THE TOWN OF SUMMERVILLE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Comprehensive Plan Update

Closing Date and Time:

December 14, 2018 - 2:00 p.m.

Contract Award: December 21, 2018

The Town of Summerville, South Carolina is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to prepare a new Comprehensive Plan and Master Transportation Plan that will comply with §6-29-510 of the South Carolina Code of Laws also known as the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994. The scope of the project is to develop an updated Comprehensive Plan that guides future development patterns with a complementary mobility or transportation master plan that includes all modes of transportation (roadway, pedestrian, bicycle, transit). This mobility component will assess the Town's current transportation network and provide recommendations for short-term and long-term transportation projects.

BACKGROUND

The Town of Summerville is located in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina covering almost 20 square miles with jurisdictional boundaries lying in portions of three counties: Dorchester, Charleston, and Berkeley. Due to its 20-mile proximity to the City of Charleston and the establishment of major corporate enterprises such as Boeing and Volvo in neighboring jurisdictions, Summerville has seen a substantial influx in the amount of residential and commercial development occurring in the community during the past several years. The U.S. Census Population Estimates Program estimates Summerville's 2017 population at 50,388 residents, a 16.1% increase from the 2010 population of 43,392 residents recorded by the 2010 Census.

The Town's last Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2011 and updated with the Town's Vision Plan in 2014. The Town's last Comprehensive Transportation Plan was adopted in 2007. The Town also adopted a Green Infrastructure Plan in 2017 and is currently in the adoption stage of a Unified Development Ordinance.

SCOPE OF WORK

The selected firm will be asked to provide the following services to the Town of Summerville:

• Scope of Comprehensive Plan and Master Transportation Plan
  • Develop a plan that meets all of the required elements included in §6-29-510 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.
  • Identify key project stakeholders, including policy and decision makers, and conduct interactive discussions between the consultant and stakeholders. The possibility of a steering committee should be strongly considered.
  • Identify and recommend methods that should be used for public engagement and participation during the plan development. This public engagement strategy should be designed to ensure broad citizen and business participation in the planning process, including a wide and representative demographic. This should include participation strategies for the Town's boards, commissions, and elected leaders.
  • The Town has seen rising costs for homeownership and rentals with the increased residential growth in the area. The plan should provide strategies to address the need for affordable housing.
  • The Town experienced substantial flooding from storms in October 2015 and October 2016, and a major ice/snow storm in January 2018. A new resiliency element to the plan should be considered, or at minimum, resiliency strategies should be integrated into all of the plan elements.
  • Given the substantial growth of the Town and surrounding areas, traffic has become an increasing concern. Summerville has been identified as a stop location for the region's upcoming Bus Rapid Transit system, and more emphasis has been placed on the Town being a walkable and bikeable community. Transportation strategies (all modes) should be discussed throughout the Comp Plan; however, transportation project recommendations should be provided in a separate document/appendix.
  • In order to create functional transportation networks for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, the Master Transportation Plan shall be compliant with other regional plans, such as CHATS Long Range Transportation plan, BCDCOG Walk+Bike BCD plan, and Dorchester County's Parks and Recreation Master Plan, by providing connectivity to other local and regional projects.
  • The Master Transportation Plan shall have the following components:
    • Analysis of Existing Transportation System
    • Identification of corridors and locations that merit the greatest attention
    • Develop listing of transportation improvement projects that include phasing options based on implementation feasibility

DELIVERABLES

The Comprehensive Plan and Master Transportation Plan should be a user-friendly document available in both written and digital form, containing high quality graphics, charts, and maps. The plan should include an executive summary or other such document/section that can be easily and widely distributed. Twenty-five (25) copies of the Draft plan shall be provided by the consultant for distribution and review, and twenty-five (25) copies of the Final plan shall be provided by the consultant, along with a digital copy in both PDF and other editable word processing program, preferably Word or InDesign.

RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The response to this RFP shall contain the following elements:

• Statement of Understanding of Scope
• Qualifications of personnel and their role in the project
• Schedule (project must be completed by December 2019)
• Cost estimate

SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Professional Qualifications and Relevant Experience — up to 20 points maximum
2. Proposed Methodology and Scope of Work — up to 30 points maximum
3. Management Plan and Timetable — up to 30 points maximum
4. Cost of Project- up to 20 points maximum

Proposals must be submitted to: Attn: Jessi Shuler, Director of Planning, Town of Summerville, 200 South Main Street, Summerville SC, 29483 in a sealed envelope clearly marked, "COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROPOSAL". Submit one (1) original and six (6) copies of the proposal as well as a digital copy as a CD-ROM, USB drive or email the digital copy to jshuler@summervillesc.gov.

Offers by telephone or fax will not be accepted. Respondents are cautioned that they are responsible for delivery of the proposals to the correct address listed above. This office will not be responsible for deliveries made to any place other than the specified address. It is the sole responsibility of the bidder to ensure their proposal reaches the Town in a timely manner. The Town shall not be responsible for late deliveries or mail delays.

Proposals received after the deadline WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

December 14, 2018 – 2:00 p.m.

For further information, contact Jessi Shuler at the above address or by telephone at (843) 851-4217 or email at jshuler@summervillesc.gov.

Potential consultants shall provide proof of these qualifications as well as examples of similar work completed. The Town will evaluate proposals and select the consultant based on the following criteria:

A) Professional Qualifications and Relevant Experience:

Proposals will be evaluated for the consultant's relevant educational background and a description of similar projects that the consulting firm/team has conducted for similar communities, including relevant Comprehensive Plans, Land Use and/or Transportation planning projects. Resumes of key personnel including appropriate contact information and at least three examples of recent relevant projects are required to be submitted.

B) Proposed Methodology and Scope of Work:

Proposals will be evaluated on the stated approach to the work demonstrating the basic understanding of the requirements of the project. A detailed description of work tasks associated with each phase of the work, a preliminary assignment of key personnel and the timeframe associated with each task. The proposal must demonstrate that the consultant understands the requirements of the Town of Summerville.

C) Management Plan and Timetable:

Proposals will be evaluated for the consultant's stated approach to managing the project, giving appropriate attention to project tasks, and the overall proposed timetable for the project. This should also include anticipated dates for delivery of interim and final deliverables.

D) Cost of Project:

Proposals will be evaluated based in part on the overall cost for the project. An itemized list of all proposed direct expenses for the project including: travel, per Diem expenses, printing, etc. The consultant's proposal shall be the total cost as a lump sum. Also provide a fee schedule for supplemental charges that would be charged for additional unforeseen work tasks beyond those proposed/anticipated in the Proposal, should such services be required, such as: fees for conducting additional meetings with Town staff/general public; additional trips to and from Summerville; additional iterations/revisions of product deliverables outside of the original scope. Provide per-occurrence, per-unit, or per-hour rates, as appropriate, for such additional services.

The proposal must include all information requested in the RFP. Failure to do so may be cause for rejection of the proposal. The Town reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to award the contract based on the established criteria and according to the proposal that best serves the interest of the Town.

For a full copy of the RFP please visit our website at www.summervillesc.gov and click on Bid Opportunities.