Welcome to Historic Petersburg Foundation’s Exchange Building webpage, first published on March 3, 2021.
Background
In 2019, HPF’s was named to oversee grants that were given to preserve and further interpret the Exchange Building, a registered National Historic Landmark in downtown Petersburg. The funding was awarded through a Saving America’s Treasures grant and matching grant from the Cameron Foundation. The City is also contributing to the effort.
Current Status and Call for Proposals
In furtherance of the aforementioned project, HPF is seeking qualified firms to undertake a full Historic Structures Report (HSR) on the building. A link to the Request for Proposal (RFP) can be found below. All proposals for services will be due to HPF offices at 318 East Washington Street* in Petersburg, Virginia no later than the close of business Friday, April 16, 2021.
Bidder Details
The first floor of the Exchange Building serves as the Visitors Center for the City of Petersburg and is open daily. Should any firm desire to visit the site and get an escorted tour, contact can be made by email at historicpetersburgfoundation@verizon.net or by calling 804-732-2096. Please allow at least two days between your request and planned visit.
Any questions or clarifications should also be sent to the email address above. Answers to questions or requests for clarifications will be posted on this site for all bidders to review.
The Exchange Building is property of the City of Petersburg. This preservation project is being managed on behalf of the City by HPF. The successful bidder will be expected to work closely with the City in addition to HPF to ensure a thorough evaluation of the property, its needs and its potential on behalf of the citizens of Petersburg. It is expected that the building will remain open to the public during the course of this HSR project. Bidders should consider this in preparing their timelines and pricing.
Note to all Bidders:
Please note that in Section IX, Number 4 you are asked to include an Exhibit D in your submittal package. There is no Exhibit D. You may submit what will be considered a complete RFP package with no Exhibit D being included.
Additional information that might be helpful includes:
The Exchange Building was added to the State and National Register in the 1960s (see link to nomination document below). In 1971, the Exchange Building was named a National Historic Landmark. It remains to this day the only structure so recognized in the City of Petersburg.
A 2014 Structural Assessment (see link to document below), while a bit dated at this point, is a good summary of the condition of the building at a known point in time. It was commissioned by the City and is a City of Petersburg document. Bidders should consider this as an informational document only and there is no guarantee that conditions recorded at that time still exist as described. Bidders should rely only on their own observations for developing their work plan and approach.
Request for Proposal to do Historic Structures Report
Nomination to the National Register of Historic Places
Siege Museum Assessment
Note: The Exchange Building was formerly known as the Siege Museum.
*If submitting a proposal by mail, send to P.O. Box 691, Petersburg, Virginia 23804