist Submission Deadline

January 3, 2024      Finalist Notification.  (Up to five (5) qualified finalists are invited to make proposals.)

February 15, 2024   Final Proposals are Due

March, 2024            Proposals on Public Display Throughout the Month

April, 2024              Selection Committee Meets, Conducts Interviews, Makes a Selection, and Forwards Their Recommendation to the Arts Commission for Approval.

April 23, 2024         Presentation to the Arts Commission

May 7, 2024            Arts Commission Forwards Their Recommendation to the City Council

May, 2024               Review and Approval by City Council, Contract Generated

May, 2024               Contract Signed and Commencement of Artwork Creation and Fabrication Begins

Oct/Nov, 2024         Artwork Installed and Dedicated

SELECTION COMMITTEE

The Selection Committee will consist of seven (7) voting members, including local citizens, educational professionals, arts professionals, a city councilperson, and two (2) non-voting members of the Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission.  All eligible RFQ submissions will be reviewed by the Selection Committee. 

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is a two-step process. All interested artist and/or artist teams must first submit their qualifications to be reviewed by the Selection Committee (See criteria below).  

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) CRITERIA

Cover Letter:  A one-page cover letter which concisely summarizes the applicant’s interest in this artwork project along with contact information.

Professional Qualifications: A resume for each applicant (including team members), not longer than 1,000 words. A summary (not more than two pages) of experience in fabricating and installing permanent artwork suitable for the outdoor elements, with a budget of at least $50,000. This summary may include up to five (5) projects, with supportive information.

Supporting Information:  Supportive information should include: the title of the piece, commissioning body, project budget, date, materials and client (with contact reference information).  Special consideration will be given to successful experience working with local governmental or municipal agencies.  Up to six (6) color images may be submitted, each with annotated image information.  Failure to provide any of the published requirements may result in disqualification.

All Request for Qualifications (RFQs) must be submitted through the café website (www.callforentry.org) by 5:00 PM local time on December 1, 2023.  The call is entitled “AWTF Biogas Flare Artwork Project”.  Any submission(s) after this date and time will not be accepted.  The City of Coeur d’Alene will keep all RFQ submissions.

PROPOSALS

The Selection Committee will invite up to five (5) finalists to develop and submit proposals of their artwork.

All proposals will be publicly displayed for a period of no less than one month.  At the end of the display period, the Selection Committee will review and rank all proposals.  They may choose to interview the finalists in person, via Microsoft TEAMS, or other video conferencing.  After the committee chooses the highest ranked proposal that best fits the theme and goal of the project, they will forward their recommendation to the Arts Commission for review and approval.

Upon the Arts Commission’s approval, the commission will forward its recommendation to the City Council. Following City Council approval, a contract will be issued to the selected artist and/or artist-team. Should this artist and/or artist team elect not to execute a contract, the next highest ranked artist and/or artist team will be issued a contract. This will be repeated until an executed contract is acquired.

PROPOSAL CRITERIA

After the five finalist(s) have been selected by the Selection Committee, a written invitation to the artist and/or artist team will be sent requesting proposals of their proposed artwork.  

Each of the finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium to prepare a proposal.

Each proposal must include detailed sketches, materials list, renderings, narration, budget, schedule, and a 3-D model (maquette).  The biogas flare displayed on artist’s maquette shall not include the means or the methods of starting and promoting an actual open flame or fire.  Artist and/or artist team must be creative in displaying the fire portion of their proposal.  All proposals will become the property of the City of Coeur d’Alene and will not be returned.  Every effort will be made to protect submitted materials; however, the city will not accept responsibility for any lost or damaged materials during the selection process.

All proposals shall be delivered to the City of Coeur d’Alene City Clerk’s Office located at 710 E. Mullan Avenue, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, 83814 by 5:00 PM local time at the date specified under the Timeline Section herein.  Any submission(s) delivered after this date and time will not be accepted. 

DISCLAIMER

The City of Coeur d’Alene reserves the right to change the dates of the project timeline, to modify this solicitation, to request additional information or proposals from any or all participating artists, to re-open the competition and/or to accept or reject, at any time prior to the commissioning of a work, any or all design proposals.

CONTACT INFORMATION                                       

Sherrie Badertscher, Executive Assistant to the Mayor

? Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission

City of Coeur d’Alene

710 E. Mullan Avenue

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814

Phone: 208-666-5754

Email:  Sherrie@cdaid.org

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

Mike Becker, Capital Programs

City of Coeur d’Alene Wastewater Department

765 W. Hubbard Avenue

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814

Phone: 208-769-2278

Email:  mbecker@cdaid.org

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