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
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 Friday, May 25, 2026
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.
Full Solicitation
Addenda & Updates
Supplemental Materials