The complete PDF can be found on the Hattiesburg Historic Commission Webpage.

1. OBJECTIVE

The City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is accepting proposals for an architectural intensive-level historic survey of the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District of the City, including the area previously listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood. The total area to be surveyed contains approximately 408 structures.

The survey will consist of archival research and photographic documentation of the area outlined on the attached map as the "Proposed Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood National Register District". The documentation produced shall adequately explain and illustrate the historical significance of each structure, shall be prepared accurately from reliable sources, and shall be clearly and concisely produced. Hattiesburg received designation as a Certified Local Government (CLG) in Mississippi in 1988. As such, all products of this project will be reviewed by staff at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), and must meet the standards for survey established by MDAH. The National Register historic district nomination will also be prepared according to the guidelines promulgated by the National Register office and in the format specified by the Historic Preservation Division.

The City of Hattiesburg is located in Forrest County, Mississippi. Previous architectural history research in the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood led to the listing of the District to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The Historic Preservation Division of MDAH possesses background information for some additional historic buildings in the city, including historic photographs and some historical research. Resources to be surveyed include mostly residential, but also commercial, educational, religious, and governmental properties. Historic resources vary in age from late 19th-century to mid 20th-century.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

Preparation of the project should involve four (4) major phases including:

A. Field work;
B. Development and implementation of a public participation process; and
C. Production of documentation.
D. Presentation of National Register nomination to the Mississippi Historic Preservation Professional Review Board

A. Field Work

Field work shall be conducted to assess the character of the district. This phase will involve documenting properties at the intensive level. Documentation shall be prepared using the most recent version of the Historic Resources Inventory form of the Department of Archives and History of the State of Mississippi and shall meet their survey standards (attached).

Each documentation form shall record a single property, including primary and secondary resources, and shall require at least one photograph.

Photographs of the properties shall accompany the inventory forms and shall meet the standards cited in the most current version of the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places Photographic Policy. Digital images of each property shall also be submitted to MDAH according to their standards. A complete set of hard copies of each HRI form with accompanying photographs shall be provided to the City of Hattiesburg.

All properties in the project area will be documented, regardless of the age or the condition of the property, including those considered non-contributing as well as contributing to the historic district.

B. Public Participation

The consultant should develop a process to present the above gathered information and engage the residents of and the property owners in the district in developing a historic survey of the area. This process should involve public meetings and include the following groups:

i. Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood Association
ii. Hattiesburg Historic Conservation Commission
iii. City of Hattiesburg Urban Development Department
iv. State of Mississippi Department of Archives and History

The City of Hattiesburg, through the Historic Conservation Commission, will be responsible for planning and holding the meeting.

A public meeting about the potential National Register District is also required and must include staff from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

C. Deliverables

The deliverables created as a result of the survey will include:

i. Two sets of complete documented packages for each property Surveyed. One set (digital + hard copy) shall be sent to the State Department of Archives and History and the second set (digital + hard copy) shall be submitted to the City of Hattiesburg, Planning Division. 
ii. One completed National Register Nomination.

D. Board Presentation

The consultant should undertake all necessary steps to present the National Register nomination to the Mississippi Historic Preservation Professional Review Board at their next quarterly meeting following the satisfactory completion of the National Register nomination form.

3. SCHEDULE

All work performed under a contract shall be completed and transmitted to the State Department of Archives and History for review no later than August 31, 2026. 

The consultant is expected to keep the City of Hattiesburg's Urban Development Department and the State Department of Archives and History informed of the status of the project on a regular basis.

4. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF HATTIESBURG

The City of Hattiesburg shall provide access to any relevant maps, data, and studies in its possession that pertain to this project.

5. PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The minimum professional qualifications of principal and/or major associates who will perform the work on the project are:

I. Graduate degree in architectural history, urban planning, architecture, historic
preservation or closely related field;
II. Demonstrated experience in the preparation of design review guidelines or urban planning documents, as well as professional experience in research, documentation, and the architectural description of historic resources and neighborhoods.
III. Minimum of two (2) years experience in research, writing, or teaching American architectural history, historic preservation, architecture or planning with an academic institution, historical organization/agency, or other professional institution.
IV. Notable contribution through research and publication to the body of scholarly knowledge in the field of historic preservation, American architectural history, or urban planning.

6. SUBMITTALS

I. Consultants are asked to respond to the requirements below and illustrate why
they are qualified and how the objectives of the proposed work would be fulfilled.

A. Professional qualifications including, but not limited to: historic
preservation planning; architecture or American architectural history; urban planning; American studies; or any equivalent experience that demonstrates the specialized experience and technical competence necessary to satisfactorily perform the required services.
B. Detail and technical approach of the proposed work plan.
C. Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time frame.
D. Past performance on similar contracts with public and semi-public agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules.
E. Knowledge of the preparation of historic surveys and National Register nominations.

II. Six (6) copies of the proposal must be received on or before Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 10:00 A.M.

Proposals should be mailed to:

City of Hattiesburg
City Clerk's Office
P.O. Box 1898
Hattiesburg, MS 39403-1898

Proposals may also be hand-delivered to the following address:

City of Hattiesburg
City Clerk's Office (2nd Floor of City Hall)
200 Forrest Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401

All questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted via email. Inquiries will be answered and replies sent to all:

Russell Archer
Historic Preservation Planner
rarcher@hattiesburgms.com

III. Proposals must contain a detailed cost estimate of the project, including a breakdown of the number of hours required to perform each major task and the number of individuals assigned to the project, estimated travel expenses, and an itemization of materials required.

IV. Before sending in a bid for this project, the consultant is expected to have reviewed the attached Survey Standards and other requirements for the project and to have made all estimates accordingly. Once the project has been awarded and the contract signed, the consultant will be held to the Survey Standards and no excuses for work that does not meet these Standards will be accepted.

7. SELECTION CRITERIA

I. A selection committee will be formed to evaluate and rank all proposals. 

The committee reserves the right to use the selection criteria and process as a guide only.

II. A consultant will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:

A. Educational Background – 10 points
B. Professional Qualifications – 30 points
C. Work Experience – 30 points
D. Previous Job Performance – 15 points
E. Timeliness of the Project – 15 points

TOTAL AVAILABLE POINTS: 100 points

III. The City will initiate a contract with the consultant who ranks the highest and best meets the overall objectives of the RFP.

8. ATTACHMENTS

I. Map of the survey area and potential National Register district.
II. Map of the current Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood National Register District
III. MDAH Survey Standards