RFQs

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CONTRACT #905-12/02/08
CITIZEN’S BLOCK REDEVELOPMENT
VERNON, CONNECTICUT
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
Architectural / Engineering / Marketing Services
PROPOSALS
Project Overview

The Town of Vernon is accepting qualification and proposal packages for Architectural/Engineering and Market Research services to perform a feasibility study to house the future Connecticut Music Museum and Hall of Fame in the building known as the Citizen’s Block.

Project Information

The property to be renovated for the future home of the Connecticut Music Museum and Hall of Fame has been indentified as 28-36 Park Place, Vernon, a property owned by the Town of Vernon. This building was constructed in 1879 by Builder John G. Bailey, and Architect S.W. Lincoln of Hartford, CT. Constructed of brick masonry, this structure is a straightforward commercial-residential block with Italianate details. The property consists of approximately 15,000 square feet (sf) of net useable space. The first floor is designated store front commercial space. The second and third floors are designated residential. All three floors front Rockville’s Central Park in the heart of downtown, across from and a part of the main street shopping district, and is also part of the Town of Vernon municipal block and government services sector. The Citizen’s Block is currently vacant with the exception of the Rockville Downtown Association (RDA), a Connecticut Main Street Program, which occupies one store front space on the first floor.

Citizen’s Block is a contributing structure to the National Register of Historic Places District, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown Rockville is a National Register Historic District. Properties within this district, including the Citizen’s Block are subject to historic benefits, protections, and restrictions accordingly. Additions and exterior alterations shall be subject to review by Vernon’s Local Historic Properties Commission

The Town is specifically interested in prospects that will enhance the Town’s economic base through a development plan that meets high standards of design, historic restoration, market feasibility, and that can offer other benefits to the community.

The feasibility study should include such services as:

1. Building and Site Analysis
2. Engineering and Site Analysis
3. Program Development
4. Adaptive re-use space utilization planning
5. Project Budgeting
6. Market Research to assess the viability of the project

Scope of Services

1. A summary of the scope of the project that includes the following:

• Perform a code study for building code, fire safety and ADA.
• Review building systems for condition, appropriateness for future use and code compliance.
• Review zoning requirements and make recommendations for anticipated parking needs.
• Description of public benefits that may accrue from the project.
• A description and estimate of off-site improvements (if necessary) to create an interface with Rockville Downtown area.
• A statement of the market feasibility of the use of Citizen’s Block prepared by a certified market analyst, including a study of its use as the CT Music Museum Hall.
• A Comparative Market Study to identify and analyze selected, small and preferable music-related museums regionally and nationally to identify their success factors, funding sources and sustainability approaches.
• An estimate of the tax revenue the Town may realize as a result of this development and list any
• Additional tax benefits that may accrue to the Town such as personal property and equipment, vehicles, etc.
• A description of any other public benefit that may accrue from the project. If asked, the preferred developer may be required to provide more detailed information at a later date in the review process.
• A general remediation plan, describing the work to be performed, together with itemized cost estimate, in order to remediate the remainder of the hazardous materials identified by the Town on the property.
• A regulatory summary describing compliance with of the proposal with all Federal, State, and local regulatory and policy requirements.
• An assessment of impacts that may result from the project, including traffic and congestion, noise, and impacts to air and water, together with a strategy to mitigate such impacts.

Fee for Services

The Consultant shall submit a fee for services on a lump-sum basis which shall include a breakdown by phase. Further, the Consultant shall list all expected exclusions and provide a schedule of hourly rates for personnel which may apply to the project.

Qualifications

– Architect/Engineer licensed in the State of Connecticut.
– Experience in municipal/public building renovation projects.
– Experience with historic and/or adaptive re-use projects, particularly to buildings of similar scope to this project, including those on the National Historic Register.
– Experience with designing performing arts and/or cultural spaces.
– History of successfully designing projects on time, within budget, and with the desired outcome as determined by the owner.
– Past experience of key members of the team on the projects; include resumes.
– Minimum education and experience required performing identification, evaluation, registration, and treatment activities for historic architecture as published in the Code of Federal Regulations 36 CFR Part 61 Appendix A.

The Town may make such investigations as it deems necessary to determine the ability of the respondent to perform the work, and the respondent shall furnish to the Town all such information for this purpose, upon request. The Town reserves the right to reject any proposal if the evidence submitted by, or investigation of the respondent fails to satisfy the Town that such respondent is qualified to carry out the obligations of the contract and to the work contemplated therein.

Pre-proposal Meeting:

All applicants shall attend a MANDATORY pre-proposal meeting at the project site, 30 Park Place, Vernon at 11:00 am on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008.

Submission Requirements

1. Each proposal submitted should contain the following:

a) A list of at least five (5) references.
b) A list of projects including a brief description of at least five (5) similar projects completed within the past ten (10) years.
c) The name and title of all those who will be assigned to this project.
d) Project approach, which should describe how the Consultant will satisfy the scope of services. Include a suggested timeline for the project.

2. If any part of the scope of services under this RFQ is to be completed by a subcontractor, the proposer will provide a description of the services to be subcontracted for along with a description of the qualifications and capabilities of the subcontractor.

Submission Procedures

Submit original and 5 copies in a package identifying the party submitting the proposal and indicate that it contains information for the Citizens Block Study.

The fee proposal must be submitted in a single, separate sealed envelope included in the package and clearly marked “FEE PROPOSAL – CITIZENS BLOCK STUDY” with the party submitting identified and the date submitted on the outside of the sealed envelope.

The proposal package should be submitted to:

John D. Ward
Interim Town Administrator
14 Park Place
Vernon, Connecticut 06066
Re: RFQ-#905-12/02/08 Vernon Citizen’s Block.

Proposals must be received no later than 2:00 PM on Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

Any questions pertaining to the Citizen’s Block or to the technical requirements of this RFQ should be directed to John D. Ward, Interim Town Administrator, (860) 870 - 3665.

EVALUATION & SELECTION PROCESS

The qualification and proposal packages will be evaluated using the following criteria:

(1) Past Experience
(2) Understanding of the Project Scope and Approach
(3) Proposed Team Members
(4) Fee

The Town of Vernon reserves the right to reject any or all qualifications submitted. This Request for Proposals does not commit the Town of Vernon to award a contract or to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal to this request. All proposals submitted in response to this request for proposal become the property of the Town of Vernon. The Town of Vernon reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals received as a result of this request, to negotiate with the selected respondents, the right to extend the contract for an additional period, or to cancel in part or in its entirety the request for proposal, if it is in the best interests of the Town to do so.

(Posted 11/17/08-1205)