Brown County, Indiana Area Plan Commission is seeking proposals from qualified consultants for professional services to assist with the review and further development of its Comprehensive Plan.

RFP Approved by the Plan Commission for Distribution — June 25, 2024

RFP Released — June 26, 2024

Questions Due via email — July 12, 2024

Proposals Due to the County — 4:00PM on July 19, 2024

Proposal Evaluation and Interviews — July / August 2024

Contract Negotiations and Award by APC — August 2024

Comprehensive Plan Process — August 2024- Spring / Summer 2025

Responses are solicited in accordance with terms, conditions, and instructions set forth in this Request for Proposal (RFP). All proposals are due no later than 4:00PM on July19, 2024 and responses received after this time and date will not be accepted. Only electronic (submitted via parcel delivery, drop off, or email) submissions will be accepted. Please submit all proposals using the following mailing address, drop off location (installed on media device of your choice), or email (25mb size limit):

Kayla Robertson, Planning Commission Director

Brown County Annex Building

Physical: 201 Locust Lane

Mailing: P.O. Box 401

Nashville, IN 47448

robertsonk@browncounty-in.us

Any questions or comments may be directed to this contact as well.

ABOUT US

Brown County, Indiana is located in south central Indiana and home to approximately 15,475 residents. Brown County is known globally as a recognized tourist destination nestled between Bloomington to the West and Columbus to the East. The county seat is Nashville. The Brown County Art Colony is considered to have been firmly established in 1907 when the noted painter T. C. Steele moved here. Steele built a home and studio on a large plot of land west of Nashville near Belmont and made it his permanent home. Its proximity to Indiana University in Bloomington allowed Steele to accept a position as artist in residence there in 1922. As word spread, a group of 25 artists formed the Brown County Art Colony. Soon after, the attraction of the artists and beauty of the hill country drew tourists.

The Brown County State Park first opened to the public in 1929 with 15,696 acres to its name. The State Park, located outside of Nashville, is the largest Indiana State Park. Within the park is Weed Patch Hill, which - at an elevation of 1,058 feet - is one of the highest points in Indiana. By 1935 the Hoosier National Forest held 35,000 acres in Brown County and a Soil Conservation Service office had been opened. Since 1935, over 1,000 ponds and lakes have been constructed.

The county still boasts of the Brown County Art Colony and attractions such as the T.C. Steele State Historic Site. Brown is the emerald county of Indiana.

PLAN OVERVIEW

Brown County is governed by a county comprehensive plan that received its last update in 2011. The upcoming Comprehensive Plan must adhere to the requirements of IC 36-7-4-502 concerning its content and planning components. This document will assist in establishing a clear vision, foundational principles, and action-oriented recommendations for Brown County's future decision-making processes. The success of the Plan hinges not only on the quality of its content but also on its presentation. It is imperative for the Plan to be well-structured, succinct, and visually appealing, ensuring it is accessible and user-friendly.

The following plans should be considered in the development of the Comprehensive Plan: https://browncounty-in.gov/DocumentCenter/View/141/Brown-County-Comprehensive-Plan-PDF

PLAN ELEMENTS

Tentative timing for the Comprehensive Plan would begin the summer of 2024 finishing in spring / summer 2025. The Scope submitted by the consultant should include at least the following tasks:

Scope

• Data Collection
• Alignment with Other Plans
• Evaluate existing and emerging opportunities and issues
• SWOT Analysis
• Vision and Goal Setting
• Action Plan with Priorities and Organization Assignments
• Public Engagement Process
• Analyze the Cost to Provide Service
• Implementation Strategy
• Project Website
• Readability and Usability

The Plan should be designed to incorporate but not limited to the following:

Public Participation Process: This effort will be enriched by the participation of a diverse group of stakeholders, including residents, the Area Plan Commission, advisory boards, staff, and community members from various sectors like local schools, businesses, and neighborhood groups, through a robust public engagement process. The planning process will be structured and executed to guarantee active community involvement, outlining ways for stakeholders to offer significant contributions, and defining key moments for engagement.

Background Research and Analysis: The Plan will review past research, current circumstances, initiatives from neighboring regions and jurisdictions, as well as trends, projections, and economic and market conditions. It will also feature a socio-demographic overview of the community to evaluate Brown County's development, alongside an analysis of present land utilization, transportation networks, and infrastructure.

Community Vision Statement: Establish a Vision for Brown County's future.

Key Planning Principles, Themes, or Topic Areas: The Plan ought to pinpoint key themes or planning principles derived from public feedback. Each theme should be backed by a central goal and multiple objectives, which will structure the specific steps outlined in the Plan.

Goals, Objectives, and Actions: Goals for the Plan's topic areas or planning principles should articulate desired outcomes in clear, straightforward language. Objectives will outline subthemes under each goal, helping to categorize the actions to be taken. Actions will specify a project, policy, or program, detailing a realistic timeline for achievement and identifying the entities responsible for executing each action.

Future Land Use and Character: Beyond the conventional Future Land Use Map, the Plan ought to pinpoint specific character attributes for various key areas (such as areas slated for future growth and the downtown region) across Brown County. It should outline the purpose, potential uses, and desired development criteria for these distinct zones, aiding in the articulation of the preferred character for each.

