Active SLED Opportunity · NORTH CAROLINA · TOWN OF MOORESVILLE
AI Summary
The Town of Mooresville seeks qualified design-build firms for redevelopment of properties into a visitor center and office space. The project includes design, engineering, permitting, construction, and closeout. Proposals are due by April 29, 2026.
The Mooresville Travel and Tourism Authority (“Visit Mooresville”) is soliciting Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified design-build firms to provide comprehensive design and construction services for the redevelopment of properties located at 169 and 175 North Main Street in downtown Mooresville, North Carolina.
The project consists of transforming the existing properties into a signature visitor center and administrative office space that will serve as a central destination for visitors and a resource for the community. The selected design-build firm will be responsible for delivering all aspects of the project, including design, engineering, permitting, construction, and project closeout, in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal requirements.
Visit Mooresville seeks to partner with a firm that demonstrates a strong commitment to collaboration, innovation, and high-quality project delivery.
This project will take place at the following locations:
169 & 175 North Main Street
Mooresville, NC 28115
This notice is to inform recipients that the list of vendors currently following the project has been made public. Any vendors who choose to follow the project in the future will also be visible on the public list.
Upload the qualifications package here.
Please provide a description of your project. A few lines or perhaps the first paragraph of your Scope of Work would suffice.
Q (RFQ or RFP):
A: The RFQ seems to have a Quals (RFQ) package AND a proposal (RFP) combined. Both terms are used throughout the document. Section 3.10 – Submittal Requirements are all quals based with a project approach. Section 5 - is a technical proposal – with different questions. Question: Is the submission due on the 29th at noon only section 3.10 or are you requiring both? The Qualifications Package is due 4/29. Pricing should not be included in your submission package.
Q (No subject):
A: There are two submission requirements given i. Section 3.10 – SOQs must be submitted electronically not exceeding 20 pages ii. Section 5.1 – Proposal Submittals+ : Upload Technical proposal Here If this was suppose to be a link it is broken Question: On the 29th , are we emailing you or is there a corrected link to submit. Question: It doesn’t appear per the Timeline in 1.4 there are two submission dates, so section 3.10 + 5.1 need to be under 20 pages (if it is deemed both are required on 29th). The Qualifications Package is due 4/29. There is only one submission date for the qualifications package and it needs to be uploaded to the project. The link seems to be working fine for us, but you can submit to purchasing@mooresvillenc.gov if need be.
Q (No subject): 2. Is the property at 169 and 175 North Main Street owned by Visit Mooresville or a leased property
A: The property is owned by Mooresville Travel and Tourism Authority (Visit Mooresville).
Q (No subject): 3. What does the Visit Mooresville and/or Town approval process look like to better understand presentation/meeting frequency and signoff for project phases?
A: Visit Mooresville will be doing the approval process and signoffs for project phases.
Q (No subject): 4. Is Visit Mooresville preferring in person meetings and on-site walking the space/charetting vs teams format? Trying to better understand travel and frequency and format of meetings with Mooresville.
A: We anticipate a hybrid approach. We value in-person meetings, particularly for opportunities to walk the space and gain a hands-on understanding of the project. At the same time, we are fully open to utilizing video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, for regular coordination and check-ins throughout the process.
Q (No subject): 5. How much professional liability insurance coverage is required of all consultants?
A: 1 Million
Q (No subject): 6. With events being mentioned in the SOW, can you define whether there is a need for a catering/warming kitchen where we may need to the Dept of Health involved?
A: If a warming or prep kitchen area is incorporated, it is likely that health department approval will be required. This has not yet been fully confirmed. We will need to better understand the applicable regulations and how they apply to this type of space. A definitive response will be provided once additional information is available.
Q (No subject): 7. Is there a need for a flexible/expandable training room function with operable wall component?
A: We envision a larger meeting area that can be subdivided into smaller rooms or configured as a boardroom. This space should align with the overall aesthetic of the facility while offering flexibility for multiple uses.
Q (No subject): 8. How many guests would you want to accommodate an event space (standing room)?
A: If an outdoor rooftop area is feasible, it should be designed to accommodate approximately 40 to 50 people.
Q (No subject): 9. Does Visit Mooresville and/or the Town of Mooresville have a preferred AV vendor they'd like us to use for interactive displays?
A: Neither Visit Mooresville nor the Town of Mooresville has a preferred AV vendor.
Q (No subject): 10. Are there any other consultant relationships that we should be aware of?
A: There are no known consultant relationships that need to be disclosed at this time.
Q (No subject): 13. What is the overall square footage for the entire re-development?Is the total project 4000 sf or is that just the administrative office component?
A: Combined, the existing space is approximately 6000 square feet. We have the ability to expand that footprint. The 4000 square feet is an estimation of what may be needed or office space. Final SF totals are to be determined.
