Request for Qualifications – Comprehensive Plan Comprehensive Plan will be forward thinking and address anticipated growth in a way that ... the Butner Chicken Pickin [, and the

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Granville County

Request for Qualifications – Comprehensive Plan

RFQ – Granville County Comprehensive Plan

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STATEMENT OF NEED

Granville County (or the “County”) is seeking submittals from qualified consulting firms to

prepare a Comprehensive Plan for Granville County that will address and determine the

community’s priorities and develop a detailed work plan to guide and complete the Plan.

The Comprehensive Plan will be forward thinking and address anticipated growth in a way that

preserves the community character, fosters economic development, and recognizes the

County’s natural assets.

The planning effort will be led by a Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee with input from

topic-specific subcommittees and assistance from technical staff. It will involve coordination

with County departments, other governmental agencies, the private sector, citizen groups, and

the general public. Broad and extensive public input is essential with facilitated meetings

expected throughout the community.

COMMUNITY BRIEF

With a population of 58,547 (North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management 2015

Certified Estimate), Granville County is experiencing population growth (up from a population

of 48,908 in the 2000 Certified Estimate). Granville County is approximately 536 square miles

and contains five municipalities; Butner, Creedmoor, Oxford, Stem and Stovall. The County is

located in the Kerr Tar and Triangle region of North Carolina and is adjacent to two

metropolitan centers: Raleigh, and Durham. The growth of these centers and the Research

Triangle Park has influenced and fostered growth in southern Granville. The County also

contains one major highway listed in the NC Department of Transportation’s Strategic

Transportation Corridors Plan (Interstate 85) as well as US 15, US 158, NC 56 and NC 96. In

2015, the Triangle North Granville Life Sciences and Technology Site, located just outside of

Oxford and just two minutes from I-85, was certified by the State of North Carolina.

Manufacturing, government and agriculture are major employers in the County. Travel and

Tourism is also well represented with three major festivals that bring several thousand people

each year to the County – the North Carolina Hot Sauce Festival in Oxford, the Butner Chicken

Pickin’, and the Creedmoor Music Festival. Additionally, Falls Lake and Kerr Lake each provide

for numerous water-related recreational opportunities in the County.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUMMARY

Planning and Project Context

Granville County desires to address many issues within the County and to do so; many existing

plans and policy documents must be assessed, coordinated, and distilled into one unified vision

document. The Comprehensive Plan will connect the dots and incorporate new linkages to the

County’s other issue-specific plans and policy documents. A thorough review and assessment of


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all existing policies, plans, and studies (Granville County Strategic Plan, Granville County

Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Granville Greenways Plan, Camp Butner Joint Land Use

Plan, Highway 50 Corridor Study, Highway 56 Corridor Study, etc.) is necessary to determine

community priorities. The project will identify and provide a summary of community strengths,

opportunities, and aspirations.

SUBMITTAL

Submittals should include a strong emphasis on creative, strategic approaches to issues faced

by the County, and include clear goals, objectives, and implementation strategies. The overall

planning effort should emphasize a strong public participation component. The period for the

Plan shall be 20 years with implementation broken down by short, intermediate, and long term

strategies.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

A. Planning Process

The development of the Granville County Comprehensive Plan shall contain a significant level of

community involvement. There shall be broad based community-wide input at the onset of the

project to help assess the County and guide fundamental principles around which the plan will

be developed. Community input shall also be incorporated throughout the plan development

through use of committees, workshops, social media, public review periods and the like.

The consultant shall submit as a component of the submittal a recommended community input

strategy that clearly identifies a recommended extent of public participation, appropriate

avenues for this participation, and a strategy for incorporation into the process.

1. Community Assessment

A review, update, and evaluation of community profile and projections (population,

employment, socio-economic trends, approved development projects, etc.).

Compilation of all County-related policy documents and identify consistencies and

addressing salient topics.

Description of all related municipal plans and policies.

A review of County resources including community facilities, infrastructure,

environmental, cultural, organizational, social, etc.

Inputs resulting from community participation.

The consultant will evaluate the findings of the community assessment and identify

key issues and needs that should be addressed by the plan including areas where

contradictions exist.


