165 and 169 Main Street - Facade Grant Project

The City of Ellsworth, through its Economic Development agency, is soliciting proposals for the 165 and 169 Main Street Facade Grant Project under solicitation number 2026-RFP-011. The project focuses on the improvement and rehabilitation of commercial building exteriors to restore their original character and implement ADA accessibility improvements. Specific technical requirements include repairing door jambs and heads, installing specific Rejuvenation hardware and NGP neoprene sweeps for weatherization, and reconditioning original hardware. All work must adhere to the City's building ordinance and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, with a requirement that new materials be identified with permanent hidden marks for record drawings. The contract is subject to stringent federal and state regulations, including the Davis-Bacon Act for prevailing wages, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, and HUD Lead-Based Paint regulations. Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Equal Employment Opportunity certifications are required for contracts exceeding 10,000 dollars. The City will award the contract based on the best overall value, evaluating respondents on relevant experience, historic preservation knowledge, cost competitiveness, project approach and schedule, and past performance, each weighted at 20 percent. Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format via the OpenGov procurement portal by November 19, 2026. Submissions must include a letter of transmittal, business entity identification, a detailed proposal plan, and a pricing proposal. The project is part of the Downtown Facade Improvement Program, which has an extended implementation phase running through June 2027. Final contract award is subject to City Council approval.