Art in Architecture Project for a New Courthouse Annex at the Federico Degetau Federal Building and Clemente Ruiz Nazario U.S. Courthouse complex, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

*Submission Instructions Updated-Due Date Extended

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Art in Architecture (AIA) Program commissions American artists (citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents or Permanent Workers of the United States) to create publicly scaled and permanently installed artworks for Federal buildings nationwide.

GSA announces an opportunity for a Federal art commission in conjunction with the new construction of a multi-story U.S. Courthouse Annex (New Annex) in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico (PR). The New Annex will be linked physically, functionally, and systematically with the Federico Degetau (Degetau) Federal Building and Clemente Ruiz Nazario (Nazario) U.S. Courthouse Complex (Complex). The New Annex will be located on the southwest corner of the 27-acre Federal Campus (Campus), adjoining both Degetau and Nazario.

The existing buildings, Degetau and Nazario, constructed in 1974, and comprising approximately 435,000 gross square feet, are situated on the Campus in Hato Rey, PR. The Campus also includes a standalone childcare center, parking structure, and law enforcement building. The Campus represents the largest facility under GSA’s jurisdiction, custody and control in the Caribbean. The Campus will remain operational throughout the construction.

The New Annex will be approximately 153,000 gross square feet and will include six (6) courtrooms and ten (10) judges’ chambers suites. The goal for the project is to design a universal plan that provides an equitable solution for all employees and visitors who will work or interact with the facility. The user experience (in the facility) will treat all groups with equity, dignity and respect. The facility will provide universal accessibility so that all people, including people with disabilities, can fully and independently use the entire facility. The design will connect with the community and local environment.

GSA allocates one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the estimated construction costs of new or modernized Federal facilities for art commissions. The art budget for the New Annex project is estimated to be between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000. GSA intends to award one (1) or more firm-fixed price AIA contracts for the project. If more than one (1) contract award, the budget will be divided among the contracts. 

Artists who wish to be considered for this and all future GSA art commissions must submit application materials to GSA’s National Artist Registry (Registry). The Registry constitutes the qualified list of artists for this and all GSA commissions. Instructions on how to join the Registry are available on the following website: www.gsa.gov/artinarchitecture

Submission Instructions: All artists who wish to be considered as candidates for a commission at the New Annex, must have their application materials submitted and received by 4:00PM (EST) on Friday, December 15, 2023 to Natalia Lugo-Vina, Contracting Officer at natalia.lugo-vinacruz@gsa.gov. All responses must be submitted via email. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback will be provided to firms regarding submissions. No paper copies will be accepted. 

Artists’ submissions received after the deadline will not be considered for this project, but will be eligible for consideration on future GSA commissions alongside the other artists on the Registry. Artists already on the Registry need not resubmit, but may elect to update their information prior to the deadline. 

GSA evaluates artists based on the following criteria: the media, materials, content, and style of the artist’s past work, along with the artist’s past performance and experience with commissions or projects similar to the one described in this synopsis.

Shortlisted artists will be contacted and asked to submit additional information, including a statement that the artist can perform the work associated with the GSA commission within the identified budget. GSA will count the combined weight of all the selection criteria as significantly more important than price. 

At a minimum, the scope of services for this commission will require: collaboration with the lead designer selected for the building project; development of preliminary and final concepts; fabrication of the artwork; participation in meetings and conservation reviews as necessary; and the installation of the artwork at the project site.

GSA will prioritize commissioning artworks in accordance with 41 FMR 102-77.21.

For informational purposes: If selected as a contract awardee you will be required to have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) (www.sam.gov) at the time of award.