Los Portales Museum and Visitor Center Operations and Management for the El Paso County, Texas

The County of El Paso is soliciting proposals under RFP 26-015 for the operations and management of the Los Portales Museum and Visitor Center in Texas, with all submissions required through the Ion Wave e-Bid platform by June 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM Mountain Time. Proposals may also be delivered in hard copy to the Purchasing Department at 800 E. Overland Ave., Suite 300, El Paso, TX 79901, but faxed or emailed responses are not permitted. Questions must be submitted via Ion Wave or to [email hidden] by the designated cutoff date, and all responses and addenda will be posted on the same platform, making it the respondent’s sole responsibility to monitor for updates prior to submission. The solicitation is classified under NAICS code 712110 for museums and is not subject to a specific set-aside. The evaluation process is structured around a 100-point weighted system prioritizing historic preservation and stewardship, visitor engagement, exhibit quality, performance measurement, accessibility, community outreach, partnerships, and digital services, with health insurance for staff and references carrying minor weight. Award will be made using a trade-off approach, valuing technical merit alongside price, rather than using a lowest-price approach. The contract requires submission of resumes for key personnel, including a project manager and job foreman who must be fluent in English and present on-site during all operations, along with proof of liability insurance, IRS W-9, non-collusion affidavits, performance and payment bonds, and indemnification agreements that survive contract termination. No contract value is disclosed, as pricing fields in the bid form are blank, and no FOB, payment office, invoicing system, or federal Accounting Classification Reference Numbers are specified. While federal FAR clauses are not incorporated, the contract includes local and state compliance requirements, including adherence to Texas Education Code for background checks if personnel interact with students. All work must be performed at the museum site, with no defined start or end dates tied to calendar time but instead activated by Notice to Proceed, and the contract permits a potential three-year extension upon mutual agreement.