[Consultantservices] Request for Qualifications - Consultant Services

[Ralph Jassen]

Affordable Housing Needs Assessment & Report
The City of Wenatchee, Washington
Submittal Deadline: December 5, 2007

Wenatchee's housing market has been recognized as having one of the
fastest rising house prices in the United States.  Located between the
Columbia River and the Cascade mountains, the City of Wenatchee
(population 30,270) has very limited land available to accommodate a
growing population.  The price of single family homes in the Wenatchee
area increased from an average of $158,000 in 2004 to $245,500 in 2007,
an increase of almost 55 percent in a three year period.  With an
economy centered on agriculture and tourism related services, housing is
increasingly unaffordable for a large segment of the population.  The
City of Wenatchee is seeking qualified consultants to submit statements
of qualification to perform an affordable housing needs assessment and
recommend approaches for the city to meet existing and projected housing
needs for all economic segments of the community in a way that meets the
City's legitimate interest in providing an affordable, diverse and
equitable housing market.

Scope of Work
The project includes 4 phases which will be compiled into a written
report: (1) The first phase consists of an assessment of current housing
price structure and availability of housing options to each economic
segment of the community.  The assessment should determine whether the
existing housing, inventory including owner and renter occupied units,
is financially accessible to those at or below 30%, 50%, 80% and 100% of
the Area Median Income (AMI).  If it is not accessible, then the
assessment should determine what  quantity and type of additional
housing units are needed to meet the need for each of these economic
segments, and to locate such units.   (2) The second phase includes
assessing the need for additional units based upon population
projections including owned, rented and shelter units, determining
projected needs at 5, 10, and 20 years for the groups identified in (1)
above.  Assess the need for sufficient land, infrastructure and services
for each housing segment including, but not limited to,
government-assisted housing for low income families, manufactured
housing, multi-family housing, migrant agricultural worker housing, and
group homes.  An assessment of the impact of second home-ownership
should be included in the analysis.  (3) The third phase includes
identifying programs or methods available to the City that could
significantly mitigate the scarcity of affordable housing or meet
housing needs including but not limited to an "inclusionary zoning"
program and "incentives" for developers.  (4) The fourth phase provides
specific recommendations for Wenatchee that will meet existing and
future housing needs for all economic segments of the community and
establishes a "nexus" between Wenatchee's interest in providing an
affordable, diverse and equitable housing market, and the programs and
methods the study recommends the City adopt.

Consultant Qualifications
Selection of the consultant will be based on (1) prior experience with
similar projects, (2) the backgrounds and qualifications of the people
who will be doing the actual analysis, (3) ability to meet the project
deadline and (4) reputation of the consultant team.

The project is funded through Community Development Block Grant
(federal) funds.  As a result, a number of state and federal equal
opportunity and affirmative action requirements will apply to the
selection process and conduct of the project.  The City of Wenatchee is
an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.  Minority- and
women-owned firms are encouraged to submit proposals.

Project Budget & Timeline
The project budget is approximately $20,000. All work must be completed
by April 30, 2008, or another date agreed to by both parties.

Submittal Requirements
Firms desiring consideration shall submit seven (7) copies of a complete
qualification package and any other pertinent data to further assist the
selection committee in evaluating the firm's qualification to:  Monica
Libbey, Department of Community Development, P.O. Box 519, Wenatchee, WA
98807.  Qualification packages should arrive no later than 5:00 p.m. on
December 5, 2007.  E-mailed submittals are acceptable (send to:
mlibbey at cityofwenatchee.com <mailto:mlibbey at cityofwenatchee.com> ),
however, faxed submittals will not be accepted.  The most highly rated
firm(s) will be selected for an interview and negotiation of the
professional service contract.  

 

For more information about the project, contact Monica Libbey at
509-664-3363 or at mlibbey at cityofwenatchee.com
<mailto:mlibbey at cityofwenatchee.com> .

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