Wanted: Stunning web design for U.S. Capitol

The agency that operates the U.S. Capitol is looking for a designer to give a fresh new look to the building's popular Web site.

Attention, Web designers: the Architect of the Capitol is prepared to spend up to $300,000 to makeover the agency’s Web site to make it visually stunning.

The winning bidder would redesign the 600 Web pages that make up the AOC.gov Web site, according to a solicitation on the Federal Business Opportunities site that was updated on March 31. The architect’s office is in charge of maintenance, operation and development of the U.S. Capitol complex, which includes the Library of Congress, Supreme Court and congressional offices.

With so many iconic buildings involved, the Web site redesign is likely to gain high-profile attention, the solicitation states.

“This project seeks to transcend the typical and reinvent AOC.gov with an award-winning design,” the notice said. “This project will enhance the design of AOC.gov to be reflective of the stature and symbolism of the buildings of the Capitol and surrounding campus. The project will enhance the visitor experience for the wide-range of audiences accessing the site.”

About 3 million visitors view the architect’s Web site annually, including 30 percent from outside the United States. The AOC.gov Web site also is a high-traffic site on Google.com

Vendors will perform an analysis and make recommendations based on site metrics, audience profiles, and client goals. The winning contractor will develop Web design templates that can be applied to the existing AOC.gov web content management system.

The design will include colors, fonts, layouts and navigation structure/information architecture.