Town of Fair Bluff Small Business Center – Suite Restaurant Upgrade

The Town of Fair Bluff is soliciting professional services to retrofit Suite 100 at its Downtown Development Center to transform it from a limited deli-style space into a fully compliant, full-service restaurant capable of supporting Kousins Kitchen Soul & Catering’s operations. Funded by a $188,888 Rural Business Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the project requires comprehensive architectural and construction management services including schematic design, design development, permitting, bidding support, construction observation, and administration. The renovation must meet strict health and safety standards set by the Columbus County Health Department as well as all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, particularly those outlined in 24 CFR 85 governing grant compliance. All work must occur at the designated site in Fair Bluff, North Carolina, and firms must demonstrate qualifications through detailed submissions including firm resumes, key personnel credentials, past project experience with similar scopes, and proof of professional liability and Workers’ Compensation insurance. Firms are required to submit five hard-copy proposal sets by 2:00 p.m. on May 27, 2026, to the Town’s designated address, with each envelope clearly labeled to identify the submitting firm and the project. Proposals must be complete and unaltered; late, incomplete, or improperly marked submissions will be rejected. Evaluation will focus on the completeness and content of submissions, past performance on comparable projects, qualifications of proposed personnel, and business status—particularly favoring minority-owned, small, local, and Section 3 businesses. While no formal contract clauses, payment details, or invoicing mechanisms are specified, compliance with federal RBDG requirements is mandatory, and the Town reserves the right to investigate each offeror’s ability to deliver the work satisfactorily within the required timeframe. Contractors must be licensed to practice in North Carolina and maintain a local office in the state. No electronic submissions are accepted, and site visits are the responsibility of the offeror to fully understand existing conditions and constraints.