AE25-002 Everywhere-to-Everywhere Greenways Feasibility Study.pdf

RFQ for Everywhere-to-Everywhere Greenways Feasibility Study Bid: A/E 25-002, Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina August 30, 2024

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NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

FOR

EVERYWHERE-TO-EVERYWHERE GREENWAYS FEASIBILITY STUDY

Bid: A/E 25-002

From: Zakia Alam, Purchasing & Contracts Manager

Subject: Request for Qualifications for Everywhere-to-Everywhere Greenways Feasibility

Study

Date: August 30, 2024

The Town of Chapel Hill seeks written statements of qualifications (SOQ) from professional

Engineering and Design Firms (Consultant) specializing in planning and design services for a greenway network feasibility study.

Submittals are due by 3:00 pm on September 27, 2024. Please email them to Zakia Alam, Purchasing and Contracts Manager, at zalam@townofchapelhill.org. They may not exceed 15 pages in length.

Questions concerning this Request for Qualifications must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 pm on September 13, 2024, to Ben Berolzheimer via e-mail at bberolzheimer@townofchapelhill.org.

All responses to submitted questions will be published as an addendum on the Town’s website at www.townofchapelhill.org by 5:00 pm September 20, 2024.

If you have any questions concerning the bidding procedures, please contact the Purchasing Division at (919) 969-5022.

The Town of Chapel Hill reserves the right to reject any and all Statements of Qualifications.

mailto:zalam@townofchapelhill.org mailto:bberolzheimer@townofchapelhill.org http://www.townofchapelhill.org/

Request for Qualifications For

Everywhere-to-Everywhere Greenways Feasibility Study

Bid: A/E 25-002

1.0 Introduction

The Town of Chapel Hill (Town) requests statements of qualifications from qualified firms or teams interested conducting a comprehensive feasibility study for the Town's conceptual Everywhere-to-

Everywhere (E2E) Greenways network.

2.0 Background Information

Consultants shall consider the following information about Chapel Hill:

2.1 Everywhere-to-Everywhere Greenways

In late 2022, the Town of Chapel Hill created and adopted a Complete Community Strategy as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. A Complete Community is one that is inclusive, sustainable, and economically competitive. One of the four goals of the Complete Community

Strategy is to “Expand and deliver new greenways for everyday life” with a main objective being to “Depend on greenways for transportation to support growth.” As part of the Complete

Community Strategy, Chapel Hill’s Everywhere-to-Everywhere (E2E) Greenway Map was created, outlining a network of over 25 miles of proposed greenways. Building those greenways is a cornerstone of Chapel Hill implementing and achieving the Complete

Community Strategy. The Town received a Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with

Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Planning Grant in 2023 to conduct a feasibility study for the 25+ miles of E2E Greenway network.

2.2 Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill has a population of just over 62,000 people as of July 2022. It is the home of the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, one of its largest employers, as well as UNC

Health. 69% of residents are between 18 and 65 years old, and 68% identify as white. The

Town’s largest minority groups include Asian (13.4%), black (10.5%), and Hispanic or Latino

(6.8%).

2.3 Town of Chapel Hill Office of Mobility and Greenways

The Town of Chapel Hill’s newly formed and fully staffed Office of Mobility and Greenways’

(OMG) primary function is to implement Everywhere-to-Everywhere Greenways and other bicycle and pedestrian projects. The work of the office supports the Town’s Vision Zero commitment as a guiding principle for transportation, planning, the design of streets and sidewalks. OMG includes the following staff positions: Mobility and Greenways Manager, Mobility and Greenways Planner, Vision Zero Coordinator, Safe Routes to School

Coordinator, and two year-round rotating intern positions. The OMG will be managing the feasibility study.