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B. Development of a Comprehensive Plan

The proposed planning horizon for Granville County’s comprehensive plan is 20 years with

implementation broken down by short-, intermediate-, and long-term strategies. A wide range

of topics and associated details must be evaluated and considered while conducting an analysis

and evaluation during the development of a Comprehensive Plan. This outline is not necessarily

all-inclusive and the Consultant shall include in the submittal any tasks (or alternatives) and

services deemed necessary to satisfactorily complete the project.

Desired Plan Elements

A refined scope of work based on the elements below in addition to the findings from the

Community Assessment.

1. Background

History, preferably coordinated with local resources, including settlement patterns

and historic sites.

2. Community Profile

Existing and projected demographic and socio-economic profile and anticipated

impacts (including aging populations and related service provision).

Evaluation of existing housing stock by type, age, size, value, etc.

Housing affordability, accessibility, choice, and communities.

Profile of existing employment base, by type.

Profile of existing nonresidential development by type, age, value, etc.

Comparisons with other communities in the region, North Carolina, and U.S.

Public health considerations – aging population, mobility, obesity.

Coordination with Granville County Schools.

Public Safety – Incorporation and review of hazard mitigation plans.

3. Public Utilities/Infrastructure

An evaluation of existing public utilities, including privately-owned public

wastewater utilities.

An analysis of septic and sewer capacity as it pertains to the growth of the County.

Water systems planning in terms of local priorities, development patterns, and

regional water supply plans.


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Description of municipal systems and recommendations for future infrastructure

planning.

4. Land Use

Evaluation of existing land use policies and regulations.

The plan will serve as the primary policy guide for short- and long-range planning,

zoning, and decision-making within the County and will serve as a necessary first

step and guideline towards systematic revisions of the County’s existing land use

and development regulations.

Development of a land use map.

Review of adjoining jurisdictions’ land development plans.

Identification of high growth zones and area-specific land use recommendations.

5. Economic Development

Review and incorporation of the work of the Granville County Economic

Development Corporation and the information gathered through the production of

the Granville County Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Conduct area planning around State-Certified Industrial location.

6. Agriculture

Analysis of County food systems, including food deserts.

Suitable soil and water resources evaluation.

Develop a growth strategy consistent with the County’s significant agricultural base.

Develop a Strategic Farmland Map that will assist in identifying areas for farmland

protection.

7. Capital Improvement Plan

Consistency with the County’s adopted Capital Improvement Plan and a

recommended incorporation strategy.

8. Environment

Description of Granville County’s environmental resources including land quality,

vegetation, hydrology, soils, and geology.


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Water resource review and incorporation of regional water resource planning

documents.

Review of air quality and water quality standards. Review current water quality

health status and impaired waters.

Identification of natural areas and wildlife habitats of the County.

9. Parks and Recreation

Assessment of associated plans and recommendation for coordinating greenway

and park development within the County, municipalities, and state park facilities.

Review of regional parks and greenway plans.

10. Transportation and Mobility

Incorporation of existing plans, North Carolina Department of Transportation plans,

and the Granville County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP).

Multimodal transportation – Granville County Bicycle Plan and coordination with

Granville Transit Network

Coordination of regional transportations plans and consideration for regional issues

and impacts.

11. Fiscal Impact Analysis

Work with County staff to suggest a methodology for determining the fiscal impact

of various land use scenarios.

C. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DELIVERABLES TO INCLUDE

Questionnaires, maps (to be coordinated with County staff), progress reports, and

other tools for community involvement, including an internet component to

disseminate information and solicit community input and comments throughout the

process.

Coordination and facilitation of initial public meetings, including community

visioning, and public hearing on final draft before the Board of Commissioners.

Final plan document including appropriate goals, objectives, implementation

strategies, maps, illustrations, and all necessary background information and

appendices.

Action plans for integrating the implementation strategies into ongoing planning,

evaluation, and budgeting processes for both capital and operating budgets.


