Housing Market Analysis and Policy Strategy Study
City of Manhattan
Manhattan, KS
Amendment to the Request for Qualification
for the Housing Market Analysis and Policy Strategy Study
City of Manhattan, Kansas
March 18, 2020
Due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the City of Manhattan has decided to extend the Request for Qualification (RFQ) submission deadline and the subsequent selection process. This formal amendment to the RFQ for the Market Analysis and Policy Strategy Study for the City of Manhattan, Kansas outlines the revised submission and selection schedule. This amendment also provides answers to questions that were formally submitted by one or more interested parties to the RFQ. The original RFQ and this amendment are posted on the City Website
REVISED REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS SELECTION SCHEDULE
Date Activity
March 1, 2020 — Advertise Request for Qualifications
March 16, 2020 — Questions due from consultants
March 20, 2020 — Responses to questions available on City website
April 24, 2020 — Consultant submissions of qualifications due
Week of May 4, 2020 — Selection Committee review of submissions
Week of May 18, 2020 — Consultant Interviews, if needed (tentative timeframe)
June 2, 2020 — City Commission approves Selection Committee recommendation
July, 2020 — Negotiation-Scope of Work and Contract
August 4, — 2020 City Commission approval of Contract and Scope of Work
August 2020 — Notice to Proceed
September 2021 — Project completion
The Project is estimated to require 12-18 months to complete.
CLARIFICATION TO THE RFQ AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT
The following clarifications to the RFQ and questions about the project were received by an interested consultant or consultant firm before the March 16, 2020 deadline. The City 's response is provided in italics.
- The RFQ notes an indicated timeframe for the project of 12 months beginning in July 2020, including various benchmark deliverables in the form of presentations of findings. Does the City have a rough estimate as to when these various benchmarks would occur? We can certainly put forth a schedule in our response, but if there is a target timeline you have in mind and would be willing to disclose, please advise.
The City does not have a specific schedule in mind for the various benchmarks related to the project. Submissions may include tentative timelines for benchmarks, but it is not required. The negotiated scope of work and contract with the selected consultant will ultimately define the project timeline and schedules of benchmarks and/or milestones.
- Could you provide a bit more detail as to what level of support the city will provide the selected consultant? On past engagements, it has been helpful to know upfront what resources the jurisdiction is able to provide with certain administrative items, such as assisting in advertising public meetings, provision of public meeting space for listening sessions, facilitation of interviews with relevant stakeholders, etc.
City staff is prepared to be an active partner in the organization, logistics, and guidance in this project, as needed. If desired, City staff will provide logistical support for securing meeting venues, advertisement of public meetings, assisting in the creation of stakeholder invite lists for meetings and/or interviews, and other tasks as needed. These roles will be further defined in the negotiated scope of work and contract with the selected consultant.
NOTE: This is a condensed version of the RFQ
Please visit https://cityofmhk.com/bids.aspx to download the full RFQ.
IV. DEVELOPMENT OF SCOPE OF WORK
A. Baseline Analysis
Baseline and historical trends of the City’s and region’s demographics, economic conditions, the rental and homeownership market conditions, including student housing and housing for supportive services (e.g. homeless, elderly, special needs populations, transitional housing, etc.), as well as cost of living indicators will be analyzed to develop an understanding of the present housing market.
B. Needs and Gap Analysis
The baseline data and historical trends will then be used to develop forecasts of the City’s housing needs, using growth projections, anticipated supportive population needs and different housing markets (i.e. rental vs. owner-occupied, price points, bedroom needs) to meet projected needs. It is anticipated that this analysis will forecast 20-years into the future, using standard intervals, such as five-year intervals.
A forecast of the cost associated with the gap between the City’s current housing stock and projected needed housing stock over the next 20-years should be created.
C. Suitable Housing Vision and Goals
Manhattan’s vision for suitable housing and the development of appropriate goals, objectives and/or guiding principles to make the vision a reality need to be crafted. The development of the study’s vision and goals will occur after the baseline and gap analysis is completed to allow community members, stakeholders, the advisory committee and the City Commission to use research and data to create the best direction for suitable housing. Facilitated discussions with key members of the community, as well as innovative ways to engage the community, are expected to gather input to draft the study’s vision and goals.
