Request For Proposal – Town of Pawlet

The Town of Pawlet (Town) requests proposals to conduct a feasibility study on converting an existing building in the village of West Pawlet into a welcome center for the adjacent D&H Rail Trail. The feasibility study will involve a report from a structural engineer and preliminary architectural drawings or plans.
This RFP describes the work, the hard deadline for completion, the process for selecting a vendor, and the terms and conditions that must be included in the contract.

PAWLET-DH-Trail-Welcome-Center-Feasibility-Study-RFP-posted-7-25-23.pdf (rutlandrpc.org)

Background
The southern portion of the D&H Rail Trail runs through West Pawlet, Rupert, and West Rupert, and is accessed by two parking areas, but neither area currently has restrooms or other amenities. The Town of Pawlet is considering options for a welcome center both to improve the recreational experience for trail users and to make a way for tourists visiting the trail to benefit the local economy. The proposed welcome center would feature a public restroom; vending machines and coolers with healthy drinks, snacks, and other local products; and information about the trail, the history of the area, and relevant local advertising.

The proposed site for the welcome center is ideally located, abutting the trail itself, across the street from the existing rail trail parking lot, and on the main intersection directly in the center of the village. The landowner, Bruce Sirjane, is an active part of the project team and is on board with a long-term lease or easement on his property. The building has existing heat and electricity, as well as an available hookup to the municipal sewer. It is zoned Village Commercial, which allows for non-commercial recreation as a permitted use.