Master Planning Project - The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Inc.

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is seeking a qualified consulting team to develop a comprehensive, ten-year master plan aligned with its strategic vision, An Aquarium Without Walls, 2024–2034. The project is structured into five distinct phases: Discovery & Assessment, Visioning & Experience Framework, Concept Development, Financial Modeling & Phasing, and Final Master Plan delivery. The consultant must conduct market and peer benchmarking, assess alignment with institutional plans, evaluate regulatory constraints related to coastal flood zones, and develop audience experience principles centered on wayfinding, storytelling, accessibility, sustainability, and climate resiliency. The scope includes creating three to four site plan alternatives for the Aquarium campus, riverfront, and Manresa site, followed by order-of-magnitude capital and operational cost estimates, and a detailed ten-year implementation roadmap. Deliverables include a comprehensive master plan document in PDF and editable formats, site plans, concept renderings, a business plan with staffing and financial models, phased implementation strategy, communication materials for internal and community audiences, and a board presentation deck. The contract has a maximum fee of $300,000, which must be broken down by phase and include service fees and recommended product costs. Proposals must be submitted by July 17, 2026, by 5 p.m. EST, in both digital PDF format and five hard copies, with mandatory inclusion of a firm overview, relevant experience, project methodology, proposed team qualifications, three to five comparable project examples, a timeline not exceeding eight months, and detailed fee structure. Evaluation will occur in two stages: initial proposal review based on approach clarity, relevant experience with aquariums or cultural institutions, creativity, team qualifications, and cost/value, followed by in-person interviews with the top two to three finalists to assess professionalism and capabilities. The selected vendor must name The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk as additional insured on a primary and non-contributory basis for general and auto liability, with a waiver of subrogation for general liability, auto liability, and workers’ compensation policies meeting specified minimum coverage limits, including $1 million per occurrence general liability and $10 million excess liability. The vendor must disclose federal tax ID and state license number, identify all team members with qualifications, and disclose any third-party partnerships with oversight mechanisms. Participation requires reference to supporting documents including the Institutional Collection Plan, Conservation Action Plan, DEAI Action Plan, and prior master plans, and vendors must certify compliance with wildlife violation disclosure and AZA accreditation standards. All inquiries must