Q (No subject): 12. Do we need to consider if these building are on the historic registry and any grant money that may be allotted for preservation? Clarify if the buildings are currently on the historic registry.
A: They are on the Historic Register and you need to contact the Historic Preservation Board. I am unsure if any grant funding is involved at this time.
Q (No subject): 14. Has a project budget been established? If a budget has not been established what is the process for budget approvals? Will Visit Mooresville pursue any grants or other methods for funding where the design-build team would need to offer assistance?
A: A project budget has not been established. As we move through this process, we will look for grants or other potential revenue streams to offset the funding provided by Visit Mooresville.
Q (No subject): 15. What is the anticipated completion date for the overall design and construction process?
A: If possible, we would like to have this project completed by the end of December 2027.
Q (No subject): Will there be a there a pre-proposal site walk? If yes, is it mandatory?
A: There is no mandatory site visit.
Q (No subject): What is the proposed contract type (AIA or otherwise)? What is driving the design-build project delivery?
A: Yes, it will likely be a construction contract from AIA.
Q (Followers): Can the list of followers of the RFQ be made available? This would support potential subcontractors with particular specializations team up with other interested companies for this broad scope of work.
A: Yes. We just made it viewable and will post a notice regarding this.
Q (No subject): Have you prequalified any general contractors or is there a database of local general contractors that may prime this project? Again, this would support potential subcontractors as we look to provide first-class services to certain portions of the scope of work.
A: We have not.
Q (No subject): Will you accept qualifications submitted for a portion of the full scope of work (e.g. a dedicated experiential design team, dedicated architectural team, etc.)?
A: As long as everything is part of a singular package submission.
Q (No subject): Has a target budget (or budget range) been identified for this project overall?
A: No, a target budget range has not been identified.
Q (No subject): What is the funding source of this project?
A: The project is funded by the Mooresville Travel and Tourism Authority (dba Visit Mooresville), primarily through a 4% occupancy tax collected on hotel rooms within the Town of Mooresville. While future funding could potentially involve partnerships with other economic development or government entities, the occupancy tax is currently the sole funding source.
Q (No subject): 1. Please clarify if this is a Town of Mooresville project or independent of the Town and the Town is assisting with the proposal process only.
A: The Town is only assisting with the proposal process.
Q (No subject): 16. Are there requirements or goals for MWBE participation?
A: Yes, North Carolina has active requirements for Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) participation in public construction projects. State law mandates a target of 10% minority business participation for building projects, requiring local governments to make and document "good faith efforts" to solicit HUB firms. These rules apply to state agencies and local government construction/repair work.
Q (No subject): 11. What exterior spaces if any are you referencing in the RFP?
A: Exterior spaces may include a back porch or potential rooftop outdoor event space.
Q (No subject): What are the insurance requirements?
A: 2 Million General Liability and 1-2 Million Professional Liability
Q (No subject): The RFQ specifies design-build "firms." Can you confirm whether architect-contractor partnerships are also eligible? And is prior collaboration on a design-build project a requirement for the team?
A: Architect-Contractor partnerships are eligible. Prior collaboration on a design build project is not required.
Q (No subject): Does the architect on the team need to be licensed in North Carolina at time of the RFQ response submittal or could the individual obtain the license if awarded the project?
A: Yes, they would need to be licensed in NC at time of response submission.
Q (No subject): Can you provide more details about the existing properties and expected extent of new build vs renovation?
A: The building at 175 North Main Street (former jewelry store) will undergo a comprehensive interior renovation, including removal of existing walls, ceilings, and finishes to allow for full reconfiguration of the space. At 169 North Main Street (current vape shop), the existing structure is expected to be fully demolished. The site will be redeveloped with new construction, expanding the ground-floor footprint to align with 175 North Main Street, with the potential for vertical expansion and rooftop space.
Q (No subject): What community engagement process has already occurred, and will the selected team be expected to lead additional public input sessions?
A: In early January 2026, Visit Mooresville hosted a vision planning workshop with local stakeholders, including elected officials, economic development partners, board members, and staff. The purpose was to collaboratively define the overall vision for the building.
Q (No subject): What specific digital tools or platforms are envisioned for personalized visitor itineraries — is there an existing CMS or platform in use?
A: We use Simpleview as our sales CRM. We are not currently using any itinerary-making platforms and don’t have plans to at this time. We do have a website: visitmooresville.com as well as our social platforms.
Q (No subject): Is LEED certification, energy efficiency targeting, or any sustainability standard required or preferred?
A: The project aims to achieve LEED certification and incorporate energy-efficient design elements. This goal will be balanced with overall project budget considerations.
Q (No subject): Is there an expected cost target per SF or hard GMP expectation?
A: There is no target cost per SF at this time.
Q (No subject): How will the total project budget be allocated between building, exhibits, and technology?
A: The allocation has not been determined as of yet.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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