USA Pavilion Design-Build fit-out construction, Exhibit Design, Content Development, Installation, and Decommissioning for Expo 2027 Belgrade, Serbia

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to questions and clarifications submitted by potential bidders regarding Solicitation 19AQMM26R0058 for the Design-Build Fit-Out of the US Pavilion at Belgrade Expo 2027.

• Material Sourcing: Construction materials can be sourced from countries other than the United States, provided they meet design requirements.

• Project Start: Design is expected to commence upon provision of bonding and insurance, and issuance of Limited Notice to Proceed with Design.

• Permitting: The contractor is responsible for applying for all necessary local permits, as detailed in Section C SOW.

• Logistics & Deconstruction: The contractor is responsible for transporting display materials from the US to the site and has a planned 3-month period for decommissioning and removal post-event.

• RFI Submission: RFIs are to be submitted via email to Jennifer Leung (LeungJB@state.gov) and Lori Botkin (BotkinLL@state.gov) by the specified deadline. The previous mention of ProjNet submission in Section B.7 has been deleted via Amendment A01.

• Serbian Legal Entity: A foreign company must establish a business entity in Serbia or collaborate with a licensed Serbian firm to act as Contractor or Designer. A locally licensed Serbian Architect of Record is mandatory for permitting and code compliance.

• Joint Ventures: A Joint Venture must be registered as a single entity in SAM.gov. Separate company registrations do not constitute a single JV.

• Pavilion Shell Information: Technical information for the pavilion shell is available as Attachment J.3.3 in Amendment A01 on SAM.gov; access must be requested.

• Interior Fit-Out Scope: The interior fit-out scope, including specifications and materials, will be determined during the contractor's design phase. Media production services for exhibits are included in this contract.

• Dismantling/Removal: Dismantling or removal of the Organizer-provided pavilion shell or primary structural frame is excluded from the contractor's scope.

• Site Restoration: Site restoration applies only to areas impacted by the contractor's installed works, not the base pavilion structure.

• Virtual Pavilion: There is no requirement for a virtual pavilion; this was removed from Evaluation Factor 2 via Amendment A02.

• Project Budget: The estimated total construction costs range from $10,000,000 to $14,000,000, including option CLINs.

• Proposal Deadline: Extensions are not being considered due to the fixed start date of Expo 2027.

• Evaluation: No evaluation preference is given to U.S. or Serbian-based entities, though a locally licensed Serbian Architect of Record is a mandatory requirement.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides clarifications and answers to questions submitted by potential bidders regarding Solicitation 19AQMM26R0058, "Design-Build Fit-Out US Pavilion at Belgrade Expo 2027 RFP".

• Material Sourcing: Construction materials can be sourced from countries other than the United States, provided they meet design requirements.
• Project Start: Design work is expected to commence upon issuance of Limited Notice to Proceed with Design, after bonding and insurance are provided.
• Permitting: The contractor is responsible for applying for all necessary local permits, as detailed in Section C SOW.
• Logistics: The contractor is responsible for transporting display materials from the United States to the site.
• Deconstruction: A 3-month timeframe is planned for pavilion decommissioning and removal post-event.
• Local Labor: The contractor is permitted to utilize local labor groups.
• RFI Submission: RFIs are to be submitted via email to Jennifer Leung (LeungJB@state.gov) and Lori Botkin (BotkinLL@state.gov) by February 16, 2026. The previous mention of ProjNet in Section B.7 has been deleted via Amendment A01.
• Pre-Proposal Conference: A virtual pre-proposal conference is planned for February 13, 2026. No site visit will be conducted.
• Serbian Entity Registration: A foreign company may act as a Contractor or Designer if it establishes a business entity in Serbia and obtains required licenses, or collaborates with a licensed Serbian firm. For roles not requiring licensing, engagement of individuals is permitted.
• Joint Ventures: A Joint Venture is considered a single registered entity. If an offeror relies on related entities, a formal JV or partnership must be established and registered in SAM. Separate company registrations do not constitute a single JV.
• Pavilion Shell Information: Technical information for the pavilion shell has been provided as Attachment J.3.3 in Amendment A01. Access must be requested via the SAM.gov RFP site.
• Interior Fit-Out Scope: The interior fit-out scope, including specifications and design guidelines, will be determined during the contractor's design phase. This contract includes the full design and construction of the interior, exterior, and exhibits.
• Dismantling/Removal: Dismantling or removal of the Organizer-provided pavilion shell or primary structural frame is excluded from the contractor's scope.
• Site Restoration: Site restoration requirements apply only to areas impacted by the contractor's installed works, not the base pavilion structure.
• Architect of Record: A locally licensed Serbian Architect of Record is required for permitting and code compliance. The Lead Design Architect does not need to be U.S. or Serbia-based, but the Serbian Architect of Record must validate and submit all documentation.
• Evaluation: There are no preference or evaluation considerations based on the geographic location or nationality of the Lead Design Architect.

