Alameda County Redevelopment Agency The, a department of the Alameda County Community Development Agency, requests Qualifications and Proposals for consultant services to assist in the development of an Economic Development Strategic Plan (Plan). The Agency seeks to hire a firm or firms that have demonstrated expertise in economic development, retail strategies, market assessment and urban design. BACKGROUND AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREAS The administers two Redevelopment Project Areas located in unincorporated Alameda County. The Alameda County San Leandro Redevelopment Project Area (the Joint Project ) includes a large portion of the Ashland community, including a three mile commercial corridor located between the Cities of San Leandro and Hayward. The major redevelopment investment in this Project Area has been the implementation of the first phase of the East 14 th Street / Mission Boulevard Streetscape Improvement Project. The East 14 th Street / Mission Boulevard commercial corridor, currently a state owned highway, remains underutilized for commercial and mixed-use developments. The Eden Area Redevelopment Project consists of five distinct Sub-Areas: Castro Valley, Cherryland, Foothill, Mt. Eden and San Lorenzo. Castro Valley is nearing completion of the Castro Valley Redevelopment Strategic Plan that addresses streetscape improvements, retail needs and catalyst development opportunity sites. Cherryland is focused primarily on the provision of neighborhood improvements, but is concerned about the retail viability of Mission Boulevard. The Foothill Sub-Area consists of a hillside residential neighborhood and a small commercial strip. Mt. Eden is wholly surrounded by the City of Hayward and is the subject of a City sponsored annexation proposal therefore only limited analysis of this area is needed. San Lorenzo has been through several planning efforts over the past five years including the San Lorenzo Village Specific Plan and the Hesperian Boulevard Streetscape Masterplan. A proposed development project currently under
Page 2 of 9 negotiation between the landowner, development and Redevelopment Agency includes 19 acres for 450 residential units that include condos, townhomes, affordable senior apartments, a village square, and a new neighborhood shopping center. In addition to this large project, San Lorenzo has other commercial areas along Hesperian Boulevard, Bockman, and the County s only industrial park area along Grant Avenue. A map of the Redevelopment Project Areas is attached. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS The major planning efforts that have been recently completed or are nearing completion include the Castro Valley Redevelopment Strategic Plan, the Eden and Joint Redevelopment Project Area Implementation Plans, the update of the Castro Valley General Plan and Eden General Plan, the San Lorenzo Village Specific Plan, the Eden Area Livability Initiative and the Hesperian Streetscape Master Plan. The Castro Valley Redevelopment Strategic Plan incorporates many of the elements proposed for the so special review of this plan is essential in avoiding duplication of effort and cost by the consultant. PROJECT GOALS The overall goals of the will be to develop, with public participation, short (1 5 years) and long-term (5 10 years) economic development strategies that are consistent with the overall vision and goals of the community. As a result of this plan, the Redevelopment Agency expects to hire an economic development specialist or consultant to assist in the implementation of the Plan SCOPE OF WORK Prepare an (EDSP) for the Redevelopment Project Areas located in unincorporated Alameda County. The EDSP should include a Retail/Commercial Strategy as well as an Industrial Strategy. The Scope of Work for the EDSP should include at least the following elements: 1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Active public participation is essential to the creation of a successful economic development strategy. The selected consultant will be required to listen to, communicate with and fully understand each community. A strong public
Page 3 of 9 participation strategy that incorporates the Redevelopment Citizen Advisory Committees, the Unincorporated Area Economic Development Committee and the business community is required. 2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS Provide a summary of Economic Development Conditions: a) Demographic profiles for each redevelopment community. b) Land use c) Business and employment 3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISION AND GOAL Create Economic Development Vision and Goals 4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES Create Economic Development Strategies that include, but are not limited to, the following: A) RETAIL / COMMERCIAL a) Market assessment, retail/commercial strategy and feasibility analysis of key development opportunity sites for the Redevelopment Areas. 1) Provide a report assessing current retail and commercial market. 2) Identify current retail/commercial trends, area demand and realistic development opportunities linked to these findings. 3) Identify a retail/commercial strategy that establishes a framework for retail and mixed-use development and redevelopment infill. 4) Make recommendations regarding a development vision and retail mix that includes potential revenue estimates. 5) Identify retail project strategies, along with funding and implementation strategies. 6) Identify development opportunity sites and provide feasibility analysis to include associated costs (I.e. acquisition / assemblage, relocation and, or Redevelopment Agency gap financing).
