Request for Qualifications and Expression of Interest (RFQEI)

Project Description

Following an amendment to SDCL 6-13-15, the City is now able to donate the Brockhouse Collection to another political subdivision within the state of South Dakota or a qualified nonprofit(s) organization in the United States after the governing body makes the determination that the collection is no longer necessary, useful, or suitable for the purpose for which it was acquired. The City is seeking qualifications and expression of interest for the future ownership, management, preservation, and utilization of the Brockhouse Collection, a significant assemblage of taxidermy animals amassed by Henry Brockhouse who collected a wide array of specimens from various habitats and continents beginning in the late 1940s until the time of his death in 1979. This collection, which is housed at the Delbridge Museum of Natural History, was closed in August 2023 due to safety concerns related to arsenic contamination and lack of sufficient public barriers to prevent touching of the taxidermy.

The Brockhouse Collection consists of a diverse range of specimens, including many endangered and threatened species that were harvested prior to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, making it a rare and valuable resource for scientific research, educational purposes, and public display. An evaluation by A.M. Art Conservation has confirmed that the majority of the specimens are in good to excellent condition, though they will require substantial restoration work estimated to exceed $1 million. Despite the significant costs associated with restoration, the collection’s historical and educational value positions it as a unique opportunity for institutions specializing in natural history.

This Request for Qualifications and Expression of Interest invites proposals from museums, conservation organizations, academic institutions, and other qualified entities interested in acquiring pieces from the collection or the collection in its entirety.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria

The City of Sioux Falls desires that the qualified entities acquiring the collection and commit to its preservation, restoration, and use for scientific and educational objectives. The prioritization of the relocation of the collection will be as follows:

1. Entity is a qualified organization.
2. The desired quantity of pieces from the collection.
   • It is desired that the entire collection remains intact, but not a requirement for selection.
3. If multiple entities have interest in the same asset, and the quantity of desired pieces is the same, the preference for selection will be to the entity in closest proximity to 224 W. 9^th St, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104

The City reserves the right to not select an entity as part of this process if an agreement cannot be reached or for any other reason.

Objective

The aim of this expression of interest is to identify a new custodian(s) for the Brockhouse Collection. The selected entity (s) will be responsible for the future ownership, preservation, relocation, and utilization of the collection.

Next steps

• Interested parties can learn more about the RFQEI process and requirements by reading the full document below.
• Applications will be submitted online using the form below. The deadline is December 12, 2024.
• Questions? Signup for an upcoming online informational meeting (October 25, 2024) by filling out the form below. Site visits and AirTable database access can also be requested in the same form.