REQUEST  FOR  PROPOSAL      

   

FOR  THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF:    Economic  Feasibility  Analysis  and  Implementation  Plan  for  the  City  of  Cumberland  Maryland’s  Strategic  Opportunity  Sites              

By:    City  of  Cumberland  Office  of  Economic  Development    57  N.  Liberty  Street    Cumberland,  MD  21502    (301)  722-­‐4156              

 

 

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

 

NOTICE  IS  HEREBY  GIVEN  THAT  sealed  RFPs  for  an  Economic  Feasibility  and  Implementation  Plan  will  be  received  at  City  of  Cumberland,  City  Clerk’s  Office,  57  N.  Liberty  Street,  Cumberland,  MD  21502,  until,  but  not  after,  2:00  PM,  local  time,  on  June  12,  2015.  All  bids  must  be  placed  in  a  sealed  envelope,  plainly  marked  on  the  outside  thereof,  “RFP  FOR  ECONOMIC  FEASIBILITY  ANALYSIS  AND  IMPLEMENTATION  PLAN.”  

BID  SPECIFICATIONS:  Interested  bidders  must  obtain  a  bid  packet  from  the  Economic  Development  website,  www.choosecumberland.org,  or  by  calling  Shawn  Hershberger,  Economic  Development  Coordinator,  at  (301)759-­‐4156.  

The  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Cumberland  reserves  the  right  to  waive  any  informality  and  to  reject  any  or  all  bids,  and  to  accept  any  or  all  bids  or  parts  thereof  which  in  their  judgment  is  in  the  best  interest  of  the  City.  

 

                                          Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Cumberland  

                /s/  Marjorie  Woodring,  City  Clerk  

 

                                       

REQUEST  FOR  PROPOSAL  FOR  THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF:        Economic  Feasibility  Analysis  and  Implementation  Plan  for  the  City  of  Cumberland,  Maryland’s  Strategic  Opportunity  Sites        The  City  of  Cumberland  Economic  Development  Office  seeks  proposals  from  qualified  firms  with  extensive  and  demonstrable  experience  in  providing  economic  feasibility  analysis  and  implementation  strategies  for  the  redevelopment  and  redesign  of  existing  urban  settings  for  municipalities.  All  submittals  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  City  of  Cumberland  at  the  following  address  and  as  specified  below  and  received  no  later  than  the  submittal  due  date,  at  which  time  all  submittals  will  be  opened  and  considered  as  indicated.  All  submittals  received  after  the  closing  date  and  time  will  be  returned  unopened.  The  City  of  Cumberland  reserves  the  right  to  reject  any  and  all  submittals.        SUBMIT  TO:    Marjorie  Woodring      City  of  Cumberland      City  Clerk’s  Office  57  N.  Liberty  Street  Cumberland,  MD  21502    (301)  722-­‐6447          SUBMITTAL  DUE      DATE:  2:00  pm,  June  12,  2015      OPENING  OF  BIDS  Bids  will  be  publicly  opened  and  read  by  the  City  Clerk  in  the  Council  Chambers  at  City  Hall,  57  N.  Liberty  Street,  Cumberland,  Maryland  at  the  time  and  date  given  in  the  Notice  to  Bidders.  Bidders  or  their  authorized  agents  are  invited  to  be  present.        FORM        OF  SUBMITTAL:  Submittal  will  be  divided  into  two  (2)  parts:          

(A) Narrative  &  Technical  Approach         This  section  will  be  delivered  separately  as  one  original  hardcopy  along  with  one  usb         drive  containing  the  material  in  .PDF  electronic  format.  See  Page  #6  for  the  information         to  be  included.  Submissions  that  do  not  completely  address  all  requirements  specified         herein  may  be  considered  non-­‐responsive  and  eliminated  from  the  process.               (B)  Business  Cost  Proposal      

This  section  will  be  delivered  separately  to  the  City  Clerk’s  Office  (as  noted  above)  as  one  original  in  a  sealed  envelope  clearly  marked  as  follows:      

