biddoc.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

CRAIG MASTER PLAN UPDATE

City of Craig

300 West 4th Street Craig, CO 81625 www.ci.craig.co.us

Issue Date: July 29, 2026

Closing Date: September 8, 2026 http://www.ci.craig.co.us/

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPOSERS

Proposals for the “Craig Master Plan Update” project will be received by the City of Craig (Owner) via Bidnet Direct at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/cityofcraig or mailed, emailed, or hand delivered to City Hall at 300 West Fourth Street, Craig, Colorado 81625, until 1:00 P.M. prevailing time on September 8, 2026. Late proposals will not be considered and will be returned to the proposer unopened.

Questions regarding the scope of work must be submitted in writing to the City Clerk at kcarmody@cityofcraig.org, no later than 5:30 P.M. on August 21, 2026. Responses to all questions shall be issued in the form of an Addendum to be issued by the City of Craig by no later than 12:00 P.M. on August 28, 2026.

The Owner may waive any informalities or minor defects or reject any or all proposals. Any proposal may be withdrawn prior to the above scheduled time for the opening of proposals or authorized postponement thereof. Any proposal received after the time and date specified shall not be considered. No proposer may withdraw a proposal within 60 days after the actual date of the opening thereof. Should there be reasons why the contract cannot be awarded within the specified period the time may be extended by mutual agreement between the Owner and the proposer.

The party to whom the contract is awarded will be required to execute the agreement. The notice to proceed shall be issued within ten (10) days of the execution of the agreement by the Owner. Should there be reasons why the notice to proceed cannot be issued within such period, the time may be extended by mutual agreement between the Owner and the proposer. If the notice to proceed has not been issued within the ten (10) day period or within the period mutually agreed upon, the proposer may terminate the agreement without further liability on the part of either party.

The Owner may make such investigations as they deem necessary to determine the ability of the proposer to perform work, and the proposer shall furnish to the Owner all such information and data for this purpose as the Owner may request. The Owner reserves the right to reject any proposals if the evidence submitted by, or investigation of, such proposer fails to satisfy the Owner that such proposer is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the agreement and to complete the work contemplated therein.

All applicable laws, ordinances, and the rules and regulations of all authorities having jurisdiction over the project shall apply to the contract throughout.

This project is exempt from Sales Tax requirements. The party to whom the contract is awarded will be required to complete all necessary forms to document the exemption.

https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/cityofcraig mailto:kcarmody@cityofcraig.org

I. Introduction and Objective:

The City of Craig (“City”) desires to solicit Proposals from interested and qualified firms or persons to prepare a Master Plan Update (“plan”) that will result in a new comprehensive plan for the City of Craig.

The plan will replace the City’s portion of the existing City of Craig / Moffat County Master Plan completed in 2003. The updated plan will serve as Craig’s primary long-range policy guide for land use, growth, housing, transportation, parks, trails and open space, recreation and tourism, downtown infrastructure, economic development, community character, water supply, hazard mitigation resiliency, and implementation.

The City desires a plan that is clear, concise, visually accessible, and useful for day-to-day decision-making by City staff, the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council, residents, property owners, businesses, and development applicants. The final plan should provide a shared vision for Craig’s future, identify key goals and policies, establish a coordinated future land use framework, and provide an implementation strategy that can guide future investment, regulatory updates, partnerships, and development decisions. As importantly the plan shall be prepared in the context of the community for the City of Craig.

The selected consultant should have demonstrated experience with comprehensive planning for Colorado municipalities, public engagement, housing and land use policy, GIS mapping, implementation strategies, and preparation of plans that are both visionary and practical.

II. Budget:

The project will be funded by a Local Planning Capacity grant received by the State of Colorado Division of Local Government (DOLA) with local match funds by the City of Craig, and incentive funding by DOLA due to the City of Craig becoming an early adoption fast track community. The total budget available for the project subject to this Request for Proposal (RFP) is $195,000. The consultants are requested to provide a realistic scope of work and fee proposal based on the information described in this RFP.

III. Background and Purpose:

The City of Craig is located within Moffat County in Northwest Colorado. Moffat County is the second largest county by area in Colorado at approximately 4,751 square miles.

Craig is the county seat of Moffat County and has approximately 9,000 residents. Craig has traditionally been known as an energy and agricultural community, a distinct small-town identity, with a historic downtown, established neighborhoods, high-quality schools, and access to regional transportation and employment corridors. Craig sits at the confluence of the Yampa River and Fortification Creek where coal energy production has anchored its economy for most of the twentieth century.