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The consultant shall provide thirty (30) bound copies of the final document for distribution to

the Board of Commissioners, Planning Board, and County staff and an electronic copy

formatted and indexed for easy download from a website. All documents shall be provided in

both hard and digital copy. The consultant shall also provide flash drives of all digital products

in the following forms as appropriate:

Text: MS WORD and PDF Spreadsheets: MS EXCEL Databases: MS Access Mapping Products: latest edition ESRI software

D. LEAD AND SPONSORING AGENCIES

Granville County Planning Staff will serve as the project lead from a contractual standpoint, but

the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee will act as the core leadership team that guides

the development of the study, along with the Board of Commissioners.

E. PROJECT TIMELINE

The project is intended to be completed within 12 – 15 months of the finalization of a contract

and notice to proceed is issued.

F. QUALIFICATIONS SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Please submit a digital copy of the RFQ response package in 8 ½” x 11” landscape format on a

USB flash drive as an Adobe Portable Document (.pdf). The response package shall be limited

to 20 pages; there should be no more than 25 pages in .pdf. Complete response packages shall

be structured as follows:

Organization of Consultant Team

1. Team Organization Charts showing all firms, contractual relationship between firms, and names of specific staff proposed for this project, including their titles. Identify certified historically underutilized businesses as defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. §143-128.4, if any. 2. Responsibilities to be fulfilled by each team member assigned to the project. The description of responsibilities shall include an estimated percentage of the total project that is to be completed by each individual team member.

Project Personnel Qualifications Resumes for proposed staff, with descriptions of specific project roles, along with skills and experience related to those roles.


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Firm Experience Summary of at least three (3) projects of similar scope for which the Consultant and individual team members were primarily responsible within the last five (5) years. Each of the project summaries shall include the following: 1. Description of the project including size and scope.

2. Project schedule (initial schedule and actual/final schedule), including an explanation of delays, if any. 3. Description of services rendered by the Consultant and degree of involvement (prime consultant or sub consultant). 4. Associate firms involved and their assigned responsibilities. 5. Key principal and associated staff involved, along with key design elements and how the Consultant addressed them. 6. Project references including current names, addresses and telephone numbers.

Project Approach and Schedule

1. Process for identification of base conditions, creation of design/engineering alternatives and evaluation of alternatives. 2. Description of Public Involvement Process. 3. Management tools, techniques, and procedures used to maintain project schedules. 4. Anticipated project schedule.

Public Involvement Experience Demonstrated experience with public involvement including experience conducting public meetings. Experience includes utilizing social media, online processes, public facilitation techniques and other innovative public involvement techniques. Fee schedule Please include hourly rates and fee schedules for all members of Consultant’s staff who are proposed for use on this Project. Additionally, fee schedules should include unit rates for all expenses, sub-consultants proposed for use, etc. as part of this Project. G. SUBMITTAL SELECTION PROCESS

Consultant selection will be a Selection Committee appointed by the Granville County

Commissioners. Consultants will work under the direction of County Planning Director. In

addition, County staff will attend and provide assistance at all the meetings.

The submittals will be received by the Selection Committee and the Committee reserves the

right to request more information from consultants. Granville County shall award the contract


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to the most qualified firm and reserves the right to reject any and all submittals. The following

criteria will be considered in evaluation of the submittal and the recommendation of

consultants by the Selection Committee Evaluation:

Capabilities and previous experience in comparable projects and specialized experience

and technical competence of the consultant.

The firm’s general approach and demonstrated understanding of the project. Although

the County has identified the general nature of services required, the consultant is given

leeway toward the approach to the methodology to provide the proposed services.

Evaluation of past projects with special attention paid to projects conducted with local

government and municipalities. Factors evaluated include quality of work, cost control,

and demonstrated ability to meet scheduled deadlines. Ability of the firm to meet the

project schedule and remain within the budget will also be evaluated.

Capacity of the candidate to perform the work in a timely manner and affirmatively

respond to the inquiries and schedule of the County and dedicate the appropriate

personnel as the schedule dictates.

Familiarity with Granville County.

Qualifications of individuals who will have direct involvement in tasks on this project.

