Sierra Shared Spaces seeks a Design Team capable of working with the organization and key stakeholders during the design and pre-construction phase of the Lake Isabella Community Hub Project
The response period for this RFQ has now closed. Sierra Shared Spaces would like to thank all of the Design Teams that sent in responses. We will be in contact with all firms that have sent in a response to this RFQ.
Updates have been made to this RFQ. Please see the Updates section at the bottom of this page.
Sierra Shared Spaces issued this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify Design Teams composed of design, architecture, and engineering partners to advance the Lake Isabella Community Hub project to a construction-ready condition.
The Community Hub is intended to become a home base for many local organizations, entrepreneurs, and community groups who are all working independently on their unique missions within the Kern River Valley. This collaborative facility will be designed to serve as essential community infrastructure and support the co-location of a diverse collection of anchor tenants and programming partners. For more information on the Lake Isabella Community Hub Project, see the Community Hub Overview and Frequently Asked Questions
See the full RFQ in the Downloads section of this page.
Submissions must be received by 5:00PM PST on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Note that due to the deadline extension (see addenda below), the new submission deadline falls on the day after a federal holiday. We recommend responding firms take the holiday schedule into account.
All questions must be submitted to purchasing@sierrashared.space.
See the RFQ in the Downloads section of this page for the full proposed scope
Sierra Shared Spaces is a community based 501(c)3 nonprofit operating in the Kern River Valley, and is responsible for the fundraising, design, development, management, and operations of the Community Hub, with support from our project partners and anchor tenants. The project is envisioned as a multi-use facility supporting entrepreneurship, workforce development, public gatherings & events, and outdoor recreation that will provide regional community and economic resilience for the Kern River Valley.
SSS seeks a Design Team capable of working with the organization and key stakeholders during the design and pre-construction phase of the project. The Design Team must be capable of working with key stakeholders during this planning and design phase to: refine the project objectives and interior space requirements, as needed; identify and respond to the project site’s environmental constraints; and produce construction-ready documents and construction cost estimates for use during the construction phase of the project.
Since 2023, Sierra Shared Spaces has been working collaboratively with Ashley Proctor of Creative Blueprint to support the development of the proposed project. Creative Blueprint has been supporting an extensive community outreach and engagement program and spearheading the essential fundraising efforts, property acquisition, and pre-development activities.
The selected Design Team will enter an agreement with Sierra Shared Spaces, and will work in collaboration with Sierra Shared Spaces, Creative Blueprint, and a select group of our community stakeholders who have informed the Lake Isabella Community Hub facility project and will become anchor tenants in the space.
This phase of the project is funded by the California Jobs First Catalyst Fund, through the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz). The successful firm will be expected to comply with California state law regarding contracts using public funds.
Fixed a typo for the date of the submission deadline on the solicitation web page. The original RFQ already contained the correct date.
Addenda 2026.05.08 - deadline extension has been published, see the downloads section of this page. The text of the addenda is as follows:
In order to fulfill requirements for public posting, the deadline for submitting responses to this RFQ has been extended. The following schedule adjustments apply:
- Proposal Deadline: 5:00 PM PST on Monday, May 25th, 2026
- Interviews with Shortlisted Teams: June 1 - June 5, 2026
Responses to this RFQ must be sent to purchasing@sierrashared.space. Any questions may be sent to purchasing@sierrashared.space, responses will be published at https://sierrashared.space/solicitations/rfq_design_services/.
Below are responses to questions that have been submitted to purchasing@sierrashared.space. Please direct further questions to purchasing@sierrashared.space.
Are Consultants expected to propose services for all design phases, including construction documentation?
The intention for this RFQ is to identify a team capable of delivering all design phases, including construction documents. Design Teams may recommend modifications to the scope or strategy. The final scope of the contract, including services to be rendered, will be negotiated with the Design Team that is selected based on their qualifications.
Has Sierra Shared Spaces considered breaking up the design work to only include a level of design sufficient to clear the entitlement process?
Given the requirements of the funding source, the objective is to secure construction documents in this phase of the project. We have petitioned the funding agency for an extension on the project timeline. An addendum to the RFQ will be posted if/when the project timeline is extended.
Are Consultants expected to propose on entitlement processing and environmental clearance services?
Responses should focus on the qualifications and identification of the Design Team, as well as the approach to the project. The selected Design Team will be expected to address entitlement processing, as well as coordinating with Sierra Shared Spaces on the environmental review process. The final scope of the contract, including services to be rendered, will be negotiated with the Design Team that is selected based on their qualifications.