2.4 Relevant Plans and Documents

Consultants should consider the following resources and previous and ongoing planning efforts:

• 2023 Complete Community Strategy

• Everywhere-to-Everywhere Greenways Map

• Everywhere-to-Everywhere RAISE Grant

• 2020 Mobility and Connectivity Plan

• 2023 ADA Transition Plan

• 2013 Greenways Master Plan

3.0 Scope of Work

The Town of Chapel Hill has been awarded a planning grant through the USDOT-FHWA

Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program to complete a feasibility study for a comprehensive and connected network of transportation greenways in Chapel

Hill. The high-quality feasibility study is expected to take a systems approach and should include considerations and constraints (planning, natural/environmental, human), alternatives development and evaluation, robust community engagement, alignment recommendations, implementation strategies, cost estimates, and adoption of a final plan. The final plan is expected to provide sufficient detail for a 15% design of each identified greenway segment. The project area is defined as the entirety of Chapel Hill’s city limits, which encompasses approximately 21.2 square miles.

3.1. Project Management and Administration

The chosen Consultant shall designate a Project Manager who, in coordination with the Town’s staff lead, will perform needed duties to ensure a successful planning process. This may include:

• Facilitate the organization and function of a Project Team that meets regularly and includes

Consultant and Town staff as well as other relevant stakeholders.

• Create a Work Plan or Project Plan that includes all project tasks and deliverables with a schedule for completion. Project Manager will be responsible for maintaining the schedule and keeping the project on track.

3.2. Community Engagement

The Consultant will be expected to work with and complement the Town’s existing capacity and experience to conduct equitable community engagement that will build on previous and ongoing efforts and go beyond the typical opt-in approach to specifically reach underserved and underrepresented communities across the Town. This may include:

• Creation of an Equitable Engagement Plan that considers strategies outlined in USDOT’s

Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-

Making Guide

• Coordination with appropriate Town staff to collaborate with community organizations, especially those representing underserved and historically disadvantaged groups.

• Creation of varied formats, platforms, and strategies of outreach and engagement, including a project website, that provides avenues that are accessible to all residents to participate.

https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showpublisheddocument/53972/638222644055270000 https://townofchapelhill.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=4279c4c8c82d4122b2bd3c397436479f https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showpublisheddocument/54254/638231125836070000 https://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/agendas/2020/10/28/20201023_Mobility_and_Connectivity_Plan.pdf https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showpublisheddocument/54480/638273578053830000 https://www.townofchapelhill.org/government/departments-services/parks-and-recreation/planning-and-development/greenways-master-plan-adopted-may-2013

3.3. Existing Conditions, Data Collection and Physical Assessment

The consultant will collect data and conduct an inventory and assessment of each identified greenway corridor and alignment. This may include:

• Study and assess existing E2E and bike-ped facilities maps to check for completeness and reasonableness.

o Identify gaps and not-feasible segments in the proposed network.

• Conduct office and field research to identify opportunities and areas of concern.

• Existing condition data collection

• Structures within alignment corridors:

o Provide an assessment of necessary stream crossings with engineering, safety, and hydrological assessment.

o Identify potential and/or obvious encroachments.

• Infrastructure and Utilities within alignment corridors:

o Identify and map the location of utilities and local roads in relationship to proposed greenway alignments (water, sanitary sewers, electrical and gas lines, fiber, etc.).

3.4 Feasibility Study Report/Concept Plan

The consultant will develop a report/plan incorporating relevant data and conclusions. This may include:

• Development of individual project sheets for each alignment identifying the key information, including alignment, any alternatives, design, planning-level cost estimate, opportunities and constraints, implementation phasing, a summary of public and stakeholder comments, and a project map.

o Level of detail should satisfy a 15% design.

o Incorporate relevant AASHTO and FHWA design guidance.

• Develop a final map of recommended greenway alignments, key access points, high-conflict intersections, sensitive areas, and connections to points of interest.

o Identify opportunities to connect to other planned and future multimodal facilities across jurisdictional boundaries to enhance regional connectivity.

• Prepare a realistic phased implementation plan for greenway design and construction.

• Policy analysis, assessment, and recommendations for the following topics:

o Greenway-oriented development o Encouraging density near greenways and greenways near density o Equity and displacement mitigation o Operations and maintenance; including lighting.

