Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) requests a written response to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the purpose of selecting a landscape architect for the Heritage Farm Comprehensive Plan (the Plan). Located near Decorah, Iowa, Heritage Farm is an 890-acre farm and the headquarters of SSE. The Plan will develop conceptual designs for site improvements for multiple spaces on the farm including: the orchard, visitor center, administrative and seed production buildings, circulation between upper and lower campuses, test gardens, and overall site circulation. A focus of the Plan will be to develop new design options to allow for creative integration of the facility’s operation and the mission of SSE.

It is expected that the landscape architect will work closely with the SSE Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee led by the executive director to create ideas that will transform Heritage Farm into an integrated environment that expresses its role as the nexus of Seed Savers Exchange mission and commitment to land stewardship.

The study phase is anticipated to be completed in 2012. This RFQ is for the initial comprehensive plan phase only. However, SSE will select a firm based upon its ability to execute both the plan phase and full design services should the project continue. SSE reserves the right to defer negotiations concerning services until the completion of the comprehensive site design phase.

The complete RFQ packet will be available June 4 by contacting Bill Musser at SSE, billm@seedsavers.org, who will provide a link to the packet. Responses to the RFQ are due by July 6, 2012. A short list of firms will be determined by the steering committee; further steps in the selection process will be at the discretion of the steering committee. Every effort will be made to ensure that all persons have equal access to contracts and other business opportunities with SSE within the limits imposed by law or policy. Each candidate firm may be queried to show evidence of its equal employment opportunity policy.