ATTACHMENT 1
Request for Qualifications –
Consultant Services
Seeking Economic Development Consultant Services
for Planning and Managing a Request for Proposals Process
to Develop Town-Owned Downtown Sites
April 28, 2003
(Deadline for Submitting Statement of Qualifications: May 30, 2003)
I. Introduction
The Town of Chapel Hill is issuing a Request for Qualifications from professional consulting firms to help plan and manage the options for proceeding with the development of Town Parking Lots 2 and 5 and help represent the Town’s interests in any development agreement.
The consultant is not needed for a study. The Town is seeking a consultant who will play a key role in the Request for Proposals process and project management. The consultant will represent the Town’s interests and have no connections with developers involved in the process. Major tasks include:
II. Background
The Town of Chapel Hill, population 52,000, is home to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unlike many American communities, downtown is the commercial and cultural heart of Chapel Hill. Downtown, with strong connections to the UNC campus, remains a vibrant center of pedestrian activity. Yet despite the success of Franklin Street, many challenges remain, including strengthening the market for downtown retail and housing, providing adequate parking, enhancing pedestrian connections and public spaces, and creating a more user-friendly and efficient bus service downtown.
Downtown has been a focus of Town planning efforts for decades. In recent years the focus has shifted to building on downtown’s assets. In 2000 the Chapel Hill Town Council adopted a Downtown Small Area Plan as a component of the Town-wide Comprehensive Plan. Among the most ambitious of the Small Area Plan’s recommendations is the redevelopment of two Town-owned parking lots: Town Parking Lot 2 at Rosemary and Columbia Streets and Town Parking Lot 5 at Franklin and Church Streets (please see map – Attachment 1). The Downtown Small Area Plan is available on the web at: http://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/planning/downtown.html.
In February and March 2002 the Town sought new ideas for Lots 2 and 5 in convening a Downtown Design Workshop. The Workshop drew a two-day attendance of more than 125 people. The workshop included computer visualizations which enabled the public to view their ideas in three dimensions. These concepts are illustrated in the Workshop Summary Report, which is available on-line at http://www.townofchapelhill.org/planning/Summary_Report.html.
On June 10, 2002 the Council adopted general objectives regarding future development of Lots 2 and 5. In the fall of 2002 the Council Committee on Lots 2 and 5 developed a set of Principles and Priorities. On February 24, 2003 the Council adopted a revised set of Principles and Priorities for use by the Council in soliciting financially feasible development proposals for the sites (please see Attachment 2). The Council voted to proceed with contracting with an economic development consultant to assist the Council and staff in undertaking the project.
III. Scope of Work
On February 24, 2003 the Town Council directed the Town Manager to seek proposals for economic development consultant services. It is expected that the Consultant will take the lead role in achieving the products called for in this work program, according to the adopted schedule, and with staff support as appropriate. The Town Council will be the working body on this project.
The selected consultant will help the Town review and rate development teams and proposals, analyze financial issues and work with the Town Attorney on proposed terms in any development agreement. The Town will be looking for consultants who demonstrate strong backgrounds in developing requests for development proposals, conducting financial analyses and executing public-private development agreements.
The task would be to select a consultant who would provide the following services:
1. Assist in determining the method of soliciting development proposals for Parking Lots 2 and 5, currently contemplated to be a Request for Qualifications followed by a Request for Proposals.
2. Write a Request for Qualifications followed by a Request for Proposals for developing Parking Lots 2 and 5
3. Prepare an evaluation method for reviewing responses.
4. Evaluate and provide recommendations on statements of qualifications and development proposals submitted in response, including an assessment of responders’ financial capacity and other qualifications, economic feasibility of proposals, the value of the offer in terms of lease and/or sales terms, the financial feasibility of the financial component of the project, the strength of proposals based on Council principles and priorities, and other factors.
5. Provide advice on the terms of proposed development agreements.
6. Assist in negotiating a development agreement.
7. Assist in managing a development agreement.
Citizen involvement and input will be built into the schedule of Council Committee on Lots 2 and 5 and Town Council deliberations.
The Consultant will provide assistance to the Town Council and staff as an independent agent of the Town, and would have no affiliation with any prospective bidder or developer of any project on either of these sites. This provision would be a stipulation of any agreement the Town enters into as part of this process.
IV. Selection Process
The Council Committee on Lots 2 and 5 will review Statements of Qualifications that are submitted by the above date. After reviewing responses, the Committee will:
It is anticipated that a Consultant will begin work on the project in Fall, 2003.
V. Submittal Requirements
Please submit twelve (12) copies of a Statement of Qualifications that includes the following:
1. Name, address and telephone number of the firm or individual, with contact name(s).
2. Names of principals and key personnel, their titles, experience, and qualifications, and years with the firm; total size of firm’s staff.
3. Professional affiliations and licenses of the key personnel.
4. Statement of qualifications of the firm and its key personnel who would work on this project.
5. Names of key personnel who would be available to work on the project.
6. List of previous clients for work similar to this project, with contact names and telephone numbers.
7. A work sample of a project similar in nature to the scope of work described in Section III of this Request for Qualifications.
8. Hourly billing rates charged by your firm for each position type.
Please mail or deliver your Statement of Qualifications by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2003, to:
Roger S. Waldon, AICP
Planning Director
Town of Chapel Hill
306 N. Columbia St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Questions regarding this Request for Qualifications should be directed to Ms. Chris Berndt, Chapel Hill Planning Department, (919) 968-2728.
ATTACHMENTS (TO BE ATTACHED)