Request for Proposals:
2- Dimensional Artwork Available for Purchase for New San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Headquarters at
525 Golden Gate Avenue

Submittal Deadline: March 20, 2012; 11:59 p.m., PST
RFP date: 2/21/2012

Geographic Eligibility: Artists and galleries located within the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Service Area are eligible to submit documentation of artwork for consideration for purchase. The PUC Service Area includes: San Francisco, Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, San Jose, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Alameda and Hayward.

Criteria:
• 2-Dimensional artwork in any permanent material including photographs, prints, paintings, collage, or other media.
• Original artworks of significant artistic merit
• Imagery should be appropriate for a civic facility. It may include but not be limited to subject matter such as landscapes, seascapes, water, nature documentation of the grandeur of the SF Watershed along with its flora and fauna, which are protected by the SFPUC’s stewardship, and images that represent the diversity and cultural traditions of the demographics of the SFPUC Service Area. Some serene abstract or non-objective work may also be appropriate.

Core Mission of the SFPUC:
• To provide [their] customers with high-quality, efficient and reliable water, power and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to [their] care.

What to Submit:
Please submit the following:
Maximum of 10 digital images of available work. Please provide title, size, media
Current price list for submitted work.
Artist resume

How to Submit:
Applications are available through SlideRoom; https;//sfgov.slideroom.com, an on-line application system for calls. There is no charge to artists for using SlideRoom. If you are a first time user of SlideRoom, please allow adequate time to learn the use of this system. For information, applicants may call the SlideRoom Tech support@slideroom.com or https://slideroom.zendesk.com

Background:
In June 2012, the SFPUC will move into its new LEED Platinum-certified headquarters and administration building at 525 Golden Gate Avenue with the objective of a green and sustainable future while guaranteeing a low –cost procurement of the SFPUC’s long term office needs. Designed by the architectural firm of Kaplan, McLaughlin and Dias, 525 Golden Gate is an elegant and modern addition to the Civic Center complex of government buildings.

The building is comprised of 13 stories and features integrated public art by Ned Kahn on both its exterior and the interior. The lobby also features an innovative, state of the art digital video wall by Digital Obscura. The building will provide office space for approximately 950 SFPUC employees every day that are part of a larger team responsible for the reliable and responsible delivery of water, power and sewer services to serve our customers’ needs.

The SFPUC delivers drinking water from the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System to 2.6 million residents and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area; generates approximately 1.7 billion kilowatt hours of green energy through the Hetch Hetchy Power System’s hydroelectric and solar installations for vital city services and facilities like MUNI, SF International Airport, SF General Hospital, streetlights and more; and maintains the San Francisco Combined Sewer System, which is comprised of over 1,000 miles of combined sewer lines, pump stations and treatment plants responsible for protecting public health and the environment.

Project Description: As part of the public art program for 525 Golden Gate, the Arts Commission will purchase a number of new 2 dimensional unframed artworks from artists and/or galleries located within the Service Area of the SFPUC for display throughout the building, particularly in areas frequented by the public. Additionally, a number of works will be selected by the PUC photographic archives and will be included in the collection of 2 dimensional works that adorn the building.

The artworks purchased by the Arts Commission will be the property of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The acquisition of artwork for the building is mandated by the City’s Art Enrichment Ordinance which requires that 2% of the construction cost of capital projects be allocated for art for the new facility.

Budget for the Purchase of Original Works of Art: The prices paid for the artworks will vary depending upon the scale of the artwork and the market rate value for the artist’s work. It is anticipated that the purchase prices will range from $250 to $10,000. It is possible that a few purchases may exceed this limit.

Artwork Size:
Artworks submitted for consideration should be no smaller than 20 x 24 inches and no larger than 36 inches in any dimension unframed. There may be some exceptions to these restrictions.

Selection process and schedule:
Submissions will be reviewed by Arts Commission staff to develop a short list of appropriate work to be reviewed by a SFPUC staff committee. Final recommendations will be submitted to the Arts Commission for purchase approval. Artists are encouraged to submit application as soon as possible. Materials will be reviewed as soon as received, however decisions will not be made until after the deadline. This is a fast track project. Thank you for your assistance with our schedule.

Short list selection: by March 30, 2012
Final Selection: by April 15, 2012

Please note that schedules are subject to change.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Please call Zoe Taleporos(415) 252-3215; zoe.taleporos@sfgov.org

All information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract and these provisions are subject to change