Redevelopment Planning for the City of Kingsport, Tennessee Kingsport Housing & Redevelopment Authority (KHRA) invites you to submit a proposal to provide planning and research services in conjunction with the City of Kingsport's Redevelopment activities. Through the Redevelopment program, the KHRA and City of Kingsport intends to identify opportunities to restore blighted areas back to productive use and/or create conditions for future renewal.

Project Description and Objectives: The project includes a review of Kingsport's existing redevelopment districts and study areas to determine if conditions have changed since the last market analysis. In addition, the project will include evaluation of other areas of the city that are identified as potentially being blighted, that should be considered for inclusion in a Redevelopment District or Study Area.

The primary objectives of the redevelopment effort in Kingsport include:

• Elimination of blighted areas
• Prevention of future blight
• Expansion of sales tax revenue
• Expansion of the property tax base
• Creation of jobs
• Promotion of a richer cultural environment
• Promotion of quality of life
• Improvement of the transportation infrastructure

Kingsport's redevelopment activities seek the "Highest and Best Use" of a property that will lead to expanded economic activity. The initial focus of the Redevelopment Plan was on retail development, but recent activity has included neighborhood redevelopment. The economic analysis should focus on opportunities for retail redevelopment, neighborhood restoration, and identification of useable space for recreational opportunities.

The analysis is expected to accomplish the following objectives:

• Completion of an economic assessment and analysis
• Identification, evaluation and description of potential new redevelopment districts and the identification of priority sites that are likely key catalysts for revitalization
• Recommendations for future uses and immediate actions for regeneration of areas of Kingsport

This project is expected to evaluate the current principles of the City of Kingsport's Redevelopment Plan and recommend any needed revisions.

RFP RESPONSE:

In your response to this request, be sure to include the following:

• Description of your firm's approach for conducting the analysis and your firm's approach to the planning process, particularly with regard to redevelopment; your firm's approach towards site assessments in general, and your strategy for overall success.
• A project organization chart that identifies the project manager and the project team members together with sub-consultants and subcontractors, and if possible, including resumes of individuals who will work directly on the project.
• A proposed budget that includes a breakdown of the costs per task (including additional proposed tasks). The cost breakdown must provide the number of hours dedicated to each task (or sub-task, if applicable).

Four copies of the proposal response, accompanied by a cover letter signed by an officer of the respondent, must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on February 24, 2017, to:

Sharon Hayes
Grants & Redevelopment Manager
Kingsport Housing & Redevelopment Authority
P.O. Box 44
906 E. Sevier Avenue
Kingsport, TN 37662

Submittals received after the submission deadline will not be considered. All material submitted in accordance with this RFP become the property of KHRA/City of Kingsport and will not be returned. If you have any questions regarding this RFP, please contact Sharon Hayes at (423) 392-2594.

The following conditions apply to this RFP:

• KHRA reserves the right to reject any and all submittals;
• Proposals are the property of KHRA and will not be returned; and
• Any and all expenses associated with the preparation of this RFP are the responsibility of the respondents and will not be reimbursed by KHRA.

BACKGROUND ON KINGSPORT

Situated near Virginia and Kentucky in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee, Kingsport was developed as an industrial town featuring a unique grid pattern designed by world-renowned city planner, John Nolen, with neighborhoods built near factories so that residents could get to work easily. In 2017, the City of Kingsport celebrates its Centennial, marking 100 years of history.

SCOPE OF WORK

The following tasks shall be provided for, at a minimum, in each consultant's response to this RFP:

• Arrange and conduct a kick-off meeting with KHRA/City staff/Economic Development partners. This meeting will allow for the introduction of the Consultant to KHRA Redevelopment Partners, further discussion of the scope of work, receipt of project information, and the discussion of current and planned economic development projects, and determine exact project schedule.
• Review all relevant land use documents, including the City's Redevelopment Plan.
• Prepare an in-depth report that includes:
  • Retail Market Structure and Opportunities Analysis
  • Retail and Residential Support Analysis
  • Analysis of Study Areas (specified by City/KHRA/Economic Development Partners) which will include findings addressing whether the Study Areas are blighted. The analysis will specifically address the factors for making a finding of blight as required by Tennessee Code Section 13-20-201 et seq.
  • Review Economic Obsolescence and Redevelopment Suitability for Study Areas
• Present findings to the KHRA Board of Commissioners and the Board of Mayor & Aldermen.
• Submit a written report of said findings, including visual representation of report findings in the form of maps, photographs and charts that detail the highest and best use of targeted areas to be used as the basis of staff recommendations of economic development priorities.

