May 20, 2009

-Firm-

Attn: -POC-

-Firm Address-

-City, State Zip-

Dear –POC-:

The Montebello Condominium Unit Owners Association (MCUOA) is proud of the beauty of our 1016 high-rise units set in 35 wooded and landscaped acres. To this end we are developing a Design Master Plan to maintain visual consistency throughout our common areas. The plan is a rational framework to guide decisions affecting the appearance of our property, including expected major structural renovations, upgrades to our interior common areas, replacements and repair, and maintenance and operations.

We are seeking three professional firms to develop Concept Designs presenting their visions for renovating the entry areas, lobbies, hallways, and elevator cars in our four residential towers. As this will involve extensive creative effort, the three firms will be compensated $15,000 each. While we make no commitment regarding implementing any aspect of the Concept Designs, one completed Concept Design will be presented to our Board of Directors for approval.

If you would like your firm to be considered as one of the three, please use the attached Statement of Interest (Attachment A) to describe how you will approach this project. We ask that you detail the professional capabilities you would bring to the project, including the names and biographies of the key professionals you would assign to the project. We also ask for the names of previous clients and projects, with brief descriptions of work similar to Montebello’s. Please limit your completed Statement to 10 pages to reach us by our deadline, 5:00 pm on June 17, 2009.

To assist you in completing your Statement of Interest, I have attached an outline Scope of Work for the Concept Design Phase, including the relevant Process Factors (Attachment B); and the Executive Summary of the Montebello Design Master Plan (Attachment C). You are also invited to attend a pre-selection meeting for interested firms on Friday, May 29 at 10:00 am. To register for the meeting and to learn more about Montebello and our design planning process, please visit http://www.montebelloinfo.org/design/. Our Web site also provides a "Contact the Committee" link you can use to ask questions about our plan or the submission process. Responses will be furnished to all invited firms. To speak directly with our Contract Administrator, Mrs. , please call 703-960-0410.

Thank you very much for your interest. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

, President, Board of Directors

Montebello Condominium Unit Owners AssociationAttachment A

Statement of Interest

___________

(Date)

To:

Montebello Unit Owners Condominium Association

Attn: Co-Chairs, Ad Hoc Committee on Design

5905 Mt. Eagle Drive

Alexandria, Virginia 22303

From:

-Preprinted Firm Name-

-Preprinted Firm Address-

-Preprinted Firm City, State, ZIP

We accept your invitation to place our firm in consideration to become one of the three firms selected to develop a Concept Design for the Renovation of Entries, Lobbies, Hallways, and Elevator Cars in Montebello Condominium’s four residential towers. Statements 1 through 4 total no more than 10 pages and are attached.

We regret that we cannot accept the invitation to be considered for a contract for Concept Design Phase, Renovation of Entries, Lobbies, Hallways, and Elevator Cars. However, we wish to be considered for future professional services at Montebello. Statements 2 through 4 total no more than 9 pages and are attached.

Attached are the statements documenting the response checked above:

Statement 1: How we will approach this project

Statement 2: The professional capabilities of our firm, including knowledge and experience with respect to sustainable design

Statement 3: Name and professional biographies of key project leadership

Statement 4: Recent past projects and clients, including work for similar clients

The point of contact at our firm for contacts during the selection process or for any future solicitations is:

____________________________

phone: _____________________

e-mail: _____________________

Sincerely

________________________________

(signature and title) Attachment B

Concept Design Phase:

Renovation of Entries, Lobbies, Hallways, and Elevator Cars

Long-range Desired Effect:

Public areas of the Montebello residential towers are revitalized as a result of superior professional design based on the guidance of the Montebello Design Master Plan. The functionality and appearance of the public areas of the Montebello residential towers resonate harmoniously with the owners and residents and have been achieved within budgeted costs. The results uplift the quality of life for all residents, enhance the experience for guests, and contribute to the overall value of the property.

Summary of Scope of Work:

Concept Designs shall address the refurbishment of the in-scope public areas of the four Montebello residential towers:

o In-scope public areas: level-1 entries and lobbies, level-1 elevator lobbies, level-B3 thru -B1 entries and elevator lobbies, level-2 thru -16 elevator lobbies, and level-1 through -16 hallways.

o Not included: postal work rooms, party rooms, hobby rooms, laundry and toilet rooms, service areas, stairways, and garages.

Concept Designs will be presented in three gradations:

o A Basic Concept, limited to the following three projects in each of the four residential towers currently included in the Montebello Reserve Study:

Floor covering for the level-1 through -16 hallways and elevator lobbies,

Refurbishment of existing elevator cars, and

Other refurbishments of the in-scope public areas that will have the maximum positive effect and for which the statement of probable cost is no more than $50,000 per building.

o An Optimum Concept, which includes the recommendations of the Basic Concept as well as all other capital improvements, renovations, and refurbishments recommended by the designer.

o An Intermediate Concept, consisting of the recommendations of the Basic Concept plus additional features in the Optimum Concept that the designer views as high priority.

Concept Designs will appropriately address these specific issues:

o Use, rework, or redefine internal spaces to foster community, using owners’ and residents’ needs and desires to help set priorities.

o Recommend window treatment, lighting fixtures, decorative finishes, floor finishes, furnishings, and accessories. Identify existing components and features that are to be retained.

o Initiate user-friendly "wayfinding" and means of resident communication (electronic or paper-message distribution or both).

o Recommend upgrades to the B-3 Hallway and Elevator Lobby so they are redefined to be functional and welcoming.

o Develop recommendations for elevator car finishes, lighting, and hall signals, starting from prepackaged solutions from a major elevator manufacturer.

Concept Designs will be adaptable to segmented implementation according to availability of funding, both current and future. The Statements of Probable Cost for each gradation will be segmented by line-item.

Guidance Documents:

Montebello’s Design Master Plan will serve as the definitive guide for the Concept Designs. Its requirements should be fully embodied in the Optimum Concept.

 Concept Designs should address the expectations of Montebello residents as aggregated in the summary of responses to the 2009 "Lobby Questionnaire."

Notes:

Ownership and rights in the Concept Designs and submission visuals will be defined in the Supplemental Conditions of the Agreement for Concept Designs.

 All dates in this scope of work are as currently scheduled but are subject to change.

 Firms with owners, principals or other key employees who are Montebello residents or owners are not eligible to participate in the Concept Design for the Entries, Lobbies, Hallways, and Elevator Cars.

Attachment B

Concept Design Phase Process Considerations

Selecting the three design firms

o Process: The Ad Hoc Committee on Design will select and recommend to the MCUOA Board of Directors three prospective designers plus alternates. If the Board approves the recommendations and authorizes contracting, Agreements will be presented to prospective designers for their acceptance and signature. Any variations to the Agreement will be negotiated before signing.

o Timetable

May 20, 2009 Firms invited to Submit Statement of Interest.
May 29, 2009, 10:00 am Optional pre-selection Meeting for prospective designers. Convene at Montebello Community Building meeting room. Register as indicated below by the day before.
June 17, 2009 5:00 pm Statements of Interest due at Montebello. Late submissions will not be accepted.