Page 4 of 9 B) INDUSTRIAL: San Lorenzo Grant Avenue Industrial Area Market assessment and feasibility analysis of key industrial development opportunity sites in the San Lorenzo Redevelopment Sub - Areas. 1) Provide a report assessing current industrial market. 2) Identify current industrial trends, including light industrial and hightech. 3) Identify an industrial business development strategy that establishes a framework for both business retention and attraction. 4) Make recommendations regarding a development vision including revenue estimates and job creation. 5. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Create an Implementation Plan for both Retail/ Commercial and Industrial strategies. The Implementation Plan should include recommendation for funding, staffing and organizing Economic Development activities. The Implementation Plan should also include recommendations on strengthening or developing new partnerships with community organizations. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS A. It is anticipated that the process will include a number of public meetings (no more than 6 public meetings are anticipated at this time). B. Time allowance should be made for meetings with staff to review findings as necessary, and to review the study schedule and project budget. PROJECT TIMELINE The expectation is that the project will be completed within 9 months. SELECTION PROCESS & SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS A selection review committee will be convened to evaluate the proposals received. Each of the criteria listed below will be evaluated by the committee for the purpose of ranking the proposals. Each proposal shall be limited in length and judged as a
Page 5 of 9 demonstration of the consultant s capabilities and understanding of the project. Submittal requirements are further defined below. Please Submit the Following: Max Score 1. Letter of Interest 0 2. Consultant / Project Team Qualifications & Capabilities (a) 20 3. Project Understanding & Proposed Work Program & Schedule (b) 40 4. Proposed Cost (c) 20 5. Project Examples & References (d) 20 6. SLEB* (*SLEB Alameda County Small 10 Local and Emerging Business Program see Section OTHER INFORMATION, County Provisions B.) Submittal Requirements (a) Consultant / Project Team Qualifications & Capabilities shall include a statement relating to the consultant s / Project Team s demonstrated experience and knowledge in the following areas: Project management including public meeting participation. Preparation of s that include both retail/commercial AND industrial strategies National and local retail in downtown / urban centers as well as smaller communities. Identifying an appropriate mix of retail that creates retail destination(s), viability and diversity of shopping experience. Implementable market based planning strategies. Creating an implementation oriented plan. Please include a list of individuals, (with their qualifications, resumes, and references) who will be committed to completion of this plan, including all sub-contractors. Also identify the Project Manager responsible for day-to-day oversight of the project. (b) Project Understanding & Proposed Work Program & Schedule shall include the consultant s understanding of the project and a detailed work schedule including specific milestones necessary to achieve the Agency s objectives. (c) Proposed Cost shall include a cost breakdown for all professional services including all incidentals. The fee schedule shall be categorized, corresponding with
Page 6 of 9 the item numbers in the scope of work and must be submitted separately from the Proposal in a sealed, marked envelope. (d) Project Examples & References shall include a list of four (4) references from city and/or county agencies to which you have provided similar services in the last three (3) years. OTHER INFORMATION COUNTY PROVISIONS 1. Preference for Local Products and Vendors: A five percent (5%) preference shall be granted to Alameda County products or Alameda County vendors on all sealed bids on contracts except with respect to those contracts which state law requires be granted to the lowest responsible bidder. An Alameda County vendor is a firm or dealer with fixed offices and having a street address within the County for at least six (6) months prior to the issue date of this RFP/Q; and which holds a valid business license issued by the County or a city within the County. Alameda County products are those which are grown, mined, fabricated, manufactured, processed or produced within the County. Locality must be maintained for the term of the contract. Evidence of locality shall be provided immediately upon request and at any time during the term of any contract that may be awarded to Contractor pursuant to this RFP/Q. 2. Small and Emerging Locally Owned Business: A small business for purposes of this RFP is defined by the United States Small Business Administration as having no more than $6 million in average annual gross receipts over the last three (3) years. An emerging business, as defined by the County is one having annual gross receipts of less than one-half (1/2) of the above amount over the same period of time. In order to participate herein, the small or emerging business must also satisfy the locality requirements and be certified by the County as a Small or Emerging, local business. A certification application package (consisting of Instructions, Application and Affidavit) has been attached hereto as Exhibit E and must be completed and returned by a qualifying contractor. A locally owned business, for purposes of satisfying the locality requirements of this provision, is a firm or dealer with fixed offices and having a street address within the County for at least six (6) months prior to the issue date of this RFP/Q; and which holds a valid business license issued by the County or a city within the County. The County is vitally interested in promoting the growth of small and emerging local businesses by means of increasing the participation of these businesses