SCHEDULE

The proposal phase schedule is as follows:

KHRA releases RFP — January 10, 2017

Responses due — February 17, 2017

Selected consultant interviews (week of) — March 6, 2017

Contract Awarded (week of) — March 20, 2017

RFP REQUIREMENTS

Proposals submitted in response to this RFP shall include the information listed below. The information requested must be presented in the order indicated.

1. Consultant Name: Business name and principal contact person, including office location, address, telephone number, fax number, and email address.
2. Consultant History and Types of Services Offered: Briefly describe the history of the firm, including but not limited to the name of the firm owners, number of years in business and range of services offered.
3. Consultant Team Organization: Describe Consultant's proposed team organization and staffing plan indicating the role and responsibility of each team member and sub-consultant (if applicable) through all phases of work. Clearly indicate the individual who will have overall responsibility of Consultant's services and how Consultant proposes that person will interface with KHRA/City team. Identify the office location of each team member and specific relevant experience. If sub-contractors are proposed, indicate whether the sub-contractor(s) have worked with Consultant on comparable projects in the past. Enclose brief resumes of each key team member Consultant proposes to assign to this project as an exhibit to your proposal.
4. Consultant's Experience: Describe Consultant's experience and the experience on any sub-consultants, if any, with projects managed by the firm or individual studies for a comparable project.
5. Certificate of Insurance: KHRA requires that all firms contracting for services file a certificate of insurance prior to the execution of the contract agreement. Insurance coverage includes full workers' compensation insurance, employers' liability coverage, and comprehensive auto and general liability insurance.
6. Professional References: Please provide a minimum of three professional references that KHRA can contact for which Consultant personnel who would be assigned to this project have provided comparable services within the past five years for a similar scope of work.
7. Fee Estimate/Cost Proposal: Provide the proposed fee estimate/cost proposal.

REVIEW AND SELECTION CRITERIA

KHRA/City staff will evaluate the materials provided in response to this RFP based on the following criteria:

1. Understanding of the scope of work and the overall project goals, including Consultant's strategy for carrying out the required work tasks to meet the project goals.
2. Past experience and performance of Consultant on similar projects related to quality of work, meeting project schedules, ability to manage, and errors and omissions control.
3. Familiarity with applicable practices, procedures and industry standards for the type of work involved.
4. Clarity of presentation and conciseness of content of the proposal (elaborate or costly submissions are not required).
5. Specialized experience and technical competence of the firm and the sub-consultants (including individuals in the firm assigned to the project), considering the types of services required and the complexity of the project.
6. Record of performance, including results of reference checks.
7. Proposed plan for completing the work in a timely and professional manner.

KHRA/City reserves the right to conduct independent reviews and to interview Consultant submitting responses prior to making any selection. If KHRA/City elects, Consultants representing the top three proposals may be requested to participate in an interview. KHRA/City anticipates an interview process for this specific project. At a minimum, the proposed project manager along with key team members shall be available for the interview. If your firm is selected to participate in an oral interview, you will be notified the week prior to the scheduled interview. KHRA will not be liable for any costs associated with your firm preparing its response to this RFP.

No proposer will be allowed to modify the content of a proposal at any time after the submission deadline, except in direct response to a request from KHRA/City for clarification or for an oral interview, provided that no such modification will result in a substantial amendment to the proposal.

ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF PROPOSALS

KHRA reserves the right to accept or reject any proposals received as a result of this request. KHRA also reserves the right to waive any informality, technical defect or clerical error or irregularity in any proposal. Additionally, KHRA may, for any reason, decide not to award an agreement as a result of this RFP. KHRA reserves the right to cancel this RFP. KHRA shall not be obligated to respond to any responses submitted, not be legally bound in any manner by the submission of a proposal. KHRA reserves the right to negotiate project deliverables and associated costs.

PUBLIC NATURE OF PROPOSAL MATERIAL

Responses to this RFP become the exclusive property of KHRA/City of Kingsport. At such time as KHRA recommends a Consultant to the KHRA Board of Commissioners and City's Board of Mayor & Aldermen, all responses to the RFP received become a matter of public record and shall be regarded as public records, with the exception of those elements in each proposal which are defined by the Consultant as business or trade secrets and plainly marked as "Confidential," "Trade Secret," or "Proprietary." KHRA/City shall not in any way be liable or responsible for the disclosure of any such proposal or portions thereof, if they are not plainly marked as "Confidential," Trade Secret," or "Proprietary" or if disclosure is required under the Public Records Act. Any proposal which contains language purporting to render all or significant portions of the proposal as "Confidential," "Trade Secret," or "Proprietary" shall be regarded as non-responsive.

NON-DISCRIMINATION/NON-PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT

The successful Consultant shall not discriminate, in any way, against any person on the basis of race, sex, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, actual or perceived gender identity, disability, ethnicity, or national origin, in connection with or related to the performance of KHRA/City contracts