SIDNEY — As the Shelby County Animal Rescue Foundation (SCARF)continues to raise money to build a new animal shelter and adoption center in Shelby County, the county commissioners have taken a step toward making the facility a realty.

They have issued a call for statements of qualifications (SOQ) to design the shelter. Architecture firms have until Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. to submit SOQs to design and manage the the construction phase of the project. The request for SOQs states a budget for the project of $2.2; however, SCARF has a $2.4 million fundraising goal for the facility.

SCARF officials announced during an event, Feb. 11, that $2,012,953 — about 84 percent of the goal — has been raised to date.

The request by the commissioners states that the “architect will work with Shelter Planners of America to ensure project design meets the industry’s best practice standards.”

SCARF worked with Shelter Planners of America to formulate ideas for what the shelter should be.

Initial plans, announced in November 2015 when fundraising began and detailed on SCARF’s website, www.helpshelbycountyanimals.com, call for an 8,152-square-foot building with a heating and air-conditioning system especially designed to prevent the spread of disease among resident animals, a quarantine area, a records room, a puppy room, a welcome area, an exam room, a laundry area, a gift shop, storage areas, offices, an outreach center, restroom and shower areas, outdoor play areas and kennels for 60 dogs and cats.

The commissioners are requiring that the design phase be complete by October.

Details of what must be submitted in the SOQs are available on the Shelby County website, www.co.shelby.oh.us, under “Request for Quotes.”

Funding for the new animal shelter will come from SCARF. It will be constructed on land donated by the county near the current shelter on Gearhart Road. The new shelter will be staffed and managed by Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies, as is the current one.