REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for On-Call Economic Development & Housing Consulting Services Issued: Friday, February 23, 2018 Submittal Deadline: Monday, April 9, 2018 by 5:00 PM For questions regarding this RFQ, please contact: Heather Ruiz, Management Analyst I City of South San Francisco Phone: (650) 829-6620 Email: heather.ruiz@ssf.net
Table of Contents INTRODUCTION... 1 BACKGROUND... 1 CONSULTING SERVICES NEEDED... 1 Economic Development... 1 Redevelopment Agency Dissolution... 1 Housing... 2 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Administration... 2 SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS... 2 Submittal Requirements... 2 Submittal Location and Deadlines... 3 SELECTION PROCESS... 3 Evaluation Criteria... 3 LIMITATIONS & CONDITIONS... 4
INTRODUCTION The City of South San Francisco (City) is seeking submittals from qualified firms or individuals to provide on-call Economic Development and Housing Consulting Services. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) provides interested applicants with information to prepare and submit qualifications for consideration. The RFQ process is intended to identify potential consultants with which the City may, at its sole discretion, choose to enter into a contract for professional services. It is expressly understood and agreed that the submission of Qualifications does not require or obligate the City to pursue a contract with any respondent. Responding firms or individuals may have expertise in any of the following areas of policy or program administration: economic development; housing; redevelopment agency dissolution; and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). BACKGROUND The City of South San Francisco has a population of 64,585 and occupies the basin and portions of the sides of a broad valley formed by the San Bruno Mountains to the north and the Coast Range to the west. Most of the valley faces the San Francisco Bay, affording sweeping vistas from higher elevations and a strong sense of identification with the Bay. South San Francisco is conveniently accessed by Highway 101, Interstate 280, Caltrain, two BART stations (including a free shuttle), and numerous bus routes. The City s up and coming historic downtown boasts international dining, Michelin restaurants, a craft brewery and wine school, and various retail establishments. Known as the The Birthplace of Biotech, the South San Francisco is home to over 200 biotech firms and has a daytime workforce of over 50,000 people. The City s downtown is currently experiencing significant investment from the public and private sectors, with over 750 new residential units anticipated to be built in the next two to three years. Of these units, 15% will be offered at below market rates. Additionally, construction is underway on a new Caltrain Station, which will link the downtown directly with regional public transit, as well as the East of 101 employment area. Furthermore, the City is moving forward with planning streetscape improvements to widen downtown sidewalks to enhance the urban experience and promote the City s walkability. CONSULTING SERVICES NEEDED The City is interested in entering into contracts with several qualified firms, which can be called upon on an as-needed, on-call basis to complete discrete projects based on expertise, availability, and cost proposals. Potential scopes of services may include, but are not limited to the following. Economic Development Assisting in creation and implementation of an Economic Development Plan for the City, including: strategic planning, analysis, real property assembly, and development. Market feasibility and economic feasibility studies. Assisting in real estate underwriting. Real estate market data and analysis. Preparing fiscal impact studies and analyses. Generating and reviewing proformas. Redevelopment Agency Dissolution Monitoring and advising the City on new dissolution law and any anticipated legislation. Assisting in compliance and preparing reports for Successor Agency, Oversight Board, and Department of Finance. Assist in preparation of the annual Recognized Obligation Payments Schedule (ROPS) documents. Page 1
Housing Assisting in compliance with state housing law for housing successor funds and other state housing programs. Assisting in implementing housing development feasibility analyses and developing housing policy. Monitoring state and federal legislation regarding housing. Identifying potential funding opportunities for housing. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Administration Assisting with providing support services for CDBG and Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) grantees. Providing ongoing technical assistance regarding the CDBG program, project eligibility, fund accounting, etc. Providing environmental review services for projects funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Providing technical assistance in developing the five-year Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report, and Assessment of Fair Housing. Assisting with Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) maintenance. SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS Submittal Requirements Submittals shall include a complete response to the requirements outlined in this section. Submittals should be a straightforward delineation of the Respondent s capability to satisfy the intent and requirements of this RFQ. An officer authorized to make the submittal should sign the cover letter. To be deemed responsive, submittals must include the following elements. 