These clarifications affect submission procedures for RFIs and provide crucial details on scope, responsibilities, and legal/registration requirements for potential bidders. The deletion of Section B.7 regarding ProjNet submission is a key administrative change.

Other / Unclassified

This document provides information regarding a pre-proposal conference for the Design-Build Fit-Out of the US Pavilion for the Belgrade Expo 2027. It details the meeting date, time, and includes a Webex link, meeting number, and password for access.

Potential bidders interested in the Belgrade Expo 2027 US Pavilion project should note the details of this pre-proposal conference. Attending this meeting is crucial for understanding the project overview and the Request for Proposal (RFP) details. The document provides all necessary information to join the virtual meeting, including:

• Date and Time: Friday, February 13, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
• Meeting Link: https://statedept.webex.com/statedept/j.php?MTID=me198fdc27bbdd13005ee4ac3a6f61144
• Meeting Number: 2823 160 3774
• Password: J93CfNx3638
• Dial-in Options: Video system and phone numbers are provided, along with an access code.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide turnkey design-build services for the USA Pavilion at Expo 2027 Belgrade, ensuring a high-quality, representative, and engaging experience for U.S. participation in the international exposition.

• Design, construction, and fit-out of a temporary, modular USA Pavilion (approx. 972 sqm).

• Exhibit design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance.

• Operations-period facilities maintenance for approximately three months.

• Post-Expo decommissioning, dismantling, removal, and site restoration.

• Management of end-to-end lifecycle including design, construction, fit-out, testing, commissioning, handover, maintenance, and decommissioning.

• Coordination with the Expo Organizer, Serbian authorities, and the appointed Operator.

• Pavilion must meet U.S. Department of State objectives, Expo Organizer requirements, Serbian authority approvals, and international best practices.

• Design decisions must consider the full lifecycle, including constructability, cost, schedule certainty, operator readiness, visitor circulation, staffing, maintenance access, dismantling, and material recovery.

• Exhibits must align with the Expo 2027 theme "Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All" and advance U.S. public diplomacy objectives.

• Pavilion must be durable, maintainable, and operationally efficient.

• Expo 2027 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia.

• Expo duration: May 15, 2027 - August 15, 2027.

• Construction and fit-out completion targeted by April 2027.

• Facilities maintenance during the 3-month Expo event.

• Post-Expo decommissioning and site restoration.

• Pavilion must be temporary, modular, lightweight, and fully removable.

• Emphasis on speed of delivery, modularity, and recyclability.

• Building Information Modeling (BIM) coordination required.

• Compliance with applicable Serbian laws, local ordinances, and Expo 2027 technical regulations.

• Exhibits must be interactive, immersive, and accessible, minimizing reliance on text.

• Approximately 75% of the pavilion area for front-of-house functions and 25% for back-of-house operational functions.

• Food and beverage/retail uses limited to 20% of floor area.

• Contractor must obtain all necessary permits and licenses.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Request for Proposal (RFP) is for the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Global Acquisitions, to procure services for the USA Pavilion at EXPO 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia. The scope of work includes design, build, fit-out construction, exhibit design, content development, installation, and decommissioning.

• Design and construction of the USA Pavilion.

• Exhibit design, content development, and installation.

• Decommissioning, disassembly, and removal services.

• Services are to be provided in accordance with Section C (Description/Specification/Work Statement) and other specified requirements in the RFP.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: Not explicitly detailed in the provided sections, but implies a duration covering design, construction, and decommissioning for EXPO 2027.

• Estimated Value: Not stated in the provided sections.

• Proposal Submission Deadline: March 3, 2026, 2:00 PM (Eastern Time).

• Offers must be submitted electronically via Google Drive to specified email addresses (LeungJB@state.gov and BotkinLL@state.gov) with EDIT permission.

• Evaluation will be based on technical merit (non-price factors) and price, with technical merit being significantly more important than price.

• Award will be based on "Best Value to the Government" through a cost/technical trade-off analysis.

