RFPs

The Oil Region Alliance frequently requests proposals and invitations for bids for various studies, design and/or construction projects.

The following are links to current RFPs and IFBs:

Request For Proposals (RFP) — Downs Building in Oil City, PA – Architectural/ Engineering Services and Construction Management Services

The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism (ORA) is the non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation which administers the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA) and the Pennsylvania Oil Heritage Region.

The currently vacant historic downtown property is owned by Downs Confluence, LLC, affiliated with and sharing staff with ORA. Multiple stages of building rehabilitation have already been achieved. The Downs Building has a dry updated full basement, new roof, new windows, period-appropriate rehabilitated exterior, and upgraded utility systems. The interior walls on the second and third floor have been removed.

Complete Proposals Due: Friday, April 17, 2026 by 11 a.m.
Mandatory Letters of Interest Due: Monday, April 6, 2026 by 4 p.m.
Consultant Contract Period: May 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027

The ORA is accepting proposals for the significant updating of architectural and engineering plans and construction bid specifications/bid-package for the Downs Building in order to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and guidelines of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority (PHFA) for projects receiving Community Revitalization Fund Program (CRFP) financial support; such services are grouped in the scope of work that is Part A of this RFP. This project must be designed in accordance with PHFA regulations andguidelines, in addition to current Universal Pennsylvania Construction Code and Oil City-specific ordinances for mixed-use buildings within the Oil City Downtown Commercial Historic District.

Part B of the scope of work of this RFP includes construction management services to be performed by the consulting firm which is awarded a contract resulting from this RFP, during the contract period, focusing on the construction and completion of four ADA one-bedroom apartments (two each on the second and third floors), rebuilding of the first-floor Sycamore Street façade to make it more visually appealing and historically appropriate, and finishing out the first-floor stock room space. Such construction management services are to include the following tasks: review of incoming bids from potential vendors, active participation in on-site project meetings of the project team at mutually agreed dates, review and authorization for ORA to pay invoices from project construction vendors, interviews and documentation to assure vendor compliance with PA Prevailing Wages and when appropriate Davis-Bacon Act wages/benefits, periodic and final inspections of construction work, review of Change Orders submitted by construction vendors, and other routine construction project oversight.

The ORA office is situated just two buildings from the Downs Building. Personnel of the selected consulting firm may utilize space and minor office supplies at the ORA office during normal weekday business hours. ORA’s Project Manager Abigail Watson-Popescu is stationed at the ORA office at 217 Elm Street, Oil City, PA.

The consultant contract resulting from this RFP will run from Friday, May 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. Funding for this project is made available from the PHFA, PNC Charitable Trusts, and the National Heritage Area Program under the administration of the National Park Service (NPS). The total estimated cost for the architectural, engineering, and actual construction work to complete this phase of the ongoing rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the Downs Building is $1,039,860. Construction vendors must comply with PA Prevailing Wages. If federal funds are used on a particular construction vendor’s contract, then that entity must also comply with the Davis-Bacon Act.

Because ORA anticipates issuing an Addendum to this RFP incorporation questions and answers received from potential proposing firms prior to the deadline for full proposals, each consulting firm considering proposing must submit to the designated contact no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026 a Letter of Interest (LOI). During the RFP process, the designated contact is Mrs. Marilyn Black, consultant, marilynblack@windstream.net; (814) 671-2058 mobile phone. Once a contract is executed, the designated contact will be Abigail Watson-Popescu, ORA Project Manager at apopescu@oilregion.org; (814) 677-3152 x 121. ORA recommends that interested parties visit the Downs Building interior prior to proposal submission; please schedule escorted visitation of your firm’s representative with Abbigail Watson-Popescu.

The full RFP package including instructions, background information, current exterior and interior photographs, etc. is available below.

RFP Downs Building — A & E Services — full set including forms and photos

Request for Quotations for the Printing and Design of the full color book, Trails of Venango County

Request for Quotations: Printing Trails of Venango County
Issued March27, 2026
Quotations Due – April 10, 2026

The Oil Region Alliance (ORA) is accepting written quotations for the printing and design of the Trails of Venango County, a full-color book.

This guide is intended for indoor and outdoor use in a variety of weather conditions and must be durable under wet conditions and frequent handling. The final product will include full-color text, graphics, and photographs. ORA will provide all images and written content to the selected firm. Text will be supplied in Microsoft Word format. The final production file format will be in PDF and an editable file, so minor edits can be made for future printing.

Quotations must be received at the ORA office no later than April 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Quotations shall remain valid for a minimum of sixty (60) days from the submission deadline.

Quotations may be submitted by:
• Email to: kharris@oilregion.org
• Mail to: Kim Harris, Oil Region Alliance, 217 Elm Street, Oil City, PA 16301
• Hand delivery to the ORA office at the address above
Specifications
Size & Format:
• Finished size: 5.5” W x 8.5” H
• Printed both sides
• Approximately 150 interior text and image pages (will be determined with the final layout), printed two-sided, and four (4) fold-out maps: 11” x 8.5” H – Folded in half, then one half folded in half again, so the printed side appears to the reader.
• Flat size: 11” W x 8.5” H
o Front and back cover included
o Back interior pocket to hold a separate folded map (4” W x 8.25” H). The separate map is not part of this printing project.
Stock:
• Cover: 10 mil waterproof, durable, rip-resistant material
• Interior pages: 5 mil waterproof, durable, rip-resistant material
Ink:
• Full color throughout
Binding:
• Twin loop wire -O binding

Design Services: Layout and design services shall be provided by the printing firm and must be included in the quotation. All images will be supplied by ORA. The selected firm will collaborate with ORA on final file preparation and formatting.

Packaging: Finished books must be packed in boxes weighing no more than 30 pounds per box.

Delivery: By June 30, 2026, Oil Region Alliance 217 Elm Street Oil City, PA 16301

Payment: Payment terms: Net 30 days. The invoice must clearly itemize and include applicable sales tax.

Contact Information Kim Harris Outdoor Recreation Program Manager Oil Region Alliance 217 Elm Street Oil City, PA 16301 Email: kharris@oilregion.org Phone: (814) 677-3152, Ext. 120

Firms are encouraged to submit quotations based on the specifications above. Firms may also include alternative recommendations or options for consideration, clearly identified as such.

Funding for this project is provided by the National Park Service

ORA RFQ for Trail Book Printing

Request for Proposals for Qualified Environmental Consulting Firm to assist with a U.S. EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant

The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism (ORA) announces a Request for Proposal as it seeks a qualified environmental consulting firm to assist with a U.S. EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant. This project is located at 58 Spruce Street, Oil City, Venango County, PA. Deadline for submission is 4 p.m. (EST) Monday, October 17, 2025.

The full Request for Proposal including details regarding submission are found at:
RFP – ORA EPA Cleanup RFP

The Cleanup Workplan is found at:
EPA Cleanup Workplan RFP – ORA EPA Cleanup RFP