1. Cover Letter: Provide a cover letter expressing your interest in and affirming your availability to serve as an on-call consultant for the City. Include name, address, phone number, and email address of the primary contact, as well as their title and capacity within the organization. 2. Company Profile and Qualifications. A statement of the individual or firm s philosophy, goals, vision statements and/or guiding principles. Summary of representative services or projects managed and specifically staffed by the individuals likely to be assigned to City projects. Describe the individual or firm s qualifications to provide any or all of the Consulting Services Needed, as outlined above. Provide excerpts of relevant sample work. 3. Team Members: Identify the project manager and senior level staff likely to be assigned to work on City projects, as well as any proposed sub-consultants and their staffs. Include the qualifications and relevant experience for the identified team members. 4. References: Complete contact information for a minimum of three recent clients for whom similar services described in this RFQ have been performed. 5. Hourly Rates: Provide a list of hourly compensation rates for all positions that may work on projects for the City. Page 2
Submittal Location and Deadlines Interested firms should hand deliver, or mail, submittals to: Heather Ruiz, Management Analyst Economic Development and Housing City of South San Francisco 400 Grand Avenue South San Francisco, CA 94080 Five (5) printed copies and one electronic copy, on a flash drive or CD, of the submittal must be received by Monday, April 9, 2018 at 5:00 PM. The City assumes no responsibility for delays caused by delivery service. Postmarking by the due date will not substitute for actual receipt. Should you have any questions concerning this RFQ, please contact Heather Ruiz, Management Analyst, at heather.ruiz@ssf.net or (650) 829-6621. SELECTION PROCESS Evaluation Criteria Consultant selection shall be on the basis of demonstrated competence and on the professional qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the services solicited and on fair and reasonable price. Submittals will be evaluated based upon, but not limited to, the following criteria. Demonstrated understanding of the requested work and responsiveness to the RFQ. Firm expertise and competence including experience with similar projects. Professional qualifications and experience of individuals to be assigned to City projects. Proposed compensation rates. Completeness of submittal. Reference recommendations. Oral interview, if necessary. It is the City s intention to contract with a highly qualified bench of consultants. **Your firm need not demonstrate depth in all service areas identified in the RFQ, but should have substantial experience and qualifications in at least two areas of expertise.** Page 3
LIMITATIONS & CONDITIONS The City reserves the right to: Request additional information. Extend the due date of the RFQ. Interview none, any or all developers that submit responses to the RFQ. Reject, in whole or in part, any or all qualifications submittals, and to waive minor irregularities in the submittal. Seek and obtain additional qualifications beyond the due date if the qualifications received are unsatisfactory. Cancel, in whole or in part, this Request for Qualifications solicitation. The RFQ is not a contract or a commitment of any kind by the City and does not commit the City to award exclusive negotiating and/or development rights. No reimbursement will be made by the City for any cost incurred by developers in preparation of the response to this RFQ. The issuance of this RFQ does not constitute an agreement by the City that the City Council will actually enter into any contract. The information presented in this RFQ and in any report or other information provided by the City is provided solely for the convenience of the interested parties. It is the responsibility of interested parties to assure themselves that the information contained in this RFQ or other documents is accurate and complete. The City and its advisors provide no representations, assurances or warranties pertaining to the accuracy of the information. All responses to this RFQ shall become the property of the City. The City may use any and all ideas and materials included in any submittal, whether or not the respondent is selected as the developer. Proposals and all other information and documents submitted in response to this RFQ are subject to the California Public Records Act, California Government Code 6250 through 6276.48) (CPRA), which generally mandates the disclosure of documents in the possession of the City upon the request of any person, unless the content of the document falls within a specific exemption category. Non-Liability: By participating in the RFQ process, each respondent agrees to hold the Successor Agency and City and its and their officers, employees, agents, representatives, and consultants harmless from all claims, liabilities, and costs related to all aspects of this RFQ. Page 4