Design and Consultant Services for the Animal Shelter Renovations

The City of Palo Alto has operated a full-service animal shelter at 3281 E. Bayshore Road for the past fifty years and established a partnership with the nonprofit Pets In Need (PIN) in 2018. This collaboration supports shelter operations not only for Palo Alto but also for nearby communities including Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. Services provided encompass sheltering stray, abandoned, and owner-surrendered animals, along with operating a spay and neuter clinic, vaccine clinic, microchipping, adoption, foster programs, and emergency veterinary services. In 2024, the City and PIN renewed their agreement to extend the partnership, with plans to renovate and upgrade the existing shelter premises to maintain and improve the quality and timeliness of animal services. In February 2026, the City issued a solicitation (RFP195541) seeking design and consultant services for these planned animal shelter renovations. The solicitation is managed through the Public Works - Engineering Services department based in Palo Alto, California, with Brittany Leung and Steven Dimter as primary points of contact. Prospective consultants are required to submit detailed cost proposals outlining hourly rates and estimated hours across key tasks such as engineering, surveying, and other professional services. The City mandates comprehensive insurance coverage for contractors, including general, professional, automobile, and workers’ compensation liabilities with specified minimum limits, and requires the City to be named as additional insured on most policies. Firms must submit qualifications demonstrating relevant experience with similar projects, adherence to schedules and budgets, and include client references. The City will execute a professional services agreement outlining scope, schedule, deliverables, compensation, invoicing, and project management protocols to govern the engagement with the selected consultant.