GENERAL INFORMATION AND SUMMARY

Organization Issuing Request for Information:

City of Bloomington
Planning and Transportation Department
401 N. Morton St, Suite 130
Bloomington, Indiana 47404

Contact

• Ryan Robling, Planning Services Manager
  • roblingr@bloomington.in.gov
• Anne Crecelius, Long Range Planner
  • anne.crecelius@bloomington.in.gov

Link to Application: https://bloomington.in.gov/planning/bids 

Summary of Request:

The City of Bloomington (the City) is issuing the Request for Information (RFI) to aid in the selection of a consultant team (Consultant) to perform on-call long range planning services needed throughout the City. Interested parties must provide submittals as outlined in this document electronically by Friday, July 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM local time (DST). 

Communications and Project Management: 

All communications from interested parties to the City prior to the deadline for submissions in response to this RFI shall be made electronically through email only. Should any interested party find discrepancies in, or omissions from, this RFI, or should they be in doubt as to their meaning, written notification should be made to Ryan Robling at roblingr@bloomington.in.gov no later than June 26, 2026.

If necessary, interpretation of or changes to this RFI may be made by written addendum. A copy of each addendum will be posted on the City’s Planning and Transportation Department website at https://bloomington.in.gov/planning no later than July 17, 2026. Interested parties are responsible for checking the City’s website for addenda, though the City may choose to contact all known interested parties with notification of posted addenda. The City will not be responsible for any other explanations or interpretations of this RFI. If significant changes to this RFI are required, then the City may postpone the final date for submission through an addendum. 

Interested parties may notify the City via email of their intent to submit a response to this RFI but are not required to do so. Failure to notify the City of intent to submit a response may result in omission from future communications including possible notification of addenda.

Responses to the RFI must be submitted online via the OpenGov Procurement Website no later than July 17, 2026, by 5:00 PM ET. Responses which, in the judgement of the City, are in any way incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise not in compliance with the requirements described in this RFI may be rejected. The City reserves the right to contact consultants to ask questions, request additional information, or request an interview.

Due to the project type and funding source, consultant selection is not limited to the City’s Pre-Approved Consultant List. Any costs incurred while responding to this RFI in anticipation of receiving a contract award shall be the responsibility of the entity submitting the response. The City shall not reimburse any respondent for any such expenses.

RFI Process Schedule:

• RFI Advertisement: May 29, 2026
• Deadline for Questions/Clarifications: June 26, 2026
• Last Day for Addenda Posted by the City: June 30, 2026
• RFI Response Deadline (5:00 PM ET): July 17, 2026
• Respondents Notified of Results*: August 13, 2026
• Issue Notices to Proceed (NTP)*: September 29, 2026
• *Dates indicated are tentative and subject to change as needed 

SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultant shall provide professional planning, engineering, and statistical analysis services on an as-needed basis. Two projects that are launching in 2026 are the updating of Safe Routes to School action plans for six (6) elementary schools, and subarea plans identified as focus areas within the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Depending upon the City’s needs, the Consultant may be requested to perform various tasks at different phases of plan creation and the community engagement process. 

Various long range planning projects will reflect the vision, goals, policies, and programs of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Plan, and Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan. Plans listed are available online: https://bloomington.in.gov/planning/documents.

Potential Services

Traffic Operational Analysis: Evaluate existing traffic and infrastructure (vehicular and pedestrian) conditions within the study area. Provide data, analysis, and recommendations to City Staff to be incorporated into the Action Plan. 

Art & Graphics: Art and digital graphics may be needed for plans and other marketing materials

Language Translation: Translation services for marketing materials will be required per the Safe Streets for All plan.

• Fiscal analysis
• Development profitability analysis 
• Housing rehabilitation feasibility
• Cost-of-service analysis
• Value capture analysis

Potential for the following analysis as subarea plans are developed.

Funding Source and Associated Requirements: 

This project is funded locally. Responses to this RFI shall be prepared with an assumed maximum project budget of $250,000. Tasks that cannot be accomplished within that budget may still be considered. 

City Staff expect that two (2) SRTS Action Plans and one (1) subarea plan may be initiated within a calendar year until all required studies are completed per the Comprehensive and Transportation Plans. Due to the nature of ongoing long range plans an opportunity for contract extension beyond the current fiscal year budget may be possible.

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

General Requirements:

Submissions must be prepared electronically using 8.5” X 11” paper format and must be submitted as a single pdf file no later than July 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. File size may not exceed 10MB. Submissions are strictly limited to a maximum of 10 total pages (total includes the submittal form). Additional pages such as cover pages, tables of contents, appendices, etc., are not permitted. Submissions must be emailed to Ryan Robling at roblingr@bloomington.in.gov and Anne Crecelius at anne.crecelius@bloomington.in.gov. 

Submittal Content:

• Submittal Form
• Introductory Letter
• Project Team and Structure
• Relevant Project Experience
• Project Approach & Timeline
• Maximum Total Pages: 10

Content Details: RFI responses should include all of the information required below. 

1. Submittal Form 

   1. Complete and sign the Submittal Form attached to this document. b) The content of this form shall not be modified other than to fill in the required information. 

2. Introductory Letter

   1. Name of the individual or firm. 

   2. Contact information for the person authorized to serve as point of contact during the RFI evaluation process and to negotiate on behalf of the firm or team if selected for the Study. 

   3. Other general information as desired. 

3. Project Team and Structure 

   1. Identification, qualifications, expertise, and availability of the project manager and key staff proposed to be assigned to the projects. 

   2. Identification of proposed subconsultants for any tasks not to be completed by the prime consultant and the type and percentage of work each sub-consultant will complete. 

   3. Relevant information regarding team organization or leadership in place to ensure efficiency and accountability during the course of the project as well as quality control and schedule control. 

   4. Location of all project team members and their applicable licensure and certifications. 

   5. Knowledge of and experience with pertinent federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies. 

   6. Knowledge of and experience with Smart Growth, CNU, NACTO, AASHTO, PROWAG, and other relevant transportation design guidance.

   7. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or other relevant certifications.

4. Relevant Project Experience 

   1. Specific examples of projects that are relevant and similar to this project (provide a link to the project; a reference name and contact information for the clients of these projects). 

   2. Identification of which key personnel were responsible and the relevant tasks for which they were responsible. 

   3. Experience with public engagement around complex and controversial projects. 

   4. Experience with context-sensitive design and public processes. 

   5. Experience with multimodal transportation planning, land use planning, redevelopment, and pedestrian, bicycle, and transit planning. 

   6. Experience with high-quality and dynamic visuals, graphics, maps, etc. 

5. Project Approach & Timeline

   1. Description of project approach, public engagement strategy, and deliverables. 

   2. Description of management and scheduling of on-call tasks

   3. Discussion of budget; clearly identify any anticipated expenses above that budget. 

   4. Expected response time to on-call tasks

   5. Approach to working with the City to ensure capital improvements meet the required standards and specifications

   6. Other relevant information related to project approach and public engagement

SELECTION CRITERIA & EVALUATION 

Staff from multiple City departments will review and evaluate responses. Reviewers will use the attached RFI Evaluation Form as one tool to aid in determining which respondent is most suitable. The City reserves the option to request interviews. The City reserves the right to reject all submittals and not select a consultant. The City reserves the right to choose a firm that, in the sole judgment of the City, is deemed to be the most qualified firm regardless of scoring. 

ATTACHMENTS

1.  Submittal Form  

2. RFI Evaluation Form