3.5 Financial Feasibility

• Provide a planning level cost estimate for any required land acquisition or purchase of easements.

• Prepare planning level cost estimates for designing and constructing greenway segments as well as any additional proposed facilities or safety improvements.

• Provide typical management and maintenance budgets from similar greenway networks.

• Provide recommendations for capital and operational funding sources.

• Identify the greenway segments with the least complications and highest potential impact on connectivity and equity (i.e. ‘biggest bang for the buck’).

3.6 Final Products

• Executive Summary. Consultant will prepare an executive summary that can be widely disseminated. The executive summary will be designed so that it can serve as a stand-alone document and be the basis of ongoing public education and resident involvement efforts.

• Draft Feasibility Study. The consultant will prepare a draft report that describes the study methodology, findings, and recommendations and provides required mapping.

• Final Feasibility Study. The final study will record findings as text, illustration, and maps in a format convenient for public dissemination. The Town will assume ownership of the final study when provided by the consultant.

• Data files. All spatial data collected or used to produce maps or illustrations for the study will be provided to the Town in ESRI file geodatabase format or as a set of shapefiles.

3.7 Project Timeline

The Town seeks a final adopted feasibility study within two (2) years of signing the contract with the chosen Consultant.

4.0 Statement of Qualifications Content

The following should be included within each SOQ in a submittal not exceeding 15 pages:

• Experience and examples providing similar services to similar clients.

• Technical approach to the project

• A timeline of how and when key project meetings and deliverables would be carried out.

• Team experience, including the credentials and qualifications of key personnel who will be doing the analysis and creating deliverables and how they will be involved in the project. This should include any subconsultants that may be required to complete the work.

• Identification of potential conflicts of interest, independence issues, or biases associated with the scope of work.

• Contact information of at least three (3) references that have had similar types of projects completed by your firm recently. These references must be able to comment on your organization’s relevant experience. Ideally, this list should include at least one active client reference and two recent but separate references from former clients. Please include company name, contact name, email, and telephone number, what services you provided, and the dates you worked for the client. The town of Chapel Hill reserves the right to use reference checks in its evaluation of proposals.

DETAILS OF SOQ SUBMISSION

SOQ subject to the conditions made a part hereof will be accepted until 3:00 P.M. on September 27, 2024 for furnishing services described herein. A tentative timeline is provided below:

Date Event

8/30/2024 Distribution of RFQ

9/13/2024 Questions due in writing by 5:00 P.M. to Ben Berolzheimer at bberolzheimer@townofchapelhill.org

7/20/2024 Addendum will be published by 5:00 P.M. on the Town website under Bid Notices

9/27/2024 Proposals due by 3:00 P.M.

Late October 2024 Selection and Notification

Electronic Delivery

The Statements of Qualifications must be submitted as a pdf file attached to an e-mail message and sent to zalam@townofchapelhill.org with the following inserted in the "subject" line of the e-mail:

"RFQ FOR EVERYWHERE-TO-EVERYWHERE GREENWAYS FEASIBILITY STUDY”

Please note that E-mailed proposals must be received by the specified deadline according to the internal clock of the Town of Chapel Hill’s server receiving the proposal. Please do not submit paper copies.

5.0 General Bidding Requirements

Throughout this request, the “Bidder” refers to qualified firms that submit SOQ packages. Costs incurred by firms responding to this RFQ are solely their responsibility.

Bidders are required to prepare their SOQ in accordance with the instructions outlined in this part

Section 4.0 above. In order to be eligible for consideration, the submitted SOQ must include all content.

Bidder Requirements

For the purposes of consideration, Town of Chapel Hill requires that all Bidders:

1. Possess any necessary licensing to conduct work, as outlined in the scope, in the state of

North Carolina.

6.0 Insurance:

The successful Bidder shall procure and maintain during the life of the contract the following insurance coverage’s:

Worker’s Compensation: Coverage to apply for all employees for statutory limits in compliance with the applicable state and federal laws. The policy must include employer’s liability with a limit mailto:bberolzheimer@townofchapelhill.org https://www.townofchapelhill.org/government/departments-services/business-management/purchasing-and-contracts/notice-to-bidders mailto:zalam@townofchapelhill.org of $100,000 for each accident, $100,000 bodily injury by disease each employee and $500,000 bodily injury by disease policy limit.

