Flat Rock Greenway Feasibility Study A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Village of Flat Rock French Broad River MPO December 11, 2017
Introduction and Overview The Village of Flat Rock and the French Broad River MPO are soliciting proposals from qualified consultants for a planned greenway/multi-use path from The Park at Flat Rock to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. The Village of Flat Rock is a small municipality in Western North Carolina, just south of Hendersonville. The population is estimated at 3,311 (2015 American Community Survey) and the Village contains many historic and environmental features that help to define the village s unique and special character. In 2017, the Village was awarded an NCDOT/FHWA $32,000 planning grant through the French Broad River MPO (which also requires a local match of $8,000) to pursue a feasibility study for a section of multi-use path that would stretch from the Park at Flat Rock to the Historic Carl Sandburg Home, just south of Little River Road. This section of multi-use path was identified in the Village of Flat Rock s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan as well as the French Broad River MPO s Metropolitan Transportation Plan. This section, to be studied, could become part of a larger envisioned multi-use path network for the Village, possibly connecting to the Oklawaha Greenway in the future. A section of the greenway, currently being considering, could be added as part of the NCDOT roadway improvement project on Highland Lake Road (U- 5887) which may include pedestrian amenities at the Village s request. Either end of the proposed multi-use path connection are major hubs of physical activity. On the northern end, the Park at Flat Rock offers extensive walking trails along a former golf course that has been converted into a scenic and spacious park. On the southern end is the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site which offers miles of walking and hiking trails through a farm and up to Glassy Mountain. Both sites generate considerable pedestrian traffic, but neither have safe pedestrian and/or bicycle connections to the downtown of Flat Rock, the Village Center, the Flat Rock Playhouse, or to each other. PAGE 1
Project Scope & Tasks This feasibility study is expected to accomplish the following goals: Inform and educate Flat Rock residents on the potential multi-use path Provide data on potential destinations, environmental assets/hazards, and other information that may provide opportunities or challenges to implementing the multi-use path Provide a recommended alignment Provide preliminary cost estimates to help inform the Village of future costs to implementing the project Project tasks will include data collection, alternatives development, public outreach, coordination and reporting, and alignment and implementation phasing. DATA COLLECTION Data on environmental assets within the project area should be collected to determine potential opportunities and barriers to completing the project. These may include potentially impacted properties, NCDOT requirements for providing safe roadway crossings, potential destinations/connections, and anything else that may inform or determine a preferred multi-use path alignment. ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT The consultant should develop several alternatives/alignments to be weighed based on opportunities and challenges to implementation as well as public and stakeholder support. These alternatives should be vetted by the project selection committee prior to further study and engagement with the public. PUBLIC OUTREACH Involvement with the public will be considered crucial for this project. At least one public workshop should be completed as part of this project. Additional outreachpotentially through other strategies/venues- is recommended but not required. COORDINATION AND REPORTING A project steering committee will be assembled by the Village of Flat Rock and the French Broad River MPO staff. The consultant may review and propose changes to the project steering committee, if necessary. The consultant will maintain active communication with the project steering committee and may be requested to present to Village Council when appropriate. PAGE 2
The consultant team selected will have an in-person meeting or a conference call with the FBRMPO staff and the Village of Flat Rock prior to the Steering Committee kick-off meeting, to identify major issues and stakeholder groups relevant to the feasibility study. The consultant will be present in-person for the kick-off meeting with the Steering Committee and for the presentation of the draft document to the Steering Committee. Phone conference and webinar options may be utilized for additional Steering Committee meetings. It is expected that at least four Steering Committee meetings would take place. The consultant team will provide quarterly reports to the FBRMPO to summarize study progress, potential obstacles, and upcoming activities. Include update on schedule and budget. A draft final report and a final report will be prepared for the study. Sufficient time will be provided after submission of the draft final report for the Steering Committee and for the general public to provide comments, and to make changes and corrections to the Final Report is needed. MULTI-USE PATH ALIGNMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION PHASING As part of the draft final report and final report, the final preferred alignment should be clearly presented with cost estimates included, by segment. An ESRI ArcGIS shapefile or geodatabase to be submitted with the preferred alignment, with segments and recommended treatments clearly labeled to be able to refer back to the final report. A table with implementation phasing recommendations to be included, as well as a list of potential funding sources. TIMELINE This feasibility study is expected to be completed 12 months after notice to proceed, with possible extensions at the discretion of the Steering Committee. Qualifications All interested firms should be- or should be capable of quickly becomingprequalified with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) as a Private Consulting Firm. PAGE 3
Firms should also present experience in multi-use path/greenway planning, bicycle and pedestrian planning, and community engagement. Deliverables The final product should include: A digital copy of the first draft and additional public outreach materials as appropriate for the public input workshop A digital copy of the final draft Three (3) hard/paper copies of the final plan Final Preferred Alignment in a.shp file Any presentation/public meeting materials, as requested by the Village of the Project Steering Committee The consultant team selected will be expected to provide a presentation to the Project Steering Committee and the Village Council upon completion of the project. Selection Criteria Proposals from qualified firms will be examined and scored by the project steering committee based on the following attributes from the proposal: Public Involvement (20%)- does the consultant provide a sound strategy to effectively engage the community and use input to meaningfully develop the project? Team Qualifications (20%)- does the consultant have team members that are experienced and qualified in similar studies? Experience (40%)- has the consultant completed projects in similar areas (local government size and topographical challenges) that have been considered successful with elements that may be applicable to this study? Project Approach (30%)- does the proposal provide a clear approach to the project with a well thought-out plan for collecting data, engaging the public, and coming to a final recommended alternative? PAGE 4
Timeline (10%)- does the proposal provide a clear timeline of the length of time required for completing tasks? Submittal Requirements Prospective consultants should submit an electronic copy of their proposal with the following included: (1) Project Team: Include all team members and any subconsultants that will work on this project. This section should include roles and tasks to be completed by each team member as well as a brief summary of each team member s qualifications, specialties, and relevant experience. (2) Project Approach: This section should include a detailed overview of the consultant s approach to completing the project. This should include specific public outreach strategies, plans to collect data, as well as cost estimating procedures and any potential phasing considerations. This section must include a detailed project schedule. (3) Project Experience: Include at least three completed projects the consultant team feels is most similar to the Flat Rock Greenway. The proposal should include a brief description of the tasks involved in the project, the consultant s role in developing the project, as well as contact information for references. (4) Fee Proposal for the Project: A per hour fee is acceptable but a cost ceiling must be included as well and broken out by task. Please note that a very detailed cost estimate is required by NCDOT as part of final contract negotiation. All Proposal Should Be Sent to MPO@LandofSky.org by Friday, January 12, 2018, at 5:00 PM. Interview Process Should the project steering committee decide it is necessary, consultant teams may be requested to conduct an interview with the project steering committee. PAGE 5
Selection Process The Project Selection Committee will score consultant proposals based on the criteria outlined in this RFP. Should any consultant fail to provide any requested information or fail to provide anything requested in this RFP, the Project Selection Committee may reserve the right to disregard the consultant s proposal. As a NCDOT/FHWA funded project, the selected firm will be required to submit a detailed man-hour estimate, wage rates, overhead, cost of capital, other miscellaneous expenses, and fees in accordance with NCDOT s Policies and Procedures for Procurement and Administration of Major Professional or Specialized Services Contracts, and other current standards. The negotiated contract will be submitted to the Office of Inspector General, Consultant Audit Unit for review prior to issuance of an NTP. PAGE 6
Proposed Flat Rock Greenway The Park at Flat Rock Carl Sandburg Home N.H.S. Ë Legend DRAFT Flat Rock Greenway 0.5 Miles Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, USGS, Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri Korea, Esri (Thailand), MapmyIndia, NGCC, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community Proposed Flat Rock Greenway General/Preliminary Planned Location French Broad River MPO/Village of Flat Rock Flat Rock Greenway RFP