CALL to “TILE” ARTISTS
(e.g. Ceramic, Porcelain, Terracotta, Stone, Glass)
Aqua Crest Aquatic Complex
2503 Seacrest Blvd, Delray Beach, FL 33444
BUDGET: $348,000
DEADLINE:
October 19, 2026, by 11:59pm EDT
A) Project Summary
Palm Beach County's Art in Public Places program (PBC AiPP) seeks to commission an Artist or Artist team (Artist) to design, fabricate and install art to support Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department’s goals of promoting healthy, happy living for residents and visitors utilizing the renovated Aqua Crest Aquatic Complex. Commissioned art will be integrated into the Entrance/Ticketing building and be inspired by the mission of Aqua Crest Aquatic Complex to provide a safe and affordable high quality facility that facilitates competitive and recreational water activities for residents and visitors to Palm Beach County.
Concept rendering below of Aqua Crest Aquatic Complex.
Area outlined in red is the Entrance/Ticketing building.
B) Art Design Goals
- Art will support Parks and Recreation staff's' efforts to create a welcoming, vibrant environment for all individuals and groups that use the Complex.
- Art will be inspired by active recreational and competitive aquatic activities that promote enhanced physical and mental wellbeing, and community connection.
- Art will be inspired by recreational aquatic activities.
- Art will provide visual interest that invites new discoveries for repeat visits.
- Wall art materials will be durable, require minimal maintenance and withstand the intense local environment (sun, high winds, salty moist air, and rain).
- Art will complement the facility's architectural style and scale.
C) Areas for Art Integration
The selected Artist will be responsible for designing, permitting, fabricating, and installing art onto the approximate top third of the Complex’s entrance ticketing building. Art must be made of tiles (e.g. ceramic, porcelain, terracotta, stone, glass) to be surface mounted to walls, must result in flat even surfaces that do not protrude from walls, and do not require structural reinforcement to walls. Walls are concrete tilt-up wall panels and will be primed, unless artist proposed media does not require priming.
Art installation shall be in accordance with the current edition of the Florida Building Code including any local amendments and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) current edition of the TCNA Handbook.
The Aqua Crest Aquatic Complex is planned to include approximately 14,600 square feet and a 50 meter pool. For purposes of this Call to Artists, the Entrance/Ticketing building is divided into five (5) panels, although visually the walls appear as a continuous cohesive wrap around the building. Walls designated for art integration are on the on the south, southeast, east, southwest and west facing facades. Wall square footage dimensions are approximate and subject to change. Artist proposals will be developed as if the wall is completely blank, save for the necessary elements (i.e. ventilation, entrances, and structural fixtures). Shortlisted Artists will receive construction documents upon execution of a County standard form Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to Finalist art proposal development.
The illustrations and renderings that follow are conceptual and illustrative only.
Panel A: Artist will design, permit, fabricate and install art in area highlighted below in red (324 SF).
Panel B.1 (184 SF) and C.1 (134 SF) West Facades: Artist will design, permit, fabricate and install art in area highlighted below in red.
Panel B.2 (184 SF) and C.2 (134 SF), East Facades: The selected Artist will design, permit, fabricate and install art in area highlighted below in red.
| Exterior Material Schedule |
| TAG |
APPLICATION |
MANUFACTURER |
PRODUCT SPECIFICATION |
| AWP-01 |
Exterior Wall Cladding (17 7/8 x 71 9/16) |
Nichiha - Illuminations |
AWP 1818 (Color to match Sherwin Williams SW 6523) |
| MTL.01 |
Standing seam metal roof |
Garland Co. |
Vintage Stone, Color: Star Blue Quartz, Provide Coordinating Color Accessories and Trim Pieces |
| MTL.02 |
Metal paint |
Tnemec |
High Build Industrial Epoxy Primer, Urethane Finish Paint for Exterior Metal Frame, Color to Match, Sherwin Williams SW 9148 Smokey Azurite |
| MTL.04 |
Metal soffit |
Varco Pruden Buildings or Eq. |
Pre-Engineered Metal Soffit, Color: Cool Cotton White |
| STC.01 |
Stucco |
STO |
130 STOLIT 1.0 - 35308 (To Match SW 9145 Sleepy Hollow) |
| STC.02 |
Stucco |
STO |
130 STOLIT 1.0 – 35334 (To Match SW 9147 Favorite Jeans) |
| STC.03 |
Stucco |
STO |
130 STOLIT 1.0 – 35331 River Rock (To Match SW 9148 Smokey Azurite) |
D. Aqua Crest Aquatic Complex - Background Information
The existing Aqua Crest Aquatic Complex offers a 50-meter,16 lane pool and 12 foot well with three diving boards, all of which are heated and lit for all day and year-round use. The Complex also offers special training programs to any qualified and interested individuals or groups. Programs include American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification, private and group swim lessons, senior swim team, and youth swim team.