Commercial General Liability: Shall have minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence combined single limit for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. This shall include premises and/or operations, independent contractors, products and/or completed operations, broad form property damage and explosion, collapse and underground damage coverage, sudden and accidental pollution losses, and a contractual liability endorsement.

Business Auto Policy: Shall have minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence combined single limit for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. This shall include: owned vehicles, hired and non-owned vehicles and employee non-ownership.

Professional Liability Insurance: The selected firm will be required to furnish proof of professional liability insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000.

Special Requirements:

The Town of Chapel Hill is to be named as an additional insured on the Commercial General

Liability policy.

Current, valid insurance policies meeting the above requirements shall be maintained for the duration of the project. Renewal certificates shall be sent to the Town of Chapel Hill thirty (30) days prior to any expiration date. There shall also be a 30-day notification to the Town in the event of cancellation or modification of any stipulated insurance coverage. Certificates of Insurance on an

Accord 25 (8/84) or similar form meeting the required insurance provisions shall be forwarded to the Town of Chapel Hill. Wording on the Certificate of Insurance which states that no liability shall be imposed upon the company for failure to provide such notice is not acceptable. Original policies or certified copies of policies may be required by the Town at any time.

Hold Harmless: The Contractor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Town of Chapel Hill from all loss, liability, claims or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from bodily injury, including death or property damage to any person or persons proximately caused in whole or in part by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Contractor except to the extent same are caused by the negligence or misconduct of the Town.

Contract Period:

The contract resulting from this SOQ shall be effective through December 31, 2026.

7.0 Evaluation Criteria and Process

The Town follows qualifications-based selection process (NCGS 143-64.31) for procuring professional services. The Town may choose to interview firms or directly negotiate with the top ranked firm(s). The Town will seek to negotiate a contract, a general scope of services, a fee schedule, etc., with the preferred firm(s). If unable to reach an agreement, the Town of Chapel Hill will terminate negotiations and commence negotiations with the next ranked firm(s). Each SOQ will be evaluated on the Consultant’s responsiveness to the requirements of this SOQ. Evaluation

Criteria will include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Qualifications of the firm and the key individuals proposed for this project, on relevant and recent (within the last 4 years) projects providing similar services.

2. Review of similar past projects

3. Degree of familiarity of the Consultant with the project and their technical approach.

4. Experience and approach to public engagement

A committee selected by the Town of Chapel Hill will review the Statement of Qualifications, rank the submittals, and make the selection based on consensus with their review committee. The Town reserves the right to shortlist firms and request an interview.

8.0 Open Records

Information submitted to the Town of Chapel Hill is public information and is available upon request in accordance with the North Carolina Public Information Act. As provided by North

Carolina statute and rule, the Town will consider keeping confidential the trade secrets, which the

Bidder does not wish to be disclosed. For such information, the Bidder must mark each page in boldface at the top and bottom as “CONFIDENTIAL”. In spite of what is labeled as a trade secret, the determination whether it is or not will be determined by North Carolina General Statues 132-

1.2(1).

9.0 Preparation Costs

The Town of Chapel Hill will not pay any cost associated with the preparation, submittal, presentation, or evaluation of any statements of qualification.

10.0 Additional Terms and Conditions

All proposals and other material submitted become the property of the Town of Chapel Hill. The

Town of Chapel Hill reserves the right to add terms and conditions during contract negotiations.

These terms and conditions will be within the scope of the SOQ and will not affect the evaluation of the proposal.

The Town will use the standard Town of Chapel Hill contract for professional services. The Town’s standard contract document is attached. The terms and conditions of the contract are subject to change without notice.

11.0 Federal Assistance. This project is funded, in whole or in part, by federal assistance.

Accordingly, the federal provisions contained in Exhibit B attached to the Town’s standard contract document apply, as applicable.