          Business  Cost  Proposal           Economic  Feasibility  Analysis  and  Implementation  Plan         City  of  Cumberland    

      City  Clerk’s  Office           By  (Respondent  Firm’s  Name)      CONTACT  OFFICER:  The  primary  contact  for  questions  and/or  clarifications  is  Shawn  Hershberger,  Economic  Development  Coordinator  for  the  City  of  Cumberland.    He  is  available  Monday  through  Friday,  8:00  am  to  4:00pm,  excluding  holidays.          Shawn  P.  Hershberger  Economic  Development  Coordinator  Economic  Development  Office    57  N  Liberty  Street  Cumberland,  MD  21502    Office:  (301)722-­‐4156    Cell:  (240)522-­‐2193  shawn.hershberger@cumberlandmd.gov          LETTER  OF  INTEREST:     Firms  interested  in  responding  to  this  RFP  are  encouraged  to  submit  a  “Letter  of  Interest”  to  the     CONTACT  OFFICER  to  ensure  they  are  a  registered  bidder.  Any  addendums  and  changes  to  the     RFP  or  the  RFP  process  will  be  communicated  only  to  the  registered  bidders.              QUESTION  &  ANSWER  PERIOD:         All  questions  must  be  submitted  to  the  CONTACT  OFFICER  in  writing  by  May  15,  2015.    All     questions  will  be  formally  answered  by  May  22,  2015  and  provided  to  all  registered  bidders.            EVALUATION  &  SELECTION  PROCESS    

Step  #1  –  A  selection  committee  will  be  created  for  the  purpose  of  evaluating  all  proposals  as  well  as  serving  as  an  advisory  group  to  remain  engaged  throughout  the  process  in  order  to  be  an  asset  to  the  chosen  firm  and  a  direct  point  of  outreach  to  the  opportunity  sites.  This  committee  will  evaluate  only  the  Narrative  &  Technical  Approach  parts  of  the  submittals.  Up  to  five  of  these  will  be  selected  as  potential  consultants  to  be  interviewed  by  the  steering  committee.  The  City  of  Cumberland  Economic  Development  Office  retains  the  exclusive  right  to  select  consultants  based  on  their  judgment  of  the  best  qualifying  factors.  Cost  proposals  will  not  be  considered  in  Step  1.  The  following  factors  that  will  be  considered  include,  but  are  not  limited  to:    

• Evidence  of  unique  or  relevant  experience  • Experience  in  facilitation/outreach,  trends  analysis,  urban  redesign,  retail  

market  analysis,  site  selection,  etc.  • Approach  and  degree  of  success  in  past  performances  documented  by  

references  • Specificity  in  approach  and  past  performance  with  a  focus  on  actionable  efforts  

and  attainable  redevelopment  goals  • Experience  with  environmental  and  economically  sustainable  solutions  for  

urban  redevelopment  projects  

• References  subject  to  appropriate  evaluation    

Step  #2  –  The  City  of  Cumberland  Economic  Development  Office  and  City  Clerk  will  open  the  Business  Cost  Proposals  of  those  selected  in  Step  #1  and  will  evaluate  these  proposals.      

    Step  #3  –Based  on  the  findings  of  Steps  #1  and  #2,  the  selection  committee  will  make  a     recommendation  of  a  selected  firm.  The  selection  committee  may  request  interviews  with  firms     chosen  to  be  part  of  the  shortlist  of  candidates.               The  process  is  expected  to  take  a  minimum  of  thirty  (30)  days  from  the             Submittal  Due  Date.      SUBMITTAL      CONTENT  (A):  NARRATIVE  &  TECHNICAL  APPROACH           The  Consultants  responding  to  this  RFP  must  provide  the  information  on  the  firm’s  qualifications     and  experience,  qualifications  of  the  project  team,  project  manager’s  experience,  previous     similar  projects  and  references,  and  references  along  with  approach  to  services.             Executive  Summary             Attach  to  each  copy  of  the  Narrative  &  Technical  Approach  and  include  on           the  aforementioned  .PDF,  a  letter  of  interest  that  explains  your  firm’s  interest  in         working  on  this  project.  Also  include  an  “Executive  Summary”  which  explains  your         firm’s  qualifications  and  experience  as  they  pertain  to  the  Scope  of             Work/Deliverables.  Also,  include  the  names  and  titles  of  the  persons  who  will  be         authorized  to  make  representations  for  the  firm.             Firm  Overview          