The mission at Aqua Crest is to see those character traits deemed positive to be instilled in the swimmers who commit to the competitive swim program. The program is designed to encourage maximum participation, provide educational experiences, enhance physical and mental conditioning, and develop character through competitive swimming. The adult and youth swim teams also use the existing Complex as one of the locations they compete at in the county, promoting healthy lifestyles through the sport of swimming. They offer an inspiring team atmosphere with organized workouts, competitions, clinics and social functions for new swimmers, avid fitness and competitive swimmers. More information on the facility can be found at
www.pbcparks.com
E. Artist Eligibility
Open to all adult Professional Artists with experience of designing, fabricating and installing architecturally integrated art made with tile (e.g. ceramic, porcelain, terracotta, stone, glass). Professional Artist means a practitioner in the visual arts, generally recognized by critics and/or peers as a professional of serious intent and ability. Indications of a person’s status as a Professional Artist include, but are not limited to, income realized through the sole commission of artwork, frequent or consistent art exhibitions, placement of artwork in and/or upon the exterior or grounds of public institutions or museums, receipt of honors and awards, and training in the arts.
F. Budget
The Artist who is awarded the contract will receive a maximum fixed fee of $348,000.00 inclusive of
all expenses including Artist fee, design, engineering, permit, materials, fabrication, contractor, shipping, installation, construction oversight, travel, hotel, transportation, mileage, insurance, etc. All Artists who are selected to present their concept proposals to the Finalist Selection Panel (Shortlist Artists) will receive a flat fee (honoraria) of $1,000 inclusive of all expenses.
G. Shortlist Application
1. CODAworx Account Required. To apply for this opportunity, sign up for a free CODAworx account at
https://tinyurl.com/CODAworxlogin . If you already have an account, you can log in. Use one of the following browsers: Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Click on the person icon in the upper right corner, register with your email address, name and profession.
In order to see the “Apply to RFP” button, and access the application, you must be logged into your CODAworx account. Submit your Shortlist Application online through CODAworx at:
https://www.codaworx.com/rfq/detail/aqua-crest-aquatic-complex using one of the following browsers: Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Find the Call to Artists you are applying for under header: Artist Resources: All Open RFPs. You may save and return to your application before submitting it. To access an application in progress, log into your account on CODAworx, click on the RFP Applications tile to resume your application.
2. Contents of Application. A complete Shortlist Application must include the following information.
Failure to include all of the information listed below may result in disqualification of your application.
a. Resume - Accepted format: pdf
b. Letter of Interest - Accepted format: pdf
- Express your interest in the project and address how your past artworks and experience demonstrate that you can successfully meet art design goals of this project.
c. Images of Past Work –
Image specifications: JPG, PNG, 300dpi, 15MB Max. Images must contain the following information: title of work, location, budget or price, year completed, medium, dimensions.
- Up to five (5) images of past artwork. Image files may feature one or multiple views per project.
- Only submit images of completed projects or projects that have been awarded. Images of proposals, models, and computer generated images and/or incomplete projects that have been awarded may be submitted.
Video specifications: MP4 or MOV. Videos must contain the following information: title of work, location, budget or price, year completed, medium, dimensions.
- Up to two (2) videos per project.
