Legal Notices

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MARKET ANALYSIS SERVICES Project Purpose WV Region 2 Planning & Development Council (Region 2) is seeking a consulting firm with qualified market economists and strategic consultants to conduct a study of downtown Huntington, West Virginia. A vibrant downtown district is the heart of any city, and the city of Huntington is blessed with beautiful architecture and existing infrastructure to support a much higher level of density than we currently have. The purpose of this study is to provide key data that can be used to assist with identifying opportunities, projecting expenses for projects, obtaining financing for projects, recruiting new businesses, and encouraging entrepreneurship. Each member of the project team represents a key entity with a strong level of investment in the growth of businesses and the development of quality housing in the Huntington area. The project team is comprised of several agencies and organizations which have determined that they have a shared interest in the completion of this study. The team has committed to continue to work together to use the study as a marketing and development tool, incorporate key recommendations into their organizational planning efforts, and pursue project opportunities to further those recommendations as their organizational resources allow. We hope that this effort will incentivize investment in our downtown by identifying vacant and underutilized real estate, and evaluating the cost of developing housing and commercial space, evaluating the cost of doing business, and evaluating other factors such as workforce/talent pool, quality of life, regulatory climate, model development incentives, and other key factors in business recruitment and entrepreneurship. This study will strengthen and advance existing projects, as well as identifying opportunities for private developers, potential businesses and entrepreneurs. It will strengthen the financial case for banks and funders and identify potential incentives that could be used to support development. We also see this study as an opportunity to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial and residential development and position Huntington’s downtown to adapt to the “new normal”. Project Plan Task 1 – Collect and Review Past Planning Efforts and Other Efforts Underway Task 2 – Inventory Existing Vacant and Underutilized Real Estate Task 3 – Collect and Analyze Data Relative to the Cost of Doing Business Task 4 – Review and Analyze Existing and Potential Development Incentives Task 5 – Residential Market Demand Analysis Task 6 – Revitalization Case Studies Task 7 – Deliverables and Implementation Plan Task 1 Collect and Review Past Planning Efforts and Efforts Underway The Steering Committee has compiled a list of related planning efforts and will arrange for contacts related to previously completed currently underway including the Huntington Area Economic Outlook, Downtown Parking Study, Workforce Skills Analysis, Business Opportunity Playbooks, and Commercial Market Studies. The consultant will need to work with the existing network of stakeholders and consultants to collaborate, request and share information to inform this study and to support other efforts underway. Task 2 Inventory Existing Vacant and Underutilized Real Estate Working with Steering Committee: Identify and inventory buildable sites that could accommodate new development. Indicate estimated value if not currently listed for sale. Identify and inventory existing vacant square footage that could accommodate new development. Indicate estimated value if not currently listed for sale. Develop a matrix to evaluate comparative condition of the property/investment required to bring up to useable condition. Indicate if property is eligible for incentives such as Opportunity Zone funding, Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, etc. Indicate if property was initially constructed as housing, commercial space, industrial space, etc. Evaluate key factors such as construction type, life safety systems, etc. Inventory existing housing and commercial office space (total number of types of units, square footage, etc.) Task 3 Collect and Analyze Data Relative to the Cost of Doing Business Collect data relative to: Cost of real estate development Cost of labor Cost of infrastructure, utilities, & services Cost of taxes & fees Available development incentives Develop a comparative matrix to analyze costs and incentives for Huntington related to competing metropolitan areas such as Lexington, KY, Louisville, KY, Greenville, SC, Chattanooga, TN, etc. Include data on available workforce: skills, pipeline, educational and training programs. Task 4 Review and Analyze Existing and Potential Development Incentives Identify and review existing development incentives and resources such as Historic Preservation Tax Credits, Opportunity Zone Funds, WV Small Business Development Council, WV Development Office, HUD and the WV Housing Development Fund. Analyze other potential incentives/recommendations that could incentivize development and create a more competitive atmosphere pending legislative approval/funding. Task 5 Housing Market Demand Analysis Identify underserved demand within the marketplace, determine key competitors and competitive centers in the regional market, and provide basic estimates for market absorption that will influence eventual development. Include analysis of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to research comparable home sale values and demand. Complete a public survey and interviews of stakeholders to determine any unmet demands in the marketplace, along with any other methods to determine market gaps. The study area for the Housing Demand Analysis will be the full Opportunity Zone footprints that touch the Central Business District (see attached map.) Task 6 Revitalization Case Studies Working with the project Steering Committee, identify 3 specific case studies for renovation, adaptive reuse, or new construction. Develop financial plans including real estate development costs and revenue projections, incentives, etc. based on projected uses. Develop conceptual design concepts of implementation of each case study as budget allows. Case studies to include commercial/light manufacturing, housing, retail, and boutique hotel uses as feasible. Task 7 Deliverables and Implementation Plan Provide a GIS data layer with real estate inventory information from Task 2. Develop an executive summary with data visualization to illustrate findings from Tasks 2-5. Executive Summary to be designed to be viewed online as well as in printed, 8.5×11, color brochure format. Develop a presentation brochure for each of the case studies identified in Task 6. Convene key stakeholders and partners to present study findings and determine next steps. Develop an action plan with specific, assigned tasks for each member of the Steering Committee and propose a quarterly meeting schedule to reconvene and report out on progress over 12 months. Procurement Procurement of said services shall be made in accordance with section 5G of the West Virginia State Code. Contracts are to be awarded on a lump sum/fixed fee basis. All consulting firms interested in being considered for this project must submit seven (7) copies of their proposal detailing technical expertise, qualifications, and related prior experience. Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2020, to the following address: Chris Chiles, Executive Director Region 2 Planning & Development Council PO Box 939, Huntington, WV 25712 If forwarded by mail, the sealed envelope containing the proposals must be enclosed in another envelope with the consulting firm and project name highlighted on the outside of the outer envelope and must allow for sufficient time for mailing to reach the above referenced address prior to the scheduled closing time for the receipt of proposals. Responses not post marked and/or received by 4:00 p.m. on the response due date will not be considered. Should there be any questions, please contact: Chris Chiles, Executive Director, Region 2 Planning & Development Council, PO Box 939, Huntington, WV 25712 (Telephone: 304-529-3357). Interviews will be held, and final selection of a consultant will be made during the month of July, 2020. Proposal Content: 1. Firm name, address, phone number, email. 2. A list of key staff members who will play significant roles in the project, including the Project Manager, and resumes listing the background and qualifications of those persons. 3. A general description of the techniques, approaches, and methods to be used in the firm’s proposed project approach. 4. A representative listing of projects similar to the proposed project performed by the firm. 5. At least two references with contact information from organizations that have used the firm’s services for similar projects. 6. A list of the firm’s present workload relative to capacity and availability to provide the requested services. 7. If applicable, a list of significant subconsultants, their current prequalification categories and DBE status, and the percentage of work to be performed by each. 8. The location of the primary office where most of the work will be performed. The goal of the competitive process is to objectively select the firm which will provide the highest quality of service at a realistic fee. Accordingly, qualifications and experience will be weighed heavily. A committee of representatives as determined by Region 2 shall evaluate the statements of qualifications and other material submitted by interested firms and select a minimum of three firms which, in their opinion, are best qualified to perform the desired service. Interviews with each firm selected shall be conducted and the committee shall conduct discussions to evaluate the presented information. The committee shall then rank in order of preference no less than three professional firms deemed to be the most highly qualified to provide the services required, and shall commence scope of services and price negotiations with the highest qualified professional firm for said services. Should the committee be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the professional firm considered to be the most qualified, at a fee determined to be fair and reasonable, price negotiations with the firm of second choice shall commence. Failing accord with the second most qualified professional firm, the committee shall undertake negotiations with the third most qualified professional firm. Should the committee be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with any of the professional firms in order of their competence and qualifications, it shall continue negotiations in accordance with these procedures until an agreement is reached. All work shall be performed in accordance with the regulations issued by the funding source, Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER program funded via the Downtown Appalachia Redevelopment Initiative, and the State of West Virginia pertaining thereto. The selected firm will be required, if applicable, to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, President’s Executive Order 11246, Section 109 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1974, Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, Conflict of Interest Statement, Access to Records provisions, and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act of 1970. The selected firm must also fully comply with the Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise and Affirmative Action requirements. If a portion of the project is subcontracted, then “positive efforts” must be made to subcontract to Minority/Women Owned Businesses. This shall be done in compliance with the six (6) affirmative steps as outlined in 40 CFR 33.240. Region 2 will afford full opportunity to minority business enterprises to respond to this request and will not discriminate against any interested firm or individual on the grounds of race, creed, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin in the awarding of this contract. Attention is directed to the fact that Region 2 will not enter into an agreement for consulting services for this project unless, in Region 2’s opinion, funding is imminent or actually received which is sufficient to complete the project. If sufficient funding is received or anticipated, this contract will be awarded to the responsible offeror whose proposal is within the competitive range and determined to be the most advantageous to Region 2, price and other factors considered. Region 2 will conduct negotiations on an individual project basis following the hierarchy of rankings as determined during the selection process. However, Region 2 reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals. Chris Chiles, Executive Director Region 2 Planning & Development Council PO Box 939, Huntington, WV 25712 LC-93539 06-09;2020