Consultants  shall  provide  the  following  information  related  to  your  firm.    If  the  use  of  sub-­‐consultants  is  proposed,  identical  information  should  be  provided  for  each  sub-­‐consultant.      

• Brief  history  of  the  firm,  including  the  year  it  was  established  • Names  and  curriculum  vitae  of  the  firm’s  principal(s).  Indicate  the  amount  of  

involvement  the  principal(s)  will  have  if  firm  is  the  successful  respondent.  • Names  and  qualification  of  individuals  who  will  be  responsible  for  the  work  

described  herein.    • An  organizational  chart  for  the  firm.  • Ongoing  contracts/projects  with  current  status  and  projected  completion  dates.        • Firms  past  performance  and  experience  • Detailed  description  of  assignments  undertaken  within  the  past  three  years  that  

are  similar  in  scope  to  those  requested  herein.  Please  specify  whether  each  project  is  ongoing  or  completed.  The  description  should  identify  for  each  project:  

Ø The  Client  (including  contact  info)  Ø Description  of  Work  

Ø Duration  of  Project  Ø Contact  Person  and  Phone  Number  for  Reference  Ø Results/Deliverables  for  the  Project    

    References               Provide  the  name,  address,  telephone  and  email  address  of  references  not  included         immediately  above  that  would  be  capable  of  explaining  and/or  confirming  your  firm’s         capacity  to  successfully  complete  the  scope  of  work  outlined  herein.  References  should         be  from  the  last  five  years.               Technical  Approach             Provide  a  narrative  statement  demonstrating  an  understanding  of  the  overall  intent  of         this  RFP,  as  well  as  the  methods  and  approach  to  be  used  to  complete  each  task.         Identify  any  issues  or  concerns  of  significance  that  may  be  appropriate.  Please  include  a         timeline  for  work  to  be  completed,  with  the  understanding  that  the  project           completion  must  occur  no  later  than  October  30,  2015  with  presentation  to  the  City  of         Cumberland  to  occur  prior  to  November  21,  2015.             Samples             Provide  relevant  work  samples  of  firm’s  previously  completed  work  that  is  similar  in         nature,  especially  those  completed  for  municipalities  of  comparable  size  and           characteristics.                    SUBMITTAL      CONTENT  (B):  BUSINESS  COST  PROPOSAL             Fee  for  Services             Provide  a  fee  for  services  and  a  copy  of  the  firm’s  current  billing  rate  schedule.             Project  Budget/Compensation/Schedule             The  work  will  be  performed  on  a  fixed,  not  to  exceed  price  basis  for  a  defined  number  of       Consultant  site  visits,  with  provisions  for  change  orders,  costs  for  additional  site  visits         and  time  extensions.         The  details  of  deliverables,  project  timetable  and  specific  payment  schedule  will  be         determined  during  final  contract  negotiations  and  will  be  based  upon  the  Consultant         proposal  and  the  completion  of  identified  tasks,  including  staff  review  and  Consultant           revisions.      