12.0 Prohibited Contract Terms:

In no event shall there be any of the following unless Town’s express prior written agreement is obtained: (1) any limitation on, or disclaimer of, implied or express warranties or the liability of

Contractor; (2) any limitation of damages, including a limitation on consequential damages; (3) any requirement for arbitration or for mandatory mediation; (4) any requirement that Town officials or employees keep the information confidential or any requirement that records be kept confidential by the Town unless the requirement for confidentiality meets the requirements of the Public Records

Law.

Attached is a sample of the Contract that will be used.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CONTRACT FOR

COUNTY OF ORANGE {DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES TO BE

PROVIDED UNDER THIS CONTRACT}

This Contract is made and entered into by and between the “Town of Chapel Hill”, herein “Town”, and

“{Contractor’s Full Legal Name}”, herein “Contractor”, for services hereinafter described for the Town of

Chapel Hill. This Contract is for {Description of Services to be Provided Under This Contract}.

WITNESSETH

That for and in consideration of the mutual promises and conditions set forth below, the Town and Contractor agree:

1. Duties of the Contractor: The Contractor agrees to perform those duties described in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

2. Duties of the Town: The Town shall pay for the Contractor’s services as set forth in Exhibit A.

3. Fee Schedule and Maximum Sum: Contract amount is not to exceed {insert a not to exceed amount}.

Payment shall be made according to Exhibit A.

4. Federal Assistance. This Contract is funded, in whole or in part, by federal assistance. Accordingly, the federal provisions contained in Exhibit B apply, as applicable.

5. Billing and Payment: The Contractor shall submit a bill to the Town for work performed under the terms of this Contract. The Contractor shall bill and the Town shall pay the rates set forth therein.

Payment will be made by the Town within thirty (30) days of receipt of an accurate invoice, approved by the contact person or his/her designee.

6. Indemnification and Hold Harmless: The Contractor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Town of Chapel Hill and its officers, agents and employees from all loss, liability, claims or expense

(including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from bodily injury, including death or property damage to any person or persons proximately caused in whole or in part by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Contractor except to the extent same are caused by the negligence or misconduct of the Town.

7. Insurance Provisions: The Town requires evidence of Contractor’s current valid insurance (if applicable) in the amounts stated below during the duration of the named project and further requires that the Town be named as an additional insured for Commercial General Liability and Business

Automobile policies. The required coverage limits are: 1) Commercial General Liability and Business

Automobile - $1,000,000 per occurrence, and 2) Workers’ Compensation - $100,000 for both employer’s liability and bodily injury by disease for each employee and $500,000 for the disease policy limit. Based on nature of services to be provided by the contractor and assessment of risk posed to the

Town, the Town may require evidence of supplementary insurance coverages.

8. Non-Discrimination: The Contractor contractually agrees to administer all functions pursuant to this

Contract without discrimination because of race, creed, sex, national origin, age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

9. Federal and State Legal Compliance: The Contractor must be in full compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including those on immigration.

10. E-Verify: The Contractor shall comply with the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North

Carolina General Statutes. Further, should Contractor utilize a subcontractor(s), Contractor shall require the subcontractor(s) to comply with the requirements of Article 2, Chapter 64 of the General

Statutes. Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute § 143-133.3 (c)(2), contracts solely for the purchase of apparatus, supplies, materials, and equipment are exempt from this E-Verify provision.

11. Amendment: This Contract may be amended in writing by mutual agreement of the Town and

Contractor.

12. Termination: Except as may be set forth for certain contracts described in Exhibit B, either party may terminate this Contract at any time by giving the other party thirty (30) days written notice of termination prior to the end of the term as described herein.

13. Interpretation/Venue: This Contract shall be construed and enforced under the laws of North Carolina.

The courts and the authorities of the State of North Carolina shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all controversies between the parties which may arise under or in relation to this Contract. In the event of any dispute between the parties, venue is properly laid in Orange County, North Carolina for any state court action and in the Middle District of North Carolina for any federal court action. Contrary to any provision that may be contained in any exhibit attached hereto the Town shall not consent to 1) resolving any dispute by means of arbitration and/or 2) waiver of a trial by jury.

