Design Inaugural Exhibitions for Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) has issued an RFP for the design of its inaugural exhibitions. This opportunity seeks a firm to develop the initial concept plan and design for state-of-the-art, immersive exhibits celebrating the Latino experience. The contract award is anticipated in September 2026.
Scope of Work
The selected contractor will provide professional and technical exhibition design services, including developing a "Concept Design" and progressing through 100% design development, fabrication, space preparation, and installation. Designs must be attractive, engaging, accessible, educational, sustainable, functional, and durable, incorporating considerations for life safety, ADA/ABA compliance, energy conservation, and a 20+ year lifespan. Deliverables include concept design, schematic design, final design, and fabrication administration.
Minimum Requirements
Offerors must demonstrate capacity to design multimillion-dollar museum exhibition experiences. This includes prior experience within the past seven years designing at least three complete museum or very complex museum exhibits that integrated objects, images, and multimedia. Each example must have an exhibition footprint of at least 35,000 sq. ft., with at least one exceeding 45,000 sq. ft. At least one example must be fabricated and completed. Subcontractor performance cannot satisfy the prime contractor's minimum requirement.
Contract Details
This is anticipated to be a Firm Fixed-Price contract for the 10% Concept Design, with priced options for subsequent design phases (Schematic, Final Design, Fabrication Administration) assessed as a percentage of the fabrication budget. The estimated total exhibition fabrication and installation budget is between $100,000,000 and $130,000,000.
Submission & Evaluation
Proposals must be submitted via email to Debra Berke (berked@si.edu) by May 18, 2026, 9:00 AM EST. Technical and business proposals must be separate files. Evaluation will prioritize technical factors (approach, management plan, firm profile/personnel, past performance) over business/cost factors. Vendors must be registered in SAM by August 15, 2026.
Key Dates
- Questions Due: April 13, 2026, 9:00 AM EST
- Proposals Due: May 18, 2026, 9:00 AM EST
- SAM Registration Deadline: August 15, 2026
- Anticipated Award: September 2026