- Only submit videos of completed projects or projects that have been awarded. Videos of proposals, models, and computer generated videos and/or incomplete projects that have been awarded may be submitted.
3. Evaluation Criteria for Shortlist Selection. Up to three (3) Artists will be short listed based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated ability to design, construct and install large scale public art – 40 points
- Quality and strength of past work as demonstrated in the submitted application materials – 60 points
4. Shortlist Scoring.
a. Pass/Fail Review. The Shortlist Panel may initially review each application for completeness, Artist experience and prior work and assign either a pass or fail rating. Those applications that receive a pass rating from a majority of the panel will then be scored and ranked by the Shortlist Panel.
b. Ranking. For each application that receives a pass rating from a majority of the panel, each criteria will be scored and when the scores awarded for all criteria are totaled, the scores will be tabulated and added to achieve the total points awarded to each Artist by each Shortlist Panel member. Using the total points awarded to each Artist, each Artist will be ranked by each Shortlist Panel member with the highest point total ranked 1, the next highest point total ranked 2, etc. The ranking of each Artist will be tabulated from each Shortlist Panel member and combined with other Shortlist Panel members to determine the total ranking score for the Artist, with the lowest point total ranked 1, the next lowest point total ranked 2, etc. These rankings will then be used by the Shortlist Panel to shortlist up to three (3) Artists. Should the ranking result in a tie, then the Shortlist Panel will select the Artist with the most first place votes; if there is still a tie, then the Artist with the most second place votes etc. until the Shortlist consists of just three (3) Artists.
H. Mandatory Pre-Proposal Virtual meeting for Shortlist Artists
Following Shortlist Selection, PBC AiPP will host a mandatory virtual meeting to provide Shortlist Artists additional information and instructions. This is also an opportunity for Shortlist Artists to ask questions of the Project Team. Virtual meeting tentative date is noted in the tentative schedule below. Prior to the mandatory pre-proposal virtual meeting, Shortlisted Artists will receive Construction Documents upon execution of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) since plans for County buildings are considered confidential information under State law.
Prior to the Pre-Proposal virtual meeting, Shortlist Artists will also receive a Business Information Form which must be completed and submitted to the PBC AiPP along with proof that the Artist’s business entity is registered to do business in the State of Florida as either a Florida or a foreign company, or proof that the registration application has been submitted and is pending review. Prior to the Pre-Proposal virtual meeting:
1. Register your business entity at
Corporations - Division of Corporations - Florida Department of State (myflorida.com)
2. Provide PBC AiPP with the Business Information Form and proof that your business entity is registered or the registration application has been submitted to the Florida Department of State.
Shortlist Artists who do not attend the mandatory pre-proposal virtual meeting will be disqualified and will not receive the $1,000 honoraria.
I. VSS Registration for Shortlist Artists
In order for a Shortlist Artist to receive the $1,000 honoraria, a Shortlist Artist must register with the County’s Vendor Self Service (“VSS”) system at
VSSPRD - Welcome to Palm Beach County’s Vendor Self-Service (VSS) Registration System
J. Finalist Selection
1. Presentation. Shortlist Artists will develop and present to the Finalist Selection Panel one (1) concept art design proposal. Finalists will have the option to present their presentations in person or virtually to the Finalist Selection Panel. PBC AiPP will provide the Finalist Selection meeting invitation and link one week prior to the Finalist Selection meeting for any Shortlist Artist opting to present virtually. All concept art proposals must address the art design goals. Each Shortlist Artist will have fifteen (15) minutes to present his/her concept to the Finalist Selection Panel followed by questions from the Panel.
2. Contents of Finalist Submittal. A complete Finalist Submittal must include the following information.
Failure to include all of the required information may result in disqualification.
a. Concept Art Design
- Color concept drawings/renderings
b. Narrative
- Artwork Title
- Artwork Medium
- Artwork Concept Narrative
- If Artist incorporated elements of the proposed Art design in other projects completed by the Artist or in other projects awarded to the Artist, Artist shall identify such element(s) and project(s) in the Narrative.
c. Schedule
- Include timeline for milestones including Design Development, Construction Documents, Permit (approximately 4 months), Fabrication, Shipping, and Installation.
d. Budget
- Include line items for Artist fee (not to exceed 10% of total project budget), design, engineering, permit, materials, fabrication, shipping, travel, installation, insurance, attorney fees, project management, etc.