The Craig Station power plant, built in phases between 1974 and 1984, reached approximately 1,427 megawatts of capacity and drew its coal from the nearby Colowyo and Trapper mines. The plant’s final units are currently going through the decommissioning process with full retirement scheduled by the end of 2028. The wind-down is reshaping Craig’s economic and fiscal environment. The City is pursuing a diversified future that builds upon its energy and agricultural heritage while expanding opportunities in industrial and business development, outdoor recreation and tourism, healthcare, aviation, housing, small business, emerging energy technologies, and other sectors identified through the planning process. Craig is part of a regional labor and housing market that includes Steamboat Springs and other Northwest Colorado communities noting a substantial portion of Craig’s population commutes daily to nearby Steamboat Springs.

The Master Plan Update provides an opportunity to revisit the City’s policy framework for land use, growth, housing, transportation, parks, trails and open space, recreation and tourism, downtown infrastructure, economic development, community character, water supply, hazard mitigation resiliency, and implementation.

Core Values The City Council has identified six core values to serve as a guide to Craig’s priorities and decision making:

1. Preserving our Heritage and Small-Town Identify.

2. Practicing Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency.

3. Building Infrastructure for Planned Growth.

4. Enhancing Quality of Life and Community Pride.

5. Governing in Collaboration with Stakeholders.

6. Proactively Communicating with the Community.

These core values are relevant to the Master Plan Update because they reflect the City Council’s broader policy priorities and relate to the many topics addressed in a comprehensive plan, including growth management, infrastructure, housing, parks and trails, public engagement, safety, community services, and long-term needs of current and future residents.

IV. Scope of Work:

The selected consultant shall provide the professional services necessary to prepare a focused and implementable update to the City of Craig’s Master Plan. The final scope will be negotiated with the selected consultant, but proposals should address the following major work areas.

1. Project Management The consultant shall manage the project schedule, deliverables, meetings, communications, and coordination with City staff and stakeholders. The consultant shall designate a project manager who will serve as the primary point of contact and shall provide regular updates to City staff throughout the project.

2. Plan Review and Strategic Integration The consultant shall review the City’s and State’s relevant adopted plans, studies, and policy documents and identify how they should be incorporated in the updated Master Plan. See Resource Documents attached to this RFP. This review should be strategic and concise. The goal is not to duplicate prior plans, but to create a coordinated plan that carries forward relevant recommendations and identifies where updates or refinements are needed.

This work should include review of, but is not limited to, the 2003 City of Craig / Moffat County Master Plan, Housing Needs Assessment, Housing Action Plan, Economic Development Strategic Plan, Moffat County Vision 2025 Transition Plan, Moffat County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), Craig Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Master Plan, Water and Wastewater Master Plan Updates, Sewer Main Capacity Analysis, Water Rights Yield Modeling Report, Colorado Statewide Strategic Growth Report, Colorado’s Vital Landscapes and Resources Report, Colorado Water Plan, and the CDOT Northwest 2050 Regional Transportation Plan.

The consultant shall prepare a brief plan integration summary or matrix identifying key recommendations to carry forward, potential conflicts or gaps, and how prior planning efforts will be reflected in the updated Master Plan.

3. Community Engagement The consultant shall design and implement a public engagement process appropriate for the community of Craig. The engagement process should be efficient, inclusive, and meaningful. It should help the City confirm community values, evaluate growth and housing choices, identify priorities, and build support for the final plan before adoption.

The engagement approach may include community workshops, stakeholder interviews, online engagement, targeted outreach, pop-up opportunities, Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council workshops, and public review of draft materials. The consultant should recommend an engagement strategy that fits the project budget, schedule, and community context.

4. Existing Conditions and Key Issues The consultant shall prepare a concise existing conditions and key issues summary. This work should rely on existing plans and data to the extent possible and should avoid duplicating analysis that has already been completed.

The summary should address major trends and issues related to:

1. Population and growth.

2. Housing needs and housing diversity.

3. Existing and future land use.

4. Downtown and community character.

5. Transportation and mobility.

6. Parks, trails, and open space.

7. Recreation and tourism.

8. Water, wastewater, storm drainage, and infrastructure.

9. Economic development and fiscal sustainability.

10. Water supply and availability.

11. Environmental resources and hazard mitigation resiliency.

12. Intergovernmental coordination.

The consultant should identify the key choices and policy questions that the Master Plan needs to address.