Economic  Feasibility  Analysis  and  Implementation  Plan  for  the  City  of  Cumberland,  Maryland’s  Strategic  Opportunity  Sites      The  City  of  Cumberland  Economic  Development  Office  will  be  the  agency  responsible  for  contract  administration  and  day  by  day  liaison  with  the  Consultant.  The  Economic  Development  Office  will  facilitate  the  gathering  of  information  and  coordinate  the  activities  of  other  stakeholders.      A.  INTRODUCTION  

  Background  on  the  City  of  Cumberland  

The  City  of  Cumberland  is  the  county  seat  and  largest  municipality  of  Allegany  County,  Maryland  and  sits  a  convenient  distance  to  major  population  centers  of  Pittsburgh,  Baltimore,  Washington  DC,  Northern  Virginia,  and  Philadelphia.  The  City  experienced  rapid  growth  due  to  the  presence  of  the  C&O  Canal,  National  Road,  and  B&O  Railroad,  which  propelled  it  toward  extreme  success      throughout  the  early,  and  mid-­‐1900’s.  

  The  City  of  Cumberland  has  historically  been  a  regional  hub  for  economic  and  commercial     activity  within  Allegany  County  and  the  larger  Western  Maryland  region.  The  City’s  economy     was  largely  built  upon  a  manufacturing  base  that  established  the  City  of  Cumberland  as  the     second  largest  city  in  Maryland  and  a  seat  of  power  and  influence  within  Maryland  and  the     larger  Mid-­‐Atlantic  Region.  Starting  in  the  second  half  of  the  20st  century  the  city’s  economy     experienced  a  fundamental  transformation  as  global  economic  patterns  shifted  and  caused     traditional  manufacturing  based  economies  throughout  the  United  States  to  see  their     foundations  altered.    

  In  order  to  address  the  need  for  a  comprehensive  reassessment  of  the  economic  development     efforts  within  the  City  of  Cumberland,  a  city-­‐wide  economic  development  strategic  plan  was     undertaken  during  much  of  2014.  The  economic  development  strategic  plan  outlined  seven     opportunity  sites  for  the  City  of  Cumberland  as  a  way  to  direct  resources  and  efforts  toward     targeted  sections  of  the  city  that  would  have  the  most  impact  on  our  future  efforts.  This  study  is     meant  to  provide  the  next  step  in  narrowly  targeting  our  focus  on  specific  actionable  items,     catalyst  projects,  and  redevelopment  design  concepts  to  be  pursued  by  the  City  of  Cumberland    

B.  PURPOSE       Overview       The  City  of  Cumberland  is  seeking  a  qualified  consulting  firm  to  perform  an  economic         feasibility  analysis  and  implementation  plan  for  four  of  the  seven  opportunity  sites      

  identified  in  the  2014  economic  development  strategic  plan  (EDSP).  This  project  is         expected  to  make  recommendations  on  creation  of  realistic  and  achievable  strategies         for  the  redevelopment  of  the  targeted  opportunity  sites  and  is  expected  to  address         impediments  to  private  investment,  analysis  of  upper-­‐story  rehabilitation,  retail  market         analysis,  feasibility  of  redevelopment  concepts,  potential  catalyst  projects  within  each         site  as  well  as  a  cost-­‐benefit  analysis  of  potential  public  investment  options  to           accompany  each.  Additionally,  a  key  component  of  this  project  will  include  renderings  of       each  catalyst  as  well  as  detailed  redesign  renderings  of  each  opportunity  site.      C.  ECONOMIC  FEASIBILITY  ANALYSIS  AND  IMPLEMENTATION  PLAN       These  questions  should  be  answered  through  this  process:           1.  What  are  the  feasible  redevelopment  options  for  the  four  targeted  opportunity  sites?       2.  What  are  specific  catalyst  projects  within  each  opportunity  site  to  be  considered  for  public     investment  or  public/private  partnerships?       3.  Is  there  a  true  community  benefit  that  would  be  realized  through  the  use  of  public  funds  into     these  catalyst  projects?     4.  How  can  these  catalyst  projects  assist  in  primary  job  creation  or  attraction  in  industry    sectors     identified  in  the  2014  EDSP?  

5.  How  can  the  City  of  Cumberland  most  effectively  deploy  our  financial  and  other  resources  to  achieve  our  goals?    

