[Consultantservices] [Consultant Services] RFP posted week of February 19-23, 2007

[Grace Williams]

AICP has adopted the following policy:

The AICP Commission requests that entities soliciting planning consultants follow a two-part RFQ/RFP selection procedure. Click here to read a description of such a two-part process in PAS Report 443, Selecting and Retaining a Planning Consultant: RFPs, RFQs, Contracts, and Project Management, by Eric Damian Kelly, FAICP. To view more excerpts from the report, click here.

Please send RFPs & RFQs to websitefeedback at planning.org.

Request for Proposals - Consultant Services

Lower Italian Market Revitalization Project
Passyunk Square Civic Association (PSCA), Philadelphia
Submittal deadline: March 16, 2007 

Introduction
The Lower Italian Market Revitalization Project was initiated by the Design & Planning committee of the Passyunk Square Civic Association ("PSCA"), who was awarded a grant through Philadelphia's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI) Commercial Corridor Support Program.  

Project Study Area/Location
The location and geographic scope of the project is South 9th Street, between Washington and Wharton Streets in South Philadelphia.  These blocks constitute the "lower" and underutilized section of Philadelphia's famous Italian Market.  The aim of the project is to connect the cultural and economic vibrancy of the upper Italian Market across four-lanes of the Washington Avenue thoroughfare to these underutilized blocks of the Lower Italian Market.  Of particular interest is the block of South 9th Street between Washington Avenue and Ellsworth Street, which the committee feels has great potential for redevelopment.

Scope of Work
The following specific tasks should be undertaken by the consultant, working closely with the Design and Planning committee of PSCA:

1.	Market Analysis for S. 9th Street Corridor, between Washington and Wharton (can include larger capture area, as determined by consultant) 
2.	A Description and Possible Visualizations of Potential Development Scenarios for this Corridor and/or Specific Blocks or Properties (such as the Ice House) 
3.	Recommendations on Potential Marketing/Packaging of Development Scenarios to Development Community, Including Identifying Appropriate Developers.  Recommendations should identify the feasibility of these different scenarios (including potential barriers), and how to make them as attractive and realistic as possible to developers. 
4.	Outreach to the local community, including business and property owners along S. 9th Street.  At least one large public meeting is expected. 
5.	Other innovative ideas to meet project goals encouraged in order to meet project goals. 

The Lower Italian Market Revitalization project's goals are to:

1.	Repopulate and re-energize this key historic corridor by laying the foundation for the conversion of vacant and under-utilized properties into street level shops with residential units above. 
2.	Resolve the social, political and environmental issues which are hindering the redevelopment of the properties along this corridor.  
3.	Stabilize and grow the small business "shop-scale" attractiveness of the corridor, by providing support to existing businesses and leveraging the capacity and civic pride of the Lower Italian Market community. 
4.	Ensure that new development is designed well in an urban fashion, and that redeveloped properties are adaptively reused in keeping with the overall historical character of the neighborhood.  Of particular interest is the redevelopment of the Ice House property, and renewing its visual presence along the corridor through such possible measures as artistic lighting, façade improvement/enhancement, etc. 

Working with PSCA 
Key stakeholders and resources include a large volunteer base, an active community organization, and in-kind services of several professionals (planners, architects, artists, etc.) with various neighborhood interest and talents. 

Proposal Submission Requirements

1.	Letter of Transmittal. This letter will summarize (in a brief and concise manner) the Candidate's understanding of the scope of work. The letter must clarify any and all persons authorized to make representations for the Candidate, such as sub consultants, and include the titles, addresses and telephone numbers of such persons. An official authorized to negotiate for the Candidate must sign the Letter of Transmittal. 
2.	Qualification Statement. This section should describe the Candidate, including the size and range of its activities and skills, and essentially what makes the Candidate qualified. 
3.	Scope of Work. This section of the proposal should clearly explain the scope of work as understood by the Candidate, and detail the approach, activities, phases, draft and final work products, and delivery dates.  A gantt chart is encouraged to present the tasks in a chronological order. 
4.	Candidate Profile. The following information should be provided in a clear, concise format 
5.	Contact information. Name, address, phone numbers, and email of the consulting firm. 
6.	Form of organization. Whether firm is a partnership, corporation, or sole proprietorship, where it is organized, and the names of principals, officers, and directors of the firm 
7.	Key personnel. Names of key personnel, their respective titles, locality, experience, and periods of service with the firm 
8.	Project list. List of projects completed by the firm 
9.	Availability. A brief statement of the availability of key personnel of the firm to undertake the proposed project 
10.	References. Names and telephone numbers of persons whom the agency can call for references regarding the firm's past performance, preferably on similar projects. 
11.	Additional Data or Information. Any additional information, which the Candidate considers pertinent, should be included in a separate section of the proposal. 

The use of graphics to supplement and/or summarize written statements as well as interest residents, business owners, and interested stakeholders is encouraged.  

Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.  Ability and/or access to bilingual services (Chinese, Cambodian, Spanish, etc.) is encouraged, but not required.  

Submission
Your firm is invited to submit a proposal for consideration.  Please submit one color paper version and an electronic version in PDF format.  Candidates interested in responding to this RFP must send the above-outlined documentation to:

Passyunk Square Civic Association (PSCA)
Design & Planning Committee
c/o Jackie Gusic
P.O. Box 18052
Philadelphia, PA 19147
contact at passyunk.org
www.passyunk.org <http://www.passyunk.org/> 

Responses to this RFP will be due by the end of business (5 p.m.) on Friday, March 16, 2007.  

[For full description of this RFP, please go to: http://www.planning.org/rfp-rfq/ ]

 

 

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