Will Sierra Shared Spaces consider extending the RFQ due date to allow more time for teams to form?
The deadline for the RFQ has been extended in order to allow more time for distribution of the solicitation. For core team members and other team members that have not yet been identified, respondents should document their approach to selecting and integrating those team members.
Will Sierra Shared Spaces consider hosting a pre-bid meeting and/or releasing the list of firms contacted to enable proposers to form teams?
There will not be a meeting prior to submissions. For core team members and other team members that have not yet been identified, respondents should document their approach to selecting and integrating those team members. The interview process with shortlisted teams will include discussion around filling gaps in the proposed team structure. This may include discussions on collaborating with other respondents where appropriate.
Below are responses to questions that have been submitted to purchasing@sierrashared.space. Please direct further questions to purchasing@sierrashared.space.
Will there be another RFP for Geotechnical work and then throughout construction?
The intention for this RFQ is to identify a team (which may be composed of multiple firms) capable of delivering all design phases, including required surveys. See the “Project Scope” portion of the RFQ for an overview of the elements included in this phase. The construction phase will be a separate solicitation and is outside the scope of this RFQ.
Addenda 2026.05.16 - question period extension has been published, see the downloads section of this page. The text of the addenda is as follows:
An earlier addenda extending the deadline for submission erroneously omitted an extension for the Questions and Clarifications Period. The deadline for submitting questions is Friday, May 22, 2026. The schedule adjustments from the original RFP are as follows:
- Question and Clarifications Period: April 27th - May 22nd, 2026
- Proposal Deadline: 5:00 PM PST on Monday, May 25th, 2026
- Interviews with Shortlisted Teams: June 1 - June 5, 2026
Responses to this RFQ must be sent to purchasing@sierrashared.space. Any questions may be sent to purchasing@sierrashared.space, responses will be published at https://sierrashared.space/solicitations/rfq_design_services/.
Under the “Design Team References and/or Reputation” section, there is a bullet point referencing “Community Hub Project Partner feedback and direct experience.” Could you please clarify what information or documentation is anticipated for this item?
Sierra Shared Spaces is partnering with other regional organizations as project partners in co-creating and co-designing the Lake Isabella Community Hub. Those project partners will be involved in the Design Team selections. We would encourage responding design teams to focus on providing references and examples of past work.
What is the anticipated construction budget or target cost range for the project?
Sierra Shared Spaces has not yet secured all of the funding required to complete the construction phase of this project. A specific construction budget has not yet been established, but will be discussed and confirmed in partnership with the Design Team selected. Based on current projections, we estimate the cost range to be between $8M - $12M USD.
What is the anticipated design and construction schedule, including any desired project milestones or target completion date?
Sierra Shared Spaces is aiming to have construction-ready documents by end of year 2026. Ideally construction would begin in 2027, and tenant occupancy would begin in 2028.
We understand the design and construction schedule may shift during contract negotiations with the Design Team selected. Please note that this solicitation does not cover the construction phase of the project.
Is the project anticipated to be subject to prevailing wage requirements due to GO-Biz or other public funding sources?
Because this project is paid for in part by public funds, under California Labor Code §§ 1720-1743 it is subject to public works requirements, including prevailing wage requirements.
The RFP places strong emphasis on resilience and sustainability. Has Sierra Shared Spaces established any specific sustainability goals, certifications, or performance targets for the project, such as LEED, Net Zero, energy efficiency goals, or other resilience benchmarks?
Sierra Shared Spaces is committed to creating a sustainable Community Hub, and we want to explore the potential for meeting these goals while balancing the need for long-term financial sustainability for hub members and tenants. Specific benchmarks have not yet been established, but will be discussed and implemented in partnership with the Design Team selected.
Has the question deadline been extended since the submittal deadline was extended?
Yes. The question deadline has been extended to Friday, May 22 2026.
Addenda 2026.05.20 - deadline extension has been published, see the downloads section of this page. The text of the addenda is as follows:
In order to provide respondents with more time to make adjustments following the clarification period, the deadline for submissions is being extended by 24 hours. The deadline for submitting qualifications is 5:00 PM PST on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The schedule adjustments from the original RFP are as follows:
- Question and Clarifications Period: April 27th - May 22nd, 2026
- Proposal Deadline: 5:00 PM PST on Tuesday, May 26, 2026
- Interviews with Shortlisted Teams: June 1 - June 5, 2026
Responses to this RFQ must be sent to purchasing@sierrashared.space. Any questions may be sent to purchasing@sierrashared.space, responses will be published at https://sierrashared.space/solicitations/rfq_design_services/.