D. Barriers Analysis
The barriers analysis of Manhattan’s housing market will consist of a critical review to identify factors preventing Manhattan’s residents from accessing suitable housing. The analysis should review currently adopted building and land development codes to ascertain their impact on housing costs, and their impact on the development of the needed affordable housing as identified in the scope of analysis. The analysis should also look at the local lending and financing environment, to identify any barriers to specific populations, neighborhoods, and housing types that may need to be addressed.
The barrier analysis should also analyze federal, state and local funding programs, as well as private sector funding/investment opportunities (e.g. Opportunity Zones, etc.) and impacts of market forces, such as cost and availability of developable land, and infrastructure and utility costs (including costs associated with extending utility service), to identify if the development of housing in the City for all income levels for renting and ownership are being hindered or advanced.
E. Suitable Housing Policies and Strategies Recommendations
Recommendations for short-, mid- and long-term policies, strategies and programs will be created using the above analysis to achieve the vision and goals for the strategic plan for suitable housing. The recommendations should include both best practices, as well as innovative tools and strategies to ensure long-term affordability and suitability for Manhattan residents. Policy recommendations should also build upon the existing housing and growth recommendations in the 2015 Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan and develop decision criteria for when greenfield development should be promoted versus inward redevelopment strategies and when and how development costs should be incentivized or not by the City through benefit district financing.
F. Suitable Housing Policies and Strategies Evaluation
A system to routinely evaluate the effectiveness of implemented policies, strategies and programs will be created. This evaluation system should be data-driven and spatially relevant to the City and region using community-created indicators that are easily complied, tracked and updated.
It is envisioned that the Consultant will lead and/or participate in a number of public open houses, workshops, and stakeholders, City Boards, and Commission meetings to gather information and direction to complete the study. The RFQ response should include a proposed public engagement plan. The specific topics, meeting types, number of meetings and schedules will be negotiated with the final scope of work, once a consultant is selected.
The following meetings should be considered as minimum requirements to respond to this Request for Qualifications:
- Present findings from the baseline analysis and needs and gap analysis to the study advisory committee, the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board and the City Commission.
- Facilitated meetings with the general public, stakeholders, study advisory committee, Planning Board and City Commission to gather input to draft the strategic plan’s vision and goals.
- Present findings from the barrier analysis and recommendations for suitable housing policies and strategies to the study advisory committee, the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board, and the City Commission.
- Presentation of the final draft of the Strategic Plan for Suitable Housing to the study advisory committee, the Planning Board, and the City Commission.
V. PROPOSED TIMETABLE
Following are key dates identified for the Housing Market Analysis and Policy Strategy Study Project:
Dates and Activity
March 1, 2020 — Advertise Request for Qualifications
March 16, 2020 — Questions due from consultants
March 20, 2020 — Responses to questions available on City website
March 27, 2020 — Consultant submissions of RFQ's due
Week of April 6, 2020 — Selection Committee review of submissions
Week of April 27, 2020 — Consultant Interviews, if needed (tentative timeframe)
May 19, 2020 — City Commission approves Selection Committee recommendation
June 2020 — Negotiation-Scope of Work and Contract
July 7, 2020 — City Commission approval of Contract and Scope of Work
July 2020 — Notice to Proceed
July 2021 — Project completion
The Project is estimated to require 12 months to complete.
VI. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
The City of Manhattan will utilize a qualifications-based selection process in determining a consultant to assist with this project. Successful consultants must provide a team with the demonstrated qualifications, experience and expertise to complete the Housing Market Analysis and Policy Strategy Study. Team members must demonstrate an understanding of the requirements for the project, provide references for similar successful projects, demonstrate effective public engagement skills and show an ability to work within a finite budget and schedule. Key criteria the Selection Committee will consider in selecting the successful firm include:
- Professional Qualifications. The education, training, registration, and relevant experience of the proposed key project personnel.
- Specialized Experience and Technical Competence. The firm’s specialized experience and technical competence on similar projects, including the effectiveness of the proposed project team to address unique local issues at a detailed level, and incorporating appropriate community engagement processes (management structure and coordination of disciplines, offices and/or subcontractors).
- The capacity of the Firm to Accomplish the Required Services on Schedule and within Budget. The firm must demonstrate the ability to complete projects within specified completion dates and budget. Submit a proposed budget by task area.