- When preparing the budget, Artist should be aware that even though the County is exempt from payment of Florida State Sales and Use Taxes, the Artist is not exempt from paying sales tax to its suppliers for materials purchased nor is the Artist authorized to use the County’s Tax Exemption Number in securing such materials.
e. Certification of Business Location Form. Only for Shortlist Artists who have a permanent place of business in Palm Beach County prior to the issuance of this “Call to Artists”.
- Shortlist Artists will be provided with the Certification of Business Location Form prior to the Mandatory Pre-Proposal Virtual meeting. A Shortlist Artist with a permanent place of business in Palm Beach County prior to the issuance of this “Call to Artists” must complete this form and include the form and a current Palm Beach County business tax receipt as part of its Finalist Submittal in order to receive 5 local preference points.
3. Evaluation Criteria for Finalist Selection. The Finalist Selection Panel will select artwork based on the following criteria:
- Artistic merit of the concept art design - 45 points
- Extent to which art concept design meets the art design goals - 50 points
- Local preference. Artists who have a permanent place of business in Palm Beach County - 5 points. During Finalist Selection, Shortlist Artists who have a permanent place of business in Palm Beach County will receive 5 points if the Shortlist Artist submits the Certification of Business Location Form and a current Palm Beach County business tax receipt.
4. Finalist Scoring. For each finalist submittal, each criteria will be scored and when the scores awarded for all criteria are totaled, the scores will be tabulated and added to achieve the total points awarded to each Artist by each Finalist Selection Panel member. Using the total points awarded to each Artist, each Artist will be ranked with the highest point total ranked 1, the next highest point total ranked 2, etc. The ranking of each Artist will be tabulated from each Finalist Selection Panel member and combined with other Finalist Selection Panel members to determine the total ranking score for the Artist, with the lowest point total ranked 1, the next lowest point total ranked 2, etc. Should the ranking result in a tie, then the Finalist Selection Panel will select the Artist with the most first place votes; if there is still a tie, then the Artist with the most second place votes, etc.
K. Selection Panels
Shortlist and Finalist Selection Panels for this Call to Artists are comprised of the County’s Public Art Committee members, a representative from the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, and a representative of the project architectural team, OLC. The County reserves the right to make changes to the membership of the Shortlist and Finalist Selection Panels if necessary. While not common, the Finalist Selection Panel may request minor changes to the selected art concepts. If a Finalist refuses to make requested minor changes to his/her proposed concept art per the Finalist Selection Panel’s request, Palm Beach County may opt not to contract with Artist for the art commission.
Artist whose concept art design(s) are selected by the Finalist Selection Panel will enter into the County’s standard form Agreement for Artist Services to develop their concept design(s) into an original artwork.
L. Tentative Solicitation and Project Schedule
County reserves the right to alter these dates as necessary.
