WHEELING — A new milestone in the development of a new landmark at the primary entrance to downtown Wheeling has been reached as the multimillion-dollar Gateway Center project has officially gone out to bid.

This week Tipping Point, the real estate development consultant that has been coordinating site management and planning for the project, announced that funding for the long-awaited project has been put in place, and the venture is ready to move into the next phase. The bid package was released on Monday.

The project, targeted for now vacant property on Main Street adjacent to the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, is designed to bring a new visitor’s center showcasing local history and heritage, an Ohio River overlook highlighting the historic and recently renovated bridge, a connector complete with stairs and and elevator to access Wheeling Heritage Trail along the waterfront below, a bar and restaurant, and more. The building itself is designed to boast brick, glass and steel – materials that echo the region’s industrial manufacturing history.

Officials have noted that the Wheeling Gateway Center project has truly been a collaborative undertaking. The Wheeling-Ohio County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau purchased the property that was once the site of the Wheeling Inn. The hotel was demolished to make way for the project.

The City of Wheeling, State of West Virginia’s Department of Tourism, Wheeling Heritage, Ohio County and RED (Regional Economic Development Partnership) have all been instrumental in helping to bring the development to this stage, as have a number of other project stakeholders, including federal, state and local funding sources. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), U.S. Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), W.Va. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, U.S. Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) and former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) have all been credited for helping to provide millions of dollars in support.

Jim Ambrose, president of Tipping Point, said he expected the bidding process for this unique project to be competitive.

“It’s a once-in-a-generation project that’s really going to change the trajectory of, I think, Wheeling and the overall brand of West Virginia when it comes to the visitors’ experience,” Ambrose said this week. “For those reasons and for all of the excitement that comes with that, I would expect a lot of contractors to be very interested in this.”

Ambrose explained that the bid was specifically divided into seven bid packages in light of all of the federal funding that has been secured. Those bid packages seek base bids for the core and shell of the building, the trail connector, the finished site outdoors and landscaping, main level “fit out” or interior finishings, lower level “fit out,” second floor “fit out” and 10th Street site work and landscaping between Main Street and the entrance to the Suspension Bridge.

Different funding sources in the overall capital stack provided money for specific components of the work. For example, lawmakers were recently able to secure $2 million on Congressionally Directed Spending in a federal appropriations bill specifically for the trail connector.

“So the ask from the funding sources was to be able to take it out to public bid so that the contractors that would be qualified for the parameters that they’ve dictated in the actually bidding instructions and can provide what today’s market rate pricing is to achieve all of those scopes of work,” Amborse said, adding that one successful general contractor will oversee the entire project, even though the work is broken into seven packages. “They’re divided that way because specific funding sources want to fund different components of the building.”

The project will be awarded to the contractor who is determined to have submitted the “highest qualifying lowest bid.”

Contractors bidding on the project must attend a mandatory site visit on March 26, submit all final questions by March 27, provide a contractor’s qualification statement, and submit sealed bids by April 10.

“There’s a series of requirements that the funding sources need to see in the actual bid submission, and if the bidders don’t follow those instructions, the funding sources would have the right to toss out bids regardless of what their price is,” Ambrose said. “The funding sources will take a look at all the bids to make sure they’re checking all of the boxes, but ultimately all of this procurement must happen through the architect of record. All bidding documents are sent through that architect, and then the bids will be publicly opened at Wheeling Heritage on April 10 at 2 p.m.”

Desmone Architects is the architect of record.

The project has also been propelled by the community as a whole, which has had opportunities to provide input on the elements that will be included in the new center. TimeLooper, a firm specializing in digital storytelling and modern museum design, was tasked with developing an immersive heritage experience that will be featured inside the facility. TimeLooper held a public event last year to gather feedback on what should be included in the exhibit that will be on the main floor of the building.

“TimeLooper concepts have not been unveiled to the public yet,” Ambrose noted.

Frank O’Brien, executive director of the Wheeling CVB – last month when the $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending was secured for the connector – stressed the importance of having input from the local community as the Wheeling Gateway Center project was being developed.

“The design and construction specifications of this project are a direct reflection of the high-quality standards that our local community wishes to provide to our region’s future visitors,” O’Brien said. “Throughout the entire community engagement process, it was abundantly clear that the Ohio Valley wishes to see a center that pays homage to the region’s past, while also finding innovative ways to showcase our region’s greatest assets for the future.

“Our community is truly inspiring and will provide the best experience to any visitor that comes to Wheeling.”

Officials said they look forward to collaborating with contractors that will put their expertise toward bringing the Gateway Project to life and help open a new chapter in Wheeling’s future.