- Past Performance. Past performance of work on similar or comparable housing market analyses, policies, and strategies that have been successfully adopted and implemented should be demonstrated, including the ability to understand and address unique local issues. Include references and letters of commendation with a focus on innovative analysis and housing policies and strategies.
- Understanding of Project. A clear understanding of the type of project work to be performed and a plan to complete the work should be demonstrated.
- Design Quality Assurance. The team’s quality control processes and management approach that will be used on the project.
VII. SELECTION PROCESS
All firms submitting a proposal should be prepared to participate in an interview. A Selection Committee comprised of members of the Manhattan Planning Board, Manhattan City Commission and representatives of City administrative staff will be charged with evaluating submissions, interviewing consultant teams and recommending a consultant to provide the services identified in this RFQ. Interviews will take place with the time given for a formal presentation, followed by a question and answer period.
Following the interviews and reference checks, the Selection Committee will forward a recommendation to the Manhattan City Commission. The City Commission will select the consultant it determines to be the most suitable.
VIII. BUDGET AND CONTRACT
Following the selection of the successful firm, a detailed Scope of Work will be developed by the City and consultant identifying specific purposes, objectives, tasks, and deliverables of the Housing Market Analysis and Policy Strategy project. The consultant will be required to enter into a standard City of Manhattan contract, which will be subject to approval by the Manhattan City Commission.
The City of Manhattan has budgeted $95,000 for the Housing Market Analysis and Policy Strategy Study, including reimbursable fees and expenses. In order to provide maximum flexibility, the City of Manhattan will require a time and expense agreement, with an established maximum fee.
IX. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All submissions must include the following information:
- Identification of Consulting Team
- Project Director with a list of team members and identification of responsibilities for each member.
- Contact information for the Project Director, including an e-mail address.
- Qualifications:
- Resumes of all principals and professional staff involved, demonstrating qualifications and related experience and expertise.
- Descriptions of similar projects successfully completed by the firms involved in the team, completed by the principal staff assigned to this project and any innovative market analysis and housing policies and strategies incorporated into these recent studies.
- The City of Manhattan values the diversity of our community and strives to find ways to make the City and its governing organization more diverse and inclusive. Please explain the following:
- Describe similar past projects conducted in diverse communities. Please give examples of how you fostered inclusivity within these diverse communities.
- Describe how you plan to foster inclusivity in this project, how you may work to address any impactful biases if discovered and address the diverse needs of Manhattan residents.
- A detailed description of the types of public participation processes used successfully by the team on similar projects.
- Description of other relevant experiences of the team.
- Response to the six key criteria mentioned in Section VI. Criteria for Selection.
- References:
- List of references, including a brief description of projects and contact name and telephone number.
No pre-submission conferences will be held in conjunction with this RFQ. Questions concerning this project must be submitted via e-mail to Chad Bunger, AICP, CFM Assistant Director of Community Development (bunger@cityofmhk.com) by 5:00 P.M. on Monday, March 16, 2020. Clarifications to the RFQ and responses to all questions will be posted online at www.cityofmhk.com by March 20, 2020. No interpretation made to any respondent regarding the meaning of the RFQ shall be binding upon the City unless set forth in writing and distributed via addendum by the City.
X. DIRECTIONS FOR SUBMISSION
All submissions must be no more than 35 numbered pages, (excluding cover, table of contents, cover letter, and dividers) in an 8.5” x 11” format, with seven (7) bound copies and one unbound copy along with a complete PDF on a flash drive, delivered to the address below before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2020.
Chad Bunger, AICP, CFM
Assistant Director of Community Development
Community Development Department
City of Manhattan
1101 Poyntz Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66502-5497
Phone: 785-587-2424
E-mail: bunger@cityofmhk.com
Submissions shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope. The City of Manhattan will not accept oral submissions or copies received by telephone, facsimile machine, or email. All submissions received after the deadline shall be returned. The City of Manhattan reserves the right to reject any and all submissions or portions of submissions, to waive minor deficiencies, or to solicit new submissions on the original project or on a modified project, as may be deemed necessary or in the best interest of the City.
All persons awarded and/or entering into contracts with the City of Manhattan shall be subject to and required to comply with all applicable City, State and Federal provisions pertaining to non-discrimination, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Affirmative Action.