Prior to the final decision, the County intends to hold an interview process for the top three (3) candidates before the final selection. Once a firm is selected, the Selection Committee will prepare a prioritized ‘short list’ of firms that will be forwarded to County Commissioners. The County Commission will be asked to authorize negotiation with the recommended firms in priority order. Following the County Commission’s approval to negotiate with the recommended consulting firm, the County will begin negotiations with the next firm on the priority list authorized by County Commission.

H. SUBMITTAL OF QUALIFICATIONS INSTRUCTIONS

Submittal Deadline: Must be received by Granville County no later than 5:00 PM EST on

Friday, June 9, 2017.

Submittals: The County is requesting 5 hard copies and one electronic media or by

email. All copies must be sent to one of the following delivery addresses:

Postal Address: Barry Baker, Granville County Development Services, PO Box

877, Oxford, NC 27565

Street Address: Barry Baker, Granville County Development Services, 122

Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC 27565

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Withdrawal of Submittals: Submitting vendors may withdraw their submittals any time

before the deadline for submission on June 9, 2017, but the withdrawal must be

submitted in writing and signed by the proposing vendor.

Inquiries and Corrections: All inquiries relating to this request should be in writing and

addressed to:

Barry Baker, Granville County Development Services PO Box 877, Oxford, NC 27565 They also may be faxed to 919-693-6794 or emailed to: [email protected] If a submitting vendor finds discrepancies in or omissions from the specifications

or should require additional clarification of any part, a written request for

interpretation shall be submitted to Barry Baker. Any interpretation of or

changes made to the RFQ will be made by written addendum to each proposing

consultant and shall become part of the request for any contract awarded. The

County will not be responsible for the accuracy of any other oral explanations,

interpretations, or representations. All inquiries must be made by June 2, 2017.

It shall be the responsibility of each proposing organization or individual to verify

that every addenda has been received prior to submittals.

Vendor Certification: The submittals shall be deemed a representation and certification

that the proposing vendor:

1. Has carefully read and fully understands the information provided by Granville

County in this RFQ;

2. Is financially solvent and has the capability to successfully undertake and

complete the responsibilities and obligations of the proposal submitted;

3. Represents that all of the information contained in the submittals is true and

correct;

4. Did not in any way collude or conspire with any other parties, directly or

indirectly, in regard to the amount, terms, or conditions of this submittal;

5. Acknowledges that Granville County has the right to make any inquiry it deems

appropriate to substantiate or supplement information provided by submitting

vendors and hereby grants Granville County permission to make these inquiries;

and

6. Acknowledges that any proposal cannot be modified after its submission for any

reason.

Format & Deadline of Submittals: Late submittals will not be accepted under any

circumstance and will not be opened or reviewed. We will not accept submittals

by fax or any method. The sender must allow ample delivery time for the

selected shipment or transmission methods.

mailto:[email protected]


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Definition and Context: Unless otherwise specified in this document, all words

shall have a common meaning unless the context in which they are used clearly

requires a different meaning. Words in the singular number include the plural,

and in the plural include the singular.

I. COUNTY CONDITIONS

All submitting firms or individuals shall comply with all conditions, requirements, and

specifications contained herein, with any departure constituting sufficient cause for rejection of

the submittal. However, Granville County reserves the right to change the conditions,

requirements, and specifications as it deems necessary.

1. The submittal must be signed by a duly authorized official of the proposing organization

or individual making submittal.

2. No submittals will be accepted from any person or organization that is in arrears for any

obligation to Granville County, or that otherwise may be deemed irresponsible or

unresponsive by County staff or the Granville County Board of Commissioners.

3. Granville County is not obligated to enter into any contract as a result of the RFQ.

4. All prices quoted must be firm for a period of 90 (ninety) days following the submittal

deadline.

5. Granville County reserves the right to reject any and all submittals or any part thereof

and to select the most responsive submittal that is deemed in the best interest of

Granville County.

6. Only one submittal can be awarded as the result of the RFQ.

7. Granville County may approve or disapprove the use of specific proposed

subcontractors in any proposals.

