Building RFP 2026

January 14, 2026 in City Newsletter, City of Ellsworth News, Communications, Economic Development, Planing Department, Press Release, Public Works, RFPs & RFQs – Archived
  1. Introduction

The City of Ellsworth, Maine (the “City”), is seeking proposals from qualified property owners or authorized agents (“Proposers”) to lease an existing building located within three (3) miles of Ellsworth City Hall. The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to identify a suitable facility that meets the City’s operational needs.

The City and School Department are exploring a shared, consolidated facilities concept for the school bus department, parks and recreation department, and water department, that would provide space to store and lightly service/clean buses, vans, transportation vehicles, landscaping equipment, and other large-scale public works assets, along with a modest break area and limited administrative/operations office space.

The goal is to consolidate and streamline service delivery across departments, improve protection, storage, and cleaning of significant City-owned capital assets, and create operational efficiencies by co-locating functions that already overlap in practice.

  1. RFP Schedule
  • RFP Issued: January 14, 2026
  • Questions Due: January 19, 2026
  • Responses to Questions Issued: January 24, 2026
  • Proposal Submission Deadline: January 28, 2026
  • Anticipated Award Date: February 17, 2026 (Ellsworth City Council Meeting)

The City reserves the right to modify this schedule at its discretion.

  1. Location Requirements

The proposed building must:

  • Be located within three (3) miles of Ellsworth City Hall, 1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, Maine.
  • Be accessible by public roadways year-round.
  • Provide adequate parking and safe access for employees and visitors.
  1. Building Requirements

Proposals should include buildings that generally meet the following minimum requirements. Proposers should clearly identify any deviations.

4.1 General

  • Existing, fully enclosed structure suitable for municipal or administrative use.
  • Compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local codes, including building, fire, zoning, and ADA requirements.
  • Available for occupancy is mutually negotiable.

4.2 Size and Layout

  • Minimum building size: 20,000 square feet of usable interior space.
  • Existing office space and a break room suitable for at least thirty-five (35) employees, or the building must have the ability to construct or retrofit office and break room space to accommodate at least thirty-five (35) employees.
  • Building must be of sufficient interior clear height to accommodate full-size school buses.
  • Building must include, or be capable of being modified to include, overhead/roll-up doors of sufficient height and width to allow full-size school buses to safely enter and exit the facility.
  • Flexible interior layout suitable for offices, workspaces, storage, vehicle storage, or other municipal functions.
  • Adequate restroom facilities.

4.3 Utilities and Systems

  • Reliable heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).
  • Electrical service sufficient for office and/or light operational use.
  • Potable water and sanitary sewer or approved septic system.
  • High-speed internet availability.

4.4 Parking and Site Features

  • On-site parking adequate for staff and visitors.
  • Exterior lighting for safety.
  • Snow removal and maintenance provisions (to be identified by proposer).
  1. Lease Terms

Proposals should include the following lease-related information:

  • Proposed lease rate (per square foot or total annual cost).
  • Initial lease term (preferred term to be identified by proposer).
  • Lease renewal options including one (1) five-year option and one (1) ten-year option, under clearly defined terms and conditions.
  • Included services (utilities, maintenance, snow removal, etc.).
  • Responsibility for repairs, capital improvements, and maintenance.
  • Proposed escalation clauses, if any.
  1. Proposal Submission Requirements

Proposals must include, at a minimum:

  1. Proposer’s name, address, and contact information.
  2. Proof of ownership or authorization to lease the property.
  3. Description of the building and site, including address and distance from City Hall.
  4. Floor plans and site plans, if available.
  5. Photographs of the interior and exterior.
  6. Description of how the building meets the requirements of this RFP.
  7. Proposed lease terms and costs.
  8. Disclosure of any known code deficiencies or required improvements.
  1. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

  • Proximity to Ellsworth City Hall.
  • Suitability of the building for the City’s needs.
  • Overall cost and value to the City.
  • Condition and code compliance of the facility.
  • Flexibility of lease terms.

The City may request additional information, conduct site visits, or negotiate terms with one or more proposers.

  1. Submission Instructions

Proposals must be received by the City no later than the submission deadline listed above.

Proposals should be submitted to:

Ebony Kramp-Dowling
City of Ellsworth
1 City Hall Plaza
Ellsworth, ME 04605

  1. General Conditions
  • The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.
  • The City is not responsible for any costs incurred by proposers in preparing or submitting a proposal.
  • Issuance of this RFP does not obligate the City to enter into a lease.
  • All proposals become the property of the City and may be subject to public disclosure under applicable laws.
  1. Questions

Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing to:

Amanda Ray
Public Works Administrator
City of Ellsworth
Email: aray@ellsworthmaine.gov