- Call to Artists Announced – July 30, 2026
- Artist Q & A Deadline – September 22, 2026, by 5:00pm EDT
- PBC AiPP posts answers to Artist questions – no later than September 29, 2026, at
http://discover.pbcgov.org/fdo/art/Pages/Calls-to-Artists.aspx and at
VSSPRD - Welcome to Palm Beach County’s Vendor Self-Service (VSS) Registration System
- Shortlist Application Submittal Deadline – October 19, 2026, by 11:59pm EDT
- Shortlist Selection – November 30, 2026
- Provide Shortlist Artists Construction CDs after NDAs signed – Week of November 30, 2026
- Proof of Registration or Application Submittal to FL Division of Corporations – Week of December 6, 2026
- Mandatory Pre-Proposal Virtual Conference Call – December 6, 2026
- Finalist Selection – January 11, 2027
- City of Delray Beach Site Plan Review Advisory Board review/approval – March 31, 2027
- BCC Contract Approval – May 11, 2027
- Notice to Proceed – May 31, 2027
- Art Design Development Complete – July 13, 2027
- Art Construction Documents Complete – September 13, 2027
- Art Shop Drawings Complete – October 25, 2027
- Art Fabrication Complete – January 25, 2028
- Art Installation Complete/Punchlist – April 10, 2028
M. Questions
By 5:00pm EDT on September 22, 2026, any Artist questions shall be sent to esinger@pbcgov.org - Subject line: “Aqua Crest Aquatic Complex, Artist Question, Last Name, First Name.” By 5:00pm EDT on September 29, 2026 , all questions and answers will be documented in an Amendment to the Call to Artists, which will be posted at
http://discover.pbcgov.org/fdo/art/Pages/Calls-to-Artists.aspx and at
VSSPRD - Welcome to Palm Beach County’s Vendor Self-Service (VSS) Registration System
Questions regarding this Call to Artists must be directed to Palm Beach County’s Public Art Program Administrator, Elayna Toby Singer, at
esinger@pbcgov.org. If applicants rely on information provided by persons other than Ms. Singer, they do so at their own risk. From the date of release of this Call to Artists until award of contract, no contact with Palm Beach County’s Public Art Committee, members of Selection Panels for this Call to Artists, or representatives of Palm Beach County related to this Call to Artists is permitted except as authorized by Ms. Singer and/or in conjunction with scheduled Call to Artists activities. Any such unauthorized contact shall not be used as a basis for selection and may result in the disqualification of the Artist’s proposal.
In addition, the Palm Beach County’s Lobbyist Registration Ordinance prohibits an Artist or anyone representing an Artist from communicating with any County Commissioner, County Commissioner’s staff, or any employee authorized to act on behalf of the Commission to award a particular contract regarding this Call to Artists, i.e., a “Cone of Silence.” The “Cone of Silence” is in effect from the date/time of the deadline of the Shortlist application and terminates at the time that the Board of County Commissioners or a County Department authorized to act on their behalf, awards or approves a contract, rejects all bids, or otherwise takes action which ends the solicitation process. Artists may, however, contact any County Commissioner, County Commissioner’s staff, or any employee authorized to act on behalf of the Commission to award a particular contract, via written communication, i.e., facsimile, e-mail, or U.S. mail. Violations of the “Cone of Silence” are punishable by a fine of $250.00 per violation.
N. Amendments
Changes to this Call to Artists, when deemed necessary by Palm Beach County, will be completed only by written Amendment(s) issued prior to the deadline for receipt of proposals. Proposers should not rely on any representations, statements or explanation other than those made in this Call to Artists, or in any Amendment to this Call to Artists. Where there appears to be a conflict between the Call to Artists, and any Amendment issued, the last Amendment issued shall control.
All Palm Beach County Call to Artists and Amendments will be advertised at
http://discover.pbcgov.org/fdo/art/Pages/Calls-to-Artists.aspx and at
VSSPRD - Welcome to Palm Beach County’s Vendor Self-Service (VSS) Registration System It is the sole responsibility of Artists/proposers to routinely check this website for any Amendments issued prior to the deadline for receipt of proposals. Palm Beach County shall not be responsible for the completeness of any package (Call to Artists and Amendments) not downloaded from these websites.
0. General Terms and Conditions
1.
Florida Public Records Law. Upon submission, all proposals become public records and the property of Palm Beach County, and subject to disclosure in accordance with Florida law.
2.
Due Diligence of Proposer. Due care and diligence has been exercised in preparation of this Call to Artists and all information contained herein is believed to be substantially correct; however, the responsibility for determining the full extent of the requested services rests solely with those making proposals.
3.
Rejection of Responses; Waiver of Irregularities. Palm Beach County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals submitted in response to this Call to Artists, waive any or all informalities and/or irregularities, re-advertise with either an identical or revised scope, or cancel this Call to Artists in its entirety, at its sole and absolute discretion. Palm Beach County is not under any obligation to select Shortlist Artists or a Finalist or to award a contract if, in the sole judgment of the County, the Artist materials do not meet the eligibility or qualifications for the project.