  6.  How  can  all  of  these  sites  be  used  to  create  a  more  connected,  walkable,  and  bikeable     community?     7.  What  design  elements  should  be  incorporated  into  each  site  and  at  what  extent  should     significant  redesign  of  each  site  be  considered?       EXISTING  DATA       The  consultant  is  expected  to  use,  as  a  starting  point  and  a  guiding  document,  the  EDSP  adopted     by  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  in  December  of  2014.  However,  the  selected  consultant  will  be     provided  with  a  significant  amount  of  latitude  in  the  direction  of  each  of  these  sites,  especially  in     terms  of  design  concepts  and  catalyst  project  renderings.  The  full  EDSP  can  be  found  at     www.choosecumberland.org.            D.  ANTICIPATED  SCOPE  OF  WORK         The  chosen  consultant  will  be  given  broad  latitude  in  the  overall  scope  of  the  project,  but  will  be     expected  to  conduct  an  economic  feasibility  analysis  of  any  proposed  concepts  pertaining  to  the     identified  opportunity  sites.  This  economic  feasibility  analysis  is  also  expected  to  consider  and     examine  how  these  opportunity  sites  relate  to  the  regional  economy  and  further  determine  the     appropriate  positioning  of  these  sites  in  order  to  compliment  and  advance  the  economic  vitality     of  the  City  of  Cumberland  as  well  as  the  surrounding  area.             This  project  is  expected  to  make  recommendations  on  creation  of  realistic  and  achievable     strategies  for  the  redevelopment  of  the  targeted  opportunity  sites  and  is  expected  to  address     impediments  to  private  investment,  analysis  of  upper-­‐story  rehabilitation,  retail  market  analysis,  

  feasibility  of  redevelopment  concepts,  potential  catalyst  projects  within  each  site  as  well  as  a     cost-­‐benefit  analysis  of  potential  public    investment  options  to  accompany  each.          

A  key  component  of  this  project  will  include  renderings  of  each  catalyst  as  well  as  detailed  redesign  renderings  of  each  opportunity  site.  It  is  expected  that  the  depth  of  work  required  for  the  renderings  and  design  work  component  of  the  redevelopment  of  these  sites  could  vary      greatly  from  one  site  to  the  next.  There  is  an  initial  expectation  that  this  component  of  the  project    pertaining  to  the  opportunity  sites  labelled  “Downtown”  and  “Cumberland  Plaza”  would  contain    recommendations  equaling  large  scale  design.  

    By  identifying  economic  feasible  and  sustainable  action  plans  for  each  opportunity  site,  this     study  will  provide  the  City  of  Cumberland’s  Economic  Development  entity  a  detailed  roadmap     and  vision  in  which  to  focus  efforts  and  leverage  public/private  assets  toward  completion.       The  economic  feasibility  and  implementation  plan  for  each  site  will  be  expected  to  address  the     needs  of  the  neighborhoods  involved  as  well  as  identifying  how  these  areas  can  play  a  more     significant  role  in  achieving  the  stated  goals  of  the  EDSP.  This  project  will  be  expected  to  include     community  engagement  in  order  to  ensure  the     redevelopment  goals  and  objectives  are  ones     that  will  garner  community  support  and  continue  a  unified  vision  of  economic  development     activities.  It  is  expected  for  the     implementation  plans  associated  with  these  sites  to  incorporate     existing  efforts    within  these  sites  as  well  as  redevelopment  projects  being  undertaken  in     surrounding  neighborhoods.         The  Economic  Development  Office  will  provide  information  regarding  its  current  economic     development  programs,  as  well  as  any  planned,  current,  or  pending  (public  or  private)     development  projects  in  the  areas  surrounding  the  opportunity  sites.                 Deliverables           Economic  Feasibility  Analysis  Report  and  Implementation  Plan  on  Opportunity  Sites         Produce  a  report  containing  an  economic  feasibility  analysis  and  implementation  plan  of  the  City     of  Cumberland’s  opportunity  sites.  This  should  include  but  not  be  limited  to:  

• An  economic  analysis  of  the  suggested  redevelopment  concepts  within  the  targeted  opportunity  sites.  