Page 7 of 9 in the County s purchase of goods and services. As a result of the County s commitment to advance the economic opportunities of these businesses the following provisions shall apply to this RFP: a. If Bidder is certified by the County as either a small and local or an emerging and local business, the County will provide a five percent (5%) bid preference, in addition to that set forth in paragraph 1., above, for a total bid preference of ten percent (10%). However, a bid preference cannot override a State law, which requires the granting of an award to the lowest responsible bidder. b. Bidders not meeting the small or emerging local business requirements set forth above do not qualify for a bid preference and must partner, joint venture or subcontract with one or more County certified small and/or emerging local businesses for at least twenty percent (20%) of Bidder s total bid amount in order to be considered for the contract award. Bidder, in its bid response, must submit written documentation evidencing a firm contractual commitment to meeting this minimum local participation requirement. Participation of a small and/or emerging local business must be maintained for the term of any contract resulting from this RFP. Evidence of participation shall be provided immediately upon request at any time during the term of such contract. Contractor shall provide quarterly participation reports during the term of said contract and a final account statement at the end of the contract to the County Business Outreach Officer. The County reserves the right to waive these small/emerging local business participation requirements in this RFP, if the additional estimated cost to the County, which may result from inclusion of these requirements, exceeds five percent (5%) of the total estimated contract amount or Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), whichever is less. If additional information is needed regarding this requirement, please contact Linda Moore, Business Outreach Officer, Alameda County General Services Agency, at (510) 208-9717 or via E-mail at linda.moore@acgov.org. 3. First Source Program: The First Source Program has been developed to create a public/private partnership that links CalWORKs job seekers, unemployed and under employed County residents to sustainable employment through the County s relationships/connections with business, including contracts that have been awarded through the competitive process, and economic development activity in the County. Welfare reform policies and the new Workforce Investment Act requires that the County do a better job of
Page 8 of 9 connecting historically disconnected potential workers to employers. The First Source program will allow the County to create and sustain these connections. Contractors awarded contracts for goods and services in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) as a result of this RFP are required to provide Alameda County with ten (10) working days to refer to Contractor, potential candidates to be considered by Contractor to fill any new or vacant positions that are necessary to fulfill their contractual obligations to the County, that Contractor has available during the life of the contract before advertising to the general public. Potential candidates referred by County to Contractor will be pre-screened, qualified applicants based on Contractor s specifications. Contractor agrees to use its best efforts to fill its employment vacancies with candidates referred by County, but the final decision of whether or not to offer employment, and the terms and conditions thereof, rest solely within the discretion of the Contractor. Contractors participating in the First Source Program may be eligible for incentives, including but not limited to tax credits for employees hired, Enterprise Zone credits, and on the job training subsidy. Bidders are required to complete, sign and submit in their bid response, the First Source Agreement that has been attached hereto as Exhibit H, whereby they agree to notify the First Source Program of job openings prior to advertising elsewhere (ten day window) in the event that they are awarded a contract as a result of this RFP/Q. Exhibit H will be completed and signed by County upon contract award and made a part of the final contract document. If additional information is needed regarding this requirement, please contact Linda Moore, Business Outreach Officer, Alameda County General Services Agency, at (510) 208-9717 or via E-mail at linda.moore@acgov.org. Alameda County reserves the right to accept, reject, and evaluate any and all proposals, and to change the scope of this RFQ/RFP. Any proposal submitted during this RFQ/RFP process becomes the property of the County. The County will not be liable for nor pay costs incurred by the respondent in preparation of a response to this RFQ/RFP or any other costs involved including travel. Proposals must be delivered by 4:00 p.m., Thursday, September 8, 2005 (NO POSTMARKS OR FAXES WILL BE ACCEPTED). Respondents, if selected for an interview, should be prepared to attend an interview within one week of the RFP deadline. Respondents should provide ten (10) copies of the proposal, plus one unbound copy.
Page 9 of 9 Two non-mandatory Networking/Bidders Conferences that will provide an overview of the requirements and an opportunity to answer questions will be held on: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 1pm 3pm Community Development Agency Public Hearing Room 224 W. Winton Avenue, Room 160 Hayward, CA 94544 Wednesday, August 24, 2005 1pm 3pm Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Large Conference Room 2000 Embarcadero, Suite 300 Oakland, CA Questions concerning this RFQ/RFP should be directed to: Eileen Dalton 224 W. Winton Avenue, Room 1101 Hayward, CA 94544 Phone : (510) 670-6509 Fax: (510) 670-6374 E-mail: eileen.dalton@acgov.org