4.
Right to Reschedule or Cancel. Palm Beach County reserves the right to reschedule or cancel Finalist Selection without paying expenses.
5. Clarifications. Palm Beach County reserves the right to contact any or all proposers after submittal in order to obtain supplemental information and/or clarification in either verbal or written form.
6. Registration To Do Business In the State of Florida. The selected Artist’s business entity must be registered to do business in the State of Florida with the Florida Department of State.
7. County Standard Contract Required. The selected Artist will be required to execute the County’s standard contract for Artist’s services. A copy of this document is available upon request.
8. Public Entities Crimes/Convicted Vendor List. Per Florida Statute 287.133, a person or affiliate who has been placed on the State of Florida convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime may not submit a response to a solicitation for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list. Proposers suspended from doing business with the County at the time this solicitation is advertised are not eligible to submit a response.
9. Non-Discrimination. The County is committed to assuring equal opportunity in the award of contracts and complies with all laws prohibiting discrimination. Pursuant to Palm Beach County ResolutionR2025-0748, as may be amended, the proposer warrants and represents that throughout the term of any resulting Contract, including any renewals thereof, if applicable, all of its employees are treated equally during employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, or genetic information. Failure to meet this requirement shall be considered default of any resulting Contract.
10.
Prohibition against Considering Social, Political or Ideological Interests in Government Contracting - F.S. 287.05701. Proposers are hereby notified of the provisions of section 287.05701, Florida Statutes, as amended, that the County will not request documentation of or consider a Proposer’s social, political, or ideological interests when determining if the Proposer is a responsible Proposer. Proposers are further notified that the County's governing body may not give preference to a Proposer based on the Proposer's social, political, or ideological interests.
P. Award of Contract
1. Notification of Recommended Award. Artists will be notified of the recommended award by email and the Notification will be posted for 5 business days on the following website:
http://discover.pbcgov.org/fdo/art/Pages/Calls-to-Artists.aspx.
2. Right of Appeal/Protest.
a. Responsiveness Review and/or Shortlist Results. Any Proposer may appeal/protest the responsiveness review and/or shortlist results by submitting a written protest to the Director, Facilities Development and Operations Department within five (5) business days after receiving notice from the Department of the results of the responsiveness review and/or Shortlist Panel evaluation. Protests must be submitted in writing, must identify the protestor and the solicitation, must describe the grounds for the protest, and must be addressed to the Director, Facilities Development and Operations Department, via hand delivery or mail to 2633 Vista Parkway, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 or via email to jferriol@pbc.gov. A protest is considered filed when it is received by the Director, FDO. Failure to file a protest within five (5) business days of Artist’s receipt of the Department’s notice of the results of the responsiveness review and/or Shortlist Panel results shall constitute a waiver of the proposer’s right to protest.
b. Finalist Selection. Any Proposer may appeal/protest a final selection by submitting a written protest to the Director, Facilities Development and Operations Department within five (5) business days after the posting of the Notice of Intent to Award by the Department. Protests must be submitted in writing, must identify the protestor and the solicitation, must describe the grounds for the protest, and must be addressed to the Director, Facilities Development and Operations Department, via hand delivery or mail to 2633 Vista Parkway, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 or via email to jferriol@pbc.gov A protest is considered filed when it is received by the Director, FDO. Failure to file a protest within five (5) business days of the posting of the Notice of Intent to Award shall constitute a waiver of the proposer’s right to protest.
3. Negotiations. The County will conduct negotiations with the highest ranked Artist. However, if an agreement is not reached with the top ranked Artist, negotiations will be terminated, and the County will move to the second ranked Artist to attempt to reach agreement. If an agreement is not reached with the second-ranked Artist, the County will move to the third-ranked Artist.
4. Cancellation of Recommended Award. The County reserves the right to cancel the recommended award of any contract at any time before the execution of said contract by all parties without liability against the County. The proposer, by submitting a proposal, expressly waives any claims to damages of any kind whatsoever in the event the County exercises its rights under this subsection.