5. Housing Integration and State Compliance The City completed the City of Craig Housing Needs Assessment in Fall 2021.

The consultant shall incorporate the Housing Needs Assessment into the Master Plan Update and use it to inform housing, land use, growth, infrastructure, and implementation recommendations.

The Master Plan Update should address housing variety, affordability, attainability, rental housing, ownership housing, senior housing, accessory dwelling units, missing middle housing, workforce housing, and coordination between housing and infrastructure capacity.

6. Water Supply Element and Hazard Mitigation Resiliency Plan The consultant shall include in the plan elements and documentation needed to support applicable Colorado Senate Bill (SB 24-174) including the Water Supply Element. The Water Supply Element shall be identified as a separate deliverable for purposes of scope, cost, billing, tracking, and grant documentation. The Water Supply Element may be integrated into the Master Plan as an appendix.

In the Colorado context, the integration of water supply shall be coordinated with land use, urban growth, and development decisions directly with available water resources, the local water providers, and conservation policies to ensure long-term community and environmental resilience.

The Water Supply Element must be developed in consultation with entities that supply water for use within the City of Craig, include water conservation policies consistent with state requirements, and estimate a range of water supplies and facilities needed to support the potential public and private development described in the Master Plan. The Water Supply Element shall explicitly include a plan or action step to update the Element in five (5) years in accordance with the statutory update requirement.

For reference, DOLA guidance for the Water Supply Element and Hazard Mitigation Resiliency can be found at the following links:

• Water Supply Element Guidance Overview ꟾ Division of Local Government

• Resilience and Hazard Mitigation ꟾ Division of Local Government

7. Vision, Goals, and Policy Framework

The consultant shall work with the City to prepare an updated vision, goals, and policy framework for the Master Plan. The plan should reflect public input, adopted plans, the Housing Needs Assessment, the City’s core values, and current growth and infrastructure conditions.

The policy framework should be organized around the City’s key planning topics and should be written in a clear and practical format that can guide future decisions.

8. Future Land Use and Growth Framework

The consultant shall prepare an updated future land use and growth framework.

This work should provide clear direction for development, redevelopment, infill, annexation, housing diversity, downtown, employment areas parks and open space, public uses, and preservation of community character.

The consultant shall include a high-level zoning and subdivision code alignment assessment to identify regulations, zone map changes, development standards, or procedural changes that may be necessary to implement the Master Plan. This is not intended to be a code rewrite but more specifically to identify areas for future code revisions that may be necessary for Master Plan implementation.

The future land use framework should be coordinated with infrastructure capacity, water and wastewater planning, transportation and mobility, parks and trails, https://dlg.colorado.gov/water-supply-element-guidance https://dlg.colorado.gov/resilience-and-hazard-mitigation recreation and tourism, downtown revitalization, housing needs, and fiscal sustainability. The consultant shall provide updated maps and GIS-based deliverables to be maintained by the City.

For reference, the DOLA Template Land Development Code can be found at the following link:

• Template Land Development Code ꟾ Division of Local Government

9. Intergovernmental and Regional Coordination The consultant shall coordinate with Moffat County and other affected neighboring jurisdictions throughout the planning process. The City and County anticipate maintaining separate comprehensive plans reflecting their respective jurisdictions, authorities, services, and policy priorities. Coordination is intended to promote compatible data, assumptions, maps, policies, and implementation strategies where City and County interests overlap.

Coordination shall include, at a minimum:

• Review of relevant Moffat County plans and regulations;

• Notification and documentation of the process and procedure with Moffat

County.

• Coordination regarding areas of potential growth within approximately three miles of the City boundary (e.g., Three-Mile Plan);

• Consultation regarding water supply, annexation, transportation, utilities, housing, economic development, public facilities, hazard mitigation, natural resources, and agricultural lands;

• Consideration of the local school district boundary which includes a large area of western Moffat County;

• At least two City–County coordination meetings;

• Opportunity for County review of relevant draft materials;

• Documentation of comments, objections, responses, and outcomes as required by Colorado law; and

• Coordination with any County comprehensive-plan consultant retained during the City’s planning process.

This coordination shall not require preparation of a countywide future land use plan or adoption of a joint City–County comprehensive plan unless separately authorized through a written amendment to the consultant’s scope.