Does the owner-side project management team include someone who has prior experience with ground-up commercial construction of similar scale and complexity, or will the owner hire a 3rd party owner’s representative with the necessary experience to manage the budget, schedule, design and construction?
Sierra Shared Spaces will designate a representative to manage their interests including the project budget, schedule, design, and construction. Our development team also has extensive experience with large-scale, complex development projects such as this.
What is the intended construction budget, and/or cost per square foot?
Sierra Shared Spaces has not yet secured all of the funding required to complete the construction phase of this project. A specific construction budget has not yet been established, but will be discussed and confirmed in partnership with the Design Team selected. Based on current projections, we estimate the cost range to be between $8M - $12M USD.
What is the funding structure for the project? Will the owner pursue financing during construction? What is the available funds on-hand vs. what still needs to be fundraised?
The design work in this pre-contruction phase of development that is described in the RFQ is funded primarily by a grant through the California Jobs First Catalyst Fund.
Sierra Shared Spaces is staging the Community Hub design, development, and construction phases to align with a specific timeline and requirements determined by our funding sources. Construction funding and financing is in progress, but has not yet been secured.
Given that the questions and clarifications period ends on May 22nd (Friday) and the proposal deadline is May 25th (Monday, Memorial Day, a Federal Holiday), there is no time to implement any clarifications per responses to be received. We respectfully ask that Sierra Shared Spaces considers extending the due date to the week of June 1st to receive the most informed, qualified responses.
After additional consideration, the deadline for submitting responses has been extended by 24 hours so that it will not fall on a federal holiday. See the amendment posted on this page. We do not anticipate providing additional extensions.
Regarding the work examples mentioned under Relevant Project Experience, what kind of work examples would be most helpful to the selection committee?
Relevant Project Experience may include examples of similar or relevant projects that the Design Team team has previously completed, such as - but not limited to - resilience hubs, community hubs, coworking spaces, complex multi-stakeholder projects, community infrastructure, non-profit client projects, local and / or rural projects.
The RFQ references an Anchor Tenant Space for a ~1,350 sq. ft. café/light food/shared kitchen, while also noting that the kitchen is intended to accommodate multiple food vendors. Should Design Teams anticipate including a food service/kitchen design consultant as part of the proposed team?
Design Teams may include a food service / kitchen design consultant, and/or any other experts or associates they so choose as part of their proposed team.
As this is an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) shortlisted Design Teams will also have an opportunity to discuss the composition of their team and the services to be provided before entering any negotiations or agreements with Sierra Shared Spaces.
Given the RFQ’s emphasis on wildfire resilience, emergency preparedness, and community resilience infrastructure, should Design Teams anticipate including any specialized wildfire resilience or emergency preparedness consultants as part of the proposed team structure?
Design Teams may include wildfire resilience and/or emergency preparedness consultants, and/or any other experts or associates they so choose as part of their proposed team. Additionally, Sierra Shared Spaces will have emergency management organizations and related stakeholders involved in the design process from the owner’s side.
As this is an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) shortlisted Design Teams will also have an opportunity to discuss the composition of their team and the services to be provided before entering any negotiations or agreements with Sierra Shared Spaces.
We noticed that the current proposal deadline falls on Monday, May 25th, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday. Would Sierra Shared Spaces consider extending the submission deadline to Tuesday, May 26th, to accommodate teams that may be impacted by the holiday weekend?
After additional consideration, the deadline for submitting responses has been extended by 24 hours so that it will not fall on a federal holiday. See the amendment posted on this page. We do not anticipate providing additional extensions.
What kind of clinic do you envision? Might it require OSHPD/HCAI compliance?
The details of the clinic are still being revised. We anticipate it will require the relevant healthcare compliance elements, such as OSHPD/HCAI.
Might this facility become a NOC (network operations center) of some sort during emergencies?
In its role as a disaster resilience center, we do not anticipate the facility being utilized as an Emergency Operations Center by government agencies. However, it will serve as the hub for both government and community responses, and it should be flexible enough to serve as a center of operations for the community response during the response, relief, and recovery phases of disaster.
Full Solicitation
Addenda & Updates
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