• Proposals must be submitted in two volumes: Volume One (Business/Price/Contractor Information) and Volume Two (Technical/Design Submission & Business Management Information).

• No specific set-aside requirements are mentioned in the provided sections.

• The solicitation number is 19AQMM26R0058.

• Issue Date: January 30, 2026.

• Offerors are responsible for ensuring their proposals are received by the deadline.

• The document references numerous FAR and DOSAR clauses and sections that provide detailed requirements for various aspects of the contract, including but not limited to, payment, insurance, bonds, schedule, quality assurance, and administration.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Section J - List of Attachments, provides a comprehensive list of all documents that are part of the solicitation package for the Design-Build Services for the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia. It serves as a guide for bidders to identify all required and informational attachments.

J.1 Administrative Documents:

• DOS Contractor's Release Certificate, April 1978
• Standard Form 25, "Performance Bond"
• Standard Form 25A, "Payment Bond"
• Sample, "Irrevocable Letter of Credit"
• Small Business Subcontracting Plan – FFP
• Exhibit Designer Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ)
• Constructor (GC) Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ)

J.2 Expo 2027 Regulations and Guidelines Documents:

• Expo 2027 Design and Build Guide (Oct 2025) and related sub-guides (Theme, Participation, General Services, Insurance, Entry/Work/Stay, Commercial Activities, Logistics/Customs, Office of Section Commissioner/Employment/Corporate Bank Account, Expo Village)
• Expo 2027 VAT/Tax Exemption Guidelines (Oct 2025)

J.3 Specific Project Requirements Documents:

• USA Pavilion Location
• Expo 2027 preliminary info (FOR INFO ONLY), including Build & Design IPM Presentation, Design and Construction Brief, and Large IP Pavilion sheet example.
• USA Pavilion Specifications (Division 01 Specifications)
• Pricing Format for Design-Build USA Pavilion Fit-Out Expo 2027 Belgrade

Bidders must review all listed attachments to fully understand the project requirements, regulations, guidelines, and administrative requirements. The "Pricing Format" in J.3.6 is particularly important for proposal preparation. The "USA Pavilion Specifications" (J.3.4) and "Expo 2027 Design and Build Guide" (J.2.1) will define the technical scope and design expectations. Administrative documents (J.1) and various guidelines (J.2) outline contractual and operational requirements.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Pre-Solicitation Notice & Request for Solicitation Interest from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) for the "2026 Design-Build fit-out construction, Exhibit Design, Content Development and installation, and Decommissioning for a USA Pavilion at Specialized Expo 2027 Belgrade, Serbia." The project aims to create a temporary USA Pavilion to represent U.S. participation in the Specialized Expo 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia. The pavilion will serve as a platform for public and commercial diplomacy, showcasing American excellence, innovation, culture, and values.

• Design/Build Fit-Out Construction of the USA Pavilion, including exhibit design, content development, fabrication, installation, and decommissioning.

• The pavilion must accommodate up to 5,000 visitors per day and feature modular performance spaces, VIP hosting areas, meeting rooms, and exhibition spaces.

• Content must align with the Expo 2027 theme "Play for Humanity – Sport and Music for All" and its sub-themes.

• Compliance with Expo guidelines, host country standards (including sustainability, accessibility, and safety), and U.S. security requirements.

• Services include architecture, engineering (civil, structural, geotechnical, seismic, blast, mechanical, electrical, telecommunication, fire protection), sustainable design, interior design, exhibit design, content development, physical and technical security, and local Japanese/design consultant coordination.

• The contract will be a "firm fixed-price" Design-Build (Turnkey) agreement.

• Approximate design, fit-out construction, and decommissioning cost: $10 million - $13 million.

• The official solicitation will be available on the Department of State ProjNet System on or about January 30, 2026.

• Interested firms must submit a letter of interest by email to Jennifer Leung (LeungJB@state.gov) and Lori Botkin (BotkinLL@state.gov) by January 30, 2026.

• Offerors must be "Active" registered entities on SAM.gov with a UEI number at the time of proposal submission.

• Evaluation criteria will be detailed in the RFP, likely addressing management of complex fit-out projects, schedule management, logistics, site and transportation security, and safety.

• This project is available for full and open competition.

• The document includes Expo 2027 guidelines and host country information as attachments.

• Key stakeholders include the U.S. Department of State, the Design-Build Contractor, and Local Authorities & Expo Organizers.