• Analysis  of  impediments  to  private  investment  in  the  opportunity  sites  • Analysis  of  impediments  to  private  investment  in  upper-­‐stories  of  existing  structures      • Identification  of  catalyst  projects  in  each  of  the  opportunity  sites  and  a  cost-­‐benefit  

analysis  and  renderings  to  accompany  each  • Renderings  of  suggested  design  concepts  to  be  included  in  each  opportunity  site  and  of  

potential  full  redesign  of  any  site  where  that  is  suggested.  

             

AFFIDAVIT  OF  QUALIFICATION  TO  BID  

I  hereby  affirm  that:  

1. I  am  the  ______________________________________and  the  duly  authorized  representative  of                                                                                            (Title)  the  firm  of  ____________________________________whose  address  is                                                                            (Name  of  Firm)  ______________________________________________________________________________                (Address)  and  that  I  possess  the  legal  authority  to  make  this  affidavit  on  behalf  of  myself  and  the  firm  for  which  I  am  acting.    

2. Except  as  described  in  paragraph  3  below,  I  nor  the  above  firm,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  any  of  its  officers,  directors,  or  partners,  or  any  of  its  employees  directly  involved  in  obtaining  contracts  with  the  State  or  any  county,  bi-­‐county,  multi-­‐county  agency,  or  subdivision  of  the  State  have  been  convicted  of,  or  have  pleaded  nolo  contendere  to  a  charge  of,  or  have  during  the  course  of  an  official  investigation  or  other  proceeding  admitted  in  writing  or  under  oath  acts  or  omissions  which  constitute  bribery,  attempted  bribery,  or  conspiracy  to  bribe  under  the  provisions  of  Article  27  of  the  Annotated  Code  of  Maryland  or  under  the  laws  of  any  State  or  Federal  Government  (conduct  prior  to  July  1,  1977  is  not  required  to  be  reported).    

3. State  “none”  or,  as  appropriate,  list  any  conviction,  pleas  or  admission  described  in  paragraph  2  above,  with  the  date,  court,  official  or  administrative  body,  the  individuals  involved  and  their  position  with  the  firm,  and  the  sentence  or  disposition,  if  any.  

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________    I  acknowledge  that  this  affidavit  is  to  be  furnished  to  such  other  agencies  as  are  hereafter  set  forth  and,  where  appropriate,  to  the  Board  of  Public  Works  and    to  the  Attorney  General  under  Section  16D  of  Article  78A  of  the  Annotated  Code  of  Maryland.  I  acknowledge  that.  If  the  representations  set  forth  in  this  affidavit  are  not  true  and  correct,  any  such  agency  may  terminate  any  contract  awarded  and  take  any  other  appropriate  action.  I  further  acknowledge  that  I  am  executing  this  affidavit  in  compliance  with  Section  16D  of  Article  78A  of  the  Annotated  Code  of  Maryland,  which  provides  that  certain  persons  who  have  been  convicted  of  or  have  admitted  to  bribery,  attempted  bribery,  or  conspiracy  to  bribe  may  be  disqualified,  either  by  operation  of  law  or  after  a  hearing,  from  entering  into  contracts  with  the  State  or  any  of  its  agencies  or  subdivisions.      I  do  solemnly  declare  and  affirm  under  penalties  of  perjury  that  the  contents  of  this  affidavit  are  true  and  correct.      ____________________________          __________________________________        ____________________                              (Printed  Name)                                                        (Signature)                                                                                                            (Date)    

   

   

Opportunity  Sites  –  All    

   

Opportunity  Sites  –  Cumberland    

   

Opportunity  Sites  –  Rolling  Mill    

 

Opportunity  Sites  –  Baltimore  St.    

 

Opportunity  Sites  –  Willowbrook  Rd.