Thoroughfare Plan: The Plan will feature a Thoroughfare Plan that sets out the routes for new, extended, widened, or narrowed public pathways, as per IC 36-7-4-506 guidelines. It will categorize thoroughfares based on standard typologies, specify the required right-of-way widths for each category, and offer typical cross-sectional recommendations for integration into or the creation of Brown County's Standard Details. The Thoroughfare Plan will also enumerate transportation projects essential for developing a network of major public pathways that align with the Plan's vision and facilitate efficient vehicle circulation. These projects will be evaluated for their planning-level costs and assigned priorities. Additionally, the Plan will examine and propose solutions for enhancing mobility and expanding multi-modal transportation options and connections.

Project Website: A dedicated website for the Comprehensive Plan update initiative should be developed and maintained. This website should, at the very least, offer specific information about the project and a platform for the public to both offer feedback and learn about the public involvement process in developing the Plan.

Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to produce a range of deliverables for the Plan at different phases of the project. Possible deliverables include, but are not limited to:

• An editable Microsoft Word document and a PDF version of the Draft Plan
• An editable Microsoft Word document and a PDF version of the Final Plan (8.5” x 11”), including color maps in digital format (11” x 17”)
• A web-based version of the Final Plan
• Geographic Information System (GIS) files compatible with ESRI's ArcGIS, such as file geodatabases or shapefiles, utilizing the NAD 1983 Indiana State Plane East Coordinate System and other systems employed by Brown County. When necessary, raster datasets should be both orthorectified and georeferenced.

SUBMITTAL ITEMS

Submissions should be no more than 20 pages (inclusive of resumés) with each of those pages using standard 8.5” x 11” sheets. The RFP submittal should include the following items:

Cover Letter (1 page)

• Introduce entity/firm.
• Describe familiarity with Brown County and its regional context.
• Interest in the project and a brief description of relevant experience that makes the consultant uniquely qualified to perform the work described in this RFP.
• Signed and dated.

Firm Overview (1 page)

• Include information on lead and any sub-vendors on the team.

Team Qualifications

• Identify the project manager/main point of contact for the project. Provide a resumé, qualifications, and references of the personnel who will be involved in the management of the delivery of the services proposed.
• Include resumés of key team members. Resumés should detail educational qualifications and previous work assignments related to the services proposed. Include qualifications of each employee, as well as expected roles and responsibilities for this project.
• Identify any subconsultant(s) and their intended role on the team. Provide the percentage of work anticipated to be assigned to any subconsultant(s).
• Describe the availability and manpower estimate for the project manager and team members who will be committed to completing the project through acceptance/adoption by Town Council.

Project Approach

• Narrative and graphics describing the consultant team's overall method and general schedule to developing a Townwide Comprehensive Plan that meets the elements outlined in this RFP.

Public Participation

• Describe and outline the forms/methods of public participation as part of this plan.

Experience and Examples

• Samples of final documents and graphics from comparable projects completed within the previous five years (providing samples on a flash drive and/or hyperlinks are sufficient).

Scope of Time

• Estimation of overall scope of work/time involved with your team's proposal. A timeline to completion with stratified steps along the way for public engagement, plan crafting/vetting/public meetings, public approval process, etc.

Fees and Costs:

• Provide a listing of fees or hourly rates for members of the consulting team that will be involved in this project, including support personnel (do not include information on personnel who will not be regularly involved in the project)

Project List:

• List of similar projects completed or currently underway by the firm and/or key personnel referenced under Availability; and

References:

• List at least three client references, including the project's name, brief description, and primary contact information (email and phone).

Draft Contract

• Provide a draft contract for the project. These pages are NOT considered part of the
  20-page proposal limit.

EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SCORING

The following factors will be used in the selection process:

Past Experience/ Examples of Work (20 points): Demonstrates team/firm experience with similar projects of comparable size and complexity as well as the ability to complete work. Examples provided are well organized, concise, and user-friendly with high- visual quality.

Key Personnel Experience and Availability (30 points): Project Manager and Project Team demonstrate qualifications, expertise/skillsets, and availability to complete the Comprehensive Planning Process.

Project Approach and Schedule (30 points): Demonstrates project understanding incorporating Comprehensive Plan elements, outlining a thoughtful and organized project approach, and coordinating timeline.

Public Participation Approach (20 points): Demonstrates an involvement approach designed to proactively, regularly, and thoughtfully engage the community in meaningful ways, inclusive of an online presence.

SELECTION PROCESS

From a review of the proposals received, the County intends to invite the top scoring consultants to be interviewed before making a final selection of a consultant for this project. If the County's desires to interview a consultant, that consultant will receive notification of the date and time of the interview. The selected consultant then will negotiate with the County the project contract including scope of work, project schedule, and fee. If a reasonable contract, including fee, cannot be reached with the respondent of choice, in the opinion of the County, negotiations will proceed with the second-choice respondent until a mutually agreed upon contract can be negotiated. Once a consultant has been selected and contract negotiation has occurred, a consultant will be recommended to the Brown County Board of Commissioners for its consideration and contract approval. After the payment of the contract is complete, the consultant will relinquish and transfer ownership of any documents, maps, websites, etc. to the County.

For full RFP and Legal Compliance Information, please contact robertsonk@browncounty-in.gov