REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS/REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

City of Lawrence, Kansas

 

 

Project scope:

The City of Lawrence, Kansas is proposing to contract with a qualified consulting firm for services to assist staff in the creation of a parallel development code based on the concepts of New Urbanism.  The New Urbanism-style parallel code will be a development option applied citywide.

 

Proposals due:       3:00 p.m.

                             Xxxxxxxx (45 days from issue date)

DRAFTSubmit five (5) copies of proposal.  In addition, an electronic version (MS Word or PDF format) of the proposal shall be submitted to dwarner@ci.lawrence.ks.us

 

Submit to:                 Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Department

                                    6th East 6th Street

                             P.O. Box 708

                                    Lawrence, Ks  66044

 

City Contact:                      Dan Warner, Long-Range Planner

                             (785) 832-3162

                             (785) 832-3160 (fax)

 

Proposal:               The City of Lawrence has initiated an education process that is focused on developing better neighborhood design.  One of the hoped for outcomes of this process is to provide a New Urbanism-style parallel development code that will give developers additional options for creating great Lawrence neighborhoods.  The new code should contain clear graphic and illustrative material. 

 

Scope of Work:      

·         Provide assistance with an ongoing education effort based on New Urbanism concepts that involves Lawrence citizens, local governing bodies, city & county staff, appointed commissions, and other stakeholders.

·         Outline and conduct a community visioning process, culminating with a multi-day design charette, which will provide a strong base for the key elements of the new parallel code.  

·         Develop recommendations to provide guidance for the direction of the parallel code based on research and from input received through the education and visioning process.  Guidance is needed to determine what style of parallel code will benefit the community best in the long term, for example form-based, transect, Smart Code, etc.

·         Write an innovative and effective parallel code that is legally strong and presented in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner that is understandable to the general public. 

·         Identify how the Comprehensive Plan, Horizon 2020, doesn’t support the new code and provide staff with the necessary framework to make changes to the Comprehensive Plan.

·         Outline an adoption process for the new code and be available throughout that process.

·         Recommend how to integrate the new code into the current development process.

·         Make recommendations on budget and staffing impacts of the new code.

·         Provide training to help staff implement the code after it is adopted. 

 

DRAFTBackground:             When urban planners and economic development professionals describe the city of Lawrence, Kansas, it is usually in terms of the community’s “charm” and “quality of life.”  In general, these abstract terms refer to the patterns, trends, and designs that make up the community’s neighborhoods.  In this project, the City’s intent is to examine the basic urban design units which create livable, lasting, sustainable, and thriving neighborhoods to live in, work in, and enjoy.

 

                             Lawrence is unique among cities that are of similar size in that it currently supports a thriving mixed-use downtown area, two universities, and clearly identifiable individual neighborhood.  Moreover, Lawrence has consistently embraced diverse lifestyles which contribute to an invigorating urban form.  Nevertheless, many proposed developments have become disconnected from the urban core which has diminished the ambience of Lawrence.  This suggests a lack of emphasis of the fundamental building blocks – codes, policies, and community vision – which give direction to a community.  The scope of this project is intended to specifically address these three building blocks.

 

Proposal Requirements:

Work Team Qualifications and Experience: The consultant must be proficient in municipal code writing, Comprehensive Plan preparation and modification, urban design, and have a strong understanding with New Urbanism issues and concepts. Strong consensus building skills are also desired.  Sufficient information shall be provided to indicate the consultant’s qualifications, recent experience with similar projects, and ability to perform work in a timely and cost-effective manner. 

 

                             Project Organization and Approach: The consultant shall identify the key personnel associated with the project throughout its duration, including the Project Administrator, Project Manager, and any other key technical personnel.  An experience resume must be provided for each person that details specific work experience related to a project of this nature.  Also included shall be a description of their availability to work on this project.  The proposal shall describe the work each key person will perform and identify their office location.  The project approach shall be detailed in the proposal to the extent possible and include any issues of concern to be considered.

 

Level of Effort: The proposal shall include an estimate of the costs and hours to complete required tasks.

 

Schedule: Proposals shall indicate schedules for completion of work, including City staff review. 

 

DRAFT                             Client References: At least three (3) and not more than five (5) previous client references shall be provided in the proposal.  The consultant shall provide the name, address, telephone number and title of a contact person familiar with the work of the consultant on a similar project and who can be contacted by the City of Lawrence.

 

Selection Process:  Upon receipt of proposals, a review by City staff will determine those firms who will be selected for further negotiations or an interview.  Qualified applicants may be contacted for additional information if needed.  A selection/negotiation committee will recommend a consultant to the City Commission based upon their qualifications.  Following the selection of a consultant a scope of services, project schedule and contractual agreement will be negotiated.

 

Selection criteria will be applied as follows:

 

1.      Capability to perform all aspects of each portion of the project (staffing, schedule, etc.).

2.      Recent experience in municipal code writing, comprehensive planning, urban design and applying New Urbanism issues and concepts.

3.      Understanding of the community and its relationship to the proposed projects.

4.      Qualifications and reputation as an experienced consultant in the field of municipal code writing, land use planning and New Urbanism.

5.      Quality of previous projects of a similar nature.

6.      Ability to meet schedules within project budget.

 

Estimated hours and hourly rate information, to include breakdown of direct and indirect costs, shall be used to determine appropriate billing rates to assist in the evaluation of the consultant’s understanding of the work and final negotiations of a contract.

DRAFT