For reference, more information on the Three-Mile Plan can be found at the following link:

• Three-Mile Plan Overview ꟾ Division of Local Government https://dlg.colorado.gov/land-use-codes https://dlg.colorado.gov/three-mile-plan-overview

10. Plan Elements The updated Master Plan should address, at a minimum, the following elements:

1. Community Vision and Strategic Framework.

2. Land Use and Growth.

3. Housing and Neighborhoods.

4. Downtown and Community Character.

5. Economic Development and Fiscal Sustainability.

6. Transportation and Mobility.

7. Parks, Trails, and Open Space.

8. Recreation and Tourism.

9. Public Facilities, Water and Wastewater Infrastructure.

10. Water Supply.

11. Environmental Resources.

12. Hazard Mitigation Resiliency.

13. Intergovernmental Coordination.

14. Implementation.

15. Three-Mile Plan.

The City is open to alternative organization if the proposer recommends a structure that is clearer, more user-friendly, or better suited to the final plan.

11. Implementation Strategy

The final Master Plan shall include a practical implementation strategy that is organized in a clear and easy to follow format. The implementation strategy should identify priority actions, responsible parties, timeframes, potential partners, funding opportunities, and related regulatory or capital improvement needs.

The implementation strategy should include actions carried forward from prior plans, actions related to the Housing Needs Assessment, actions that support the City’s core values, and actions needed to align the Master Plan with future zoning, subdivision, capital improvement, and development review decisions.

12. Plan Adoption

The Final Master Plan shall be reviewed and approved for adoption by the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council in accordance with C.R.S. 31- 23-206(1.3)(c). In addition to other engagement with the governing bodies of the City of Craig, the Consultant shall be prepared to attend a total of three public meetings for plan adoption which include one meeting with Planning & Zoning

Commission and two meetings with City Council to achieve adoption. These meetings can be attended by the consultant team either in person or virtually.

The consultant shall prepare a summary of any objections to the Master Plan made by neighboring jurisdictions and any special districts that supply water to the City of Craig or the area covered by the Master Plan.

13. Deliverables Expected deliverables include, at a minimum:

1. Project schedule and engagement plan.

2. Plan integration summary or matrix.

3. Existing conditions and key issues summary.

4. Community engagement summaries.

5. Updated vision, goals, and policy framework.

6. Future land use and growth framework.

7. Draft Master Plan.

8. Final Master Plan.

9. Implementation strategy or matrix.

10. Presentation materials for public meetings, Planning and Zoning Commission, and City Council.

11. GIS files for maps and spatial data created as part of the project.

12. Editable source files.

13. ADA-accessible PDF suitable for posting on the City’s website.

14. Water Supply Element.

15. Hazard Mitigation Resiliency Plan.

16. Grant-support documentation, including documentation needed to separately track the Water Supply Element and Hazard Mitigation Resiliency Plan, as needed.

All final work products shall become the property of the City of Craig.

14. City Staff Role and Responsibilities

The project will be managed by the City’s Public Works Director with support from the Community Development Director/Building Official, Assistant City Manager/Economic Development Coordinator, and the City Manager.

City staff will provide available plans, GIS data, zoning information, development information, infrastructure planning materials, meeting support, staff review, and assistance identifying stakeholders. Proposers should clearly identify any assumptions regarding City staff responsibilities.

V. Desired Schedule:

Milestone Start End

Issue Request for Proposals (RFP) July 2026 August 2026

Proposal Submittal Deadline September 8, September 8, Evaluation of Proposals September 2026 September 2026

Interviews (If Necessary) September 2026 September 2026

Award Approval by City Council October 2026 October 2026

Consultant Contracting October 2026 October 2026

Kickoff Meeting October 2026 October 2026

Project Completion March 2028 March 2028

VI. General Proposal Requirements:

The submitted proposals must follow the format outlined below. Proposals that do not adhere to this structure may be considered non-responsive and grounds for rejection.

There is no page limit, however, the city requests the proposals to be made as concise as possible.

1. Cover Letter – Provide a cover letter signed by an authorized representative of the firm. Identify the primary contact person and confirm the proposer’s commitment to perform the work.

2. Introduction, Team Experience, and References – Introduce your consultant team and summarize your qualifications and understanding of the project.

Include a minimum of three (3) examples of relevant experience with similar master plans, with emphasis on public sector plans and work completed in Colorado. For each example, briefly describe the scope, key outcomes, and your team’s role. Identify any subcontracted services or subconsultants and describe their role, integration into the team, and relevant experience.

3. Project Understanding and Approach – Describe the proposer’s understanding of the project and recommended approach. The approach should address plan integration, public engagement, housing integration, future land use, implementation, and adoption.

4. Project Team and Qualifications – Identify the project manager, key personnel, subconsultants, and each team member’s role. Include relevant qualifications and experience. Include any experience the prime consultant has working together with its sub-consultants.