14. Preference: In the event that the terms of any exhibit attached hereto are not consistent with terms of this Contract, this Contract shall have preference; provided that where either any exhibit attached hereto or this Contract establishes higher standards for performance by either party, the higher standard, wherever located, shall apply.

15. Severability: The parties intend and agree that if any provision of this Contract or any portion thereof shall be held to be void or otherwise unenforceable, all other portions of this Contract shall remain in full force and effect.

16. Assignment: This Contract shall not be assigned without the prior written consent of the parties.

17. Entire Agreement: This Contract shall constitute the entire agreement of the parties and no other warranties, inducements, considerations, promises, or interpretations shall be implied or impressed upon this Contract that are not expressly addressed herein. All prior agreements, understandings and discussions are hereby superseded by this Contract.

18. Non-Appropriation Clause: Contractor acknowledges that the Town is a governmental entity, and the Contract validity is based upon the availability of public funding under the authority of its statutory mandate. In the event that public funds are unavailable and not appropriated for the performance of Town’s obligations under this Contract, then this

Contract shall automatically expire without penalty to the Town, thirty (30) days after written notice to Contractor advising of the unavailability and non-appropriation of public funds. It is expressly agreed that the Town shall not activate this non-appropriation provision for its convenience or to circumvent the requirements of this Contract, but only as an emergency fiscal measure during a substantial fiscal crisis, which affects generally its governmental operations.

19. Construction Project Related Sales Tax: If applicable, the Contractor shall furnish the Town certified statements setting forth the cost of all materials purchased from each vendor and the amount of North

Carolina sales and use taxes paid thereon. In the event the Contractor makes several purchases from the same vendor, the Contractor’s certified statement shall indicate the invoice number, the inclusive dates of the invoices, the total amount of the invoices, and the North Carolina sales and use taxes paid thereon. The Contractor’s certified statement shall also include the cost of any tangible personal property withdrawn from the Contractor’s warehouse stock and the amount of North Carolina sales or use tax paid thereon by the Contractor. The Contractor shall furnish such additional information as the

Commissioner of Revenue of the State of North Carolina may require to substantiate a refund claim by the Town for sales or use taxes. The Contractor shall obtain and furnish to the Town similar certified statements by the subcontractors. The certified statements to be furnished shall be in the form of the standard CONTRACTOR’S SALES TAX REPORT and shall be submitted with each request for payment. The Town will not make payment to the Contractor until the CONTRACTOR’S SALES

TAX REPORTS ARE SUBMITTED. Any and all refunds received by the Town of said taxes shall remain with the Town, and the Contractor shall not be entitled to such refund.

20. Term: This Contract, unless amended as provided herein, shall be in effect until

{_____________________ ____}, 20{____}.

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE.]

This Contract is between the Town of Chapel Hill and {Contractor’s Full Legal Name} for {Description of

Services to be Provided Under This Contract}.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto cause this agreement to be executed in their respective names.

{CONTRACTOR’S FULL LEGAL NAME}

Vendor_Signature

Vendor_Name Vendor_Title_p

SIGNATURE PRINTED NAME & TITLE

TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL

Dept_Director Dept_Dir_Title

DEPARTMENT HEAD/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR DEPUTY/TOWN MANAGER

DDirector_Name D_Dept_Name

PRINTED NAME & DEPARTMENT

ATTEST BY TOWN CLERK:

Clerk_Signature

SEAL_STAMP

TOWN CLERK/DEPUTY TOWN CLERK TOWN SEAL

TCD1 TCM1 TCYY1

Town Clerk attests date this the day of 20 .

Approved as to Form and Authorization

Legal_Staff

ATTORNEY FOR TOWN

This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal

Control Act.

Finance_Signature

Finance_Sign_Date

FINANCE OFFICER DATE

EXHIBIT A