8. Granville County reserves the right to enter into an agreement with another submitting

vendor in the event that the originally selected vendor fails to execute a contract with

the County or defaults on their contract.

9. All submittals shall be prepared in a comprehensive manner as to content, but we do

not require specific types of binders or promotional material for submissions.

Promotional material will not be considered part of the submittal and will not affect the

evaluation of submittals.

10. Granville County reserves the right to negotiate with any, none, or all of the submitting

vendors.

11. All costs, including travel and expenses, incurred in the preparation of this submittal will

be borne solely by the submitting company.

12. The County will not return submittal materials.

13. Submit Exhibit A, the completed vendor form.

14. No agreements with any selected vendor shall be binding until a contract is signed and

executed by the County Manager and authorized representatives of the vendor.


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15. Insurance Requirements –

The selected contractor shall purchase and maintain during the life of the project, with an

insurance company acceptable to Granville County, authorized to do business in the State of

North Carolina, the following insurance:

AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY - Combined single limit insurance covering all owned,

non-owned, and hired automobiles with limits for bodily injury of not less than

$1,000,000 per accident. The automobile liability insurance coverage amounts

may be satisfied with a combination of primary and excess/umbrella coverage.

COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY - Insurance to protect the Contractor from

bodily injury or property damage claims which arise from operation of the

contract, whether such operations are performed by Contractor, any

subcontractor, or anyone directly or indirectly employed by either. Nothing

herein shall be read to allow subcontractors to provide services hereunder

without the County’s prior written consent. The amounts of such insurance shall

not be less than $1,000,000 each occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate. This

insurance shall include coverage for products/completed operations, personal

and advertising injury liability and contractual liability in an amount not less than

$1,000,000 each occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate. The liability insurance

coverage amounts may be satisfied with a combination of primary and

excess/umbrella coverage.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION - Meeting the statutory requirements of the State of

North Carolina, even if not required by law to maintain such insurance. Said

Workers’ Compensation insurance shall include: Employers Liability with

$500,000 per accident limit, $1,000,000 disease per policy limit, $1,000,000

disease each employee limit.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY – To the extent applicable, professional liability

insurance insuring against professional negligence/ errors and omissions on an

occurrence or claims-made basis with policy limits of $1,000,000 per

claim/$2,000,000 annual aggregate. If insurance is provided on a claims-made

basis, “Tail” coverage will be required at the completion of this Agreement for

duration of thirty-six months, or the maximum time period reasonably available

in the marketplace. Contractor shall furnish certification of “tail” coverage as

described or continuous “claims made” liability coverage for thirty-six months

following completion of its services under this Agreement. Continuous “claims


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made” coverage will be acceptable in lieu of “tail” coverage provided its

retroactive date is on or before the effective date of this Agreement. If

Continuous “claims made” coverage is used, Contractor shall be required to keep

the coverage in effect for duration of not less than thirty-six months from the

end of this Agreement. This will be a condition of the final acceptance of work or

services.

Owner shall be named as additional insureds under all such policies (except

workers’ compensation). Certificates of such insurance will be furnished and

shall contain the provision that Owner will be given thirty (30) days written

notice of any intent to terminate the insurance coverages. Certificates of such

insurance must be provided by the date this Agreement is executed and

coverage must be in place for the entire period this Agreement is in effect or as

otherwise required herein.

EOE


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EXHIBIT A

Vendor Information & Signature Form

Name of Vendor:

Trade License # (if applicable)

Contact Person(s)

Street Address with City, State & Zip Code

Mailing Address (if different than above)

Phone #

Fax #

Email

Submitter will do the work as:

□ Individual □ Joint Venture □ Partnership □ Corporation □ LLC

Date & state of incorporation Date State

Name of Entity or joint venture

By signing below, the submission of qualifications shall be deemed a representation and

certification by the proposing consultant that it has investigated all aspects of the RFQ, and it

has read and understands the RFQ.

Authorized Signature:

Date Signed:

Title of Signatory:

Documents

Request for Qualifications – Comprehensive Plan Comprehensive Plan will be forward thinking and address anticipated growth in a way that ... the Butner Chicken Pickin [, and the