5. Relevant Experience – Provide examples of similar master/comprehensive planning projects, preferably for Colorado municipalities and communities comparable to Craig. Include client references.

6. Public Engagement Approach – Describe the proposed public engagement approach and how it will be tailored to Craig.

7. Housing and State Compliance Approach – Describe how the consultant will incorporate the completed Housing Needs Assessment and support applicable SB 24-174, Proposition 123, related housing requirements, DOLA Local Planning Capacity Grant, including preparation of the Water Supply Element and Hazard Mitigation Resiliency Plan as separately tracked deliverables.

8. Project Schedule – Provide a proposed project schedule identifying major phases, milestones, deliverables, meetings, review periods, and adoption.

9. Deliverables – Identify proposed deliverables, including documents, maps, GIS files, engagement summaries, presentations, grant-support documentation, and final plan materials.

10. Cost Proposal – Provide a detailed cost proposal, including total not-to-exceed cost, cost by task, personnel hourly rates, reimbursable expenses, optional services, and assumptions. Costs should separately identify housing-related and grant-related tasks, including separate task costs for the Water Supply Element and Hazard Mitigation Resiliency Plan.

11. Workload and Availability – Describe the project team’s availability and ability to complete the project within the proposed schedule.

12. References – Provide at least three client references for similar projects.

13. Exceptions or Assumptions – Identify any exceptions to the RFP or assumptions that affect scope, schedule, or cost.

VII. Evaluation Criteria:

The City of Craig reserves the right to select the proposal that, in its sole discretion, is determined to be in the best interest of the City. Evaluation criteria may be based on the following criteria but are not necessarily limited to these categories:

Team Experience and Capabilities

• Relevant experience of the consultant team.

• Qualifications and expertise of key personnel and project leads.

• Quality of similar work.

• Demonstrated success on similar projects with similar contexts like Craig, particularly in public sector work in Colorado.

• Ability to complete the project with the desired schedule.

• References and past performance.

Project Approach

• Demonstrated understanding of the project scope and objectives and Craig’s planning needs, community character, and growth context.

• Alignment of the proposed approach with the City’s objective and priorities.

• Quality and practicality of the proposed approach.

• Clarity and feasibility of the proposed project schedule and methodology.

• Ability to incorporate the completed Housing Needs Assessment and support applicable SB 24-174, Proposition 123, related housing requirements, DOLA Local Planning Capacity Grant, Water Supply Element, Hazard Mitigation Resiliency Plan.

• Strength and appropriateness of the public engagement approach.

Fee Proposal

• Overall cost-effectiveness of the proposal.

• Clarity, completeness, and transparency of the cost breakdown as submitted.

• Alignment of proposed fees with the scope of work and project requirements.

This Request for Proposal (RFP) is not a competitive bid based on price only. The RFP allows the City to select the proposer that best meets the needs of the City of Craig, taking into consideration proposer qualifications, price, products, and service capabilities and other factors relevant to the city’s policies, programs, administrative resources, and budget. The City of Craig reserves the right to:

1. Reject any and all proposals received as a result of this RFP.

2. Waive or decline to waive any informalities and any irregularities in any proposal or responses received.

3. Adopt all or any part of the consultant’s proposal.

4. Negotiate changes in the scope of work or services to be provided.

5. Withold the award of contract.

6. Request additional information or clarification from proposal, or to allow correction of errors and omissions.

7. Select the proposer it deems to be most qualified to fulfill the needs of the city.

The proposer with the lowest priced proposal will not necessarily be the one most qualified, since several factors other than price are important in the determination of the most acceptable proposal.

VIII. Resource Documents:

1. City of Craig Streets Map

2. City of Craig Zoning Map

3. 2003 City of Craig / Moffat County Master Plan

4. 2016 Moffat County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

5. 2017 Wastewater Master Plan Update

6. 2018 Water Master Plan Update

7. 2019 Economic Development Strategic Plan - Draft

8. 2019 Craig Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan

9. 2020 Moffat County Vision 2025 Transition Plan

10. 2021 Housing Needs Assessment

11. 2022 Housing Action Plan

12. 2022 Sewer Main Capacity Analysis

13. 2023 Water Rights Yield Modeling Report – Available After Contracting

14. 2023 Colorado Water Plan

15. 2025 Northwest 2050 Regional Transportation Plan

16. 2025 Colorado Statewide Strategic Growth Report

17. 2025 Colorado’s Vital Landscapes and Resources Report

18. 2026 City of Craig Water Conservation Ordinance