biddoc.pdf

Wildflower Ridge Architect

RFP 9.19.26 014

AUTHORITY CONTACT PERSON

Nickalus Santoro, Procurement and Contracts Manager

Nsantoro@foothillsrh.org

SOLICITATION ISSUANCE DATE September 18th, 2026

QUESTIONS & CLARIFICATION REQUESTS DUE September 30th, 2026 @ 5 pm

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS – Questions to be posted as responses in Bidnet

October 2nd, 2026 @ 5pm

HOW TO FULLY RESPOND TO THIS RFP BY

SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL

Submit questions and proposals through the Bidnet/Rocky Mountain e-Purchasing System-https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado

(Purchasing Representative does not have access or control of the vendor side of RMEPS. Vendor must contact RMEPS to resolve issue prior to response deadline 800 835-4603)

PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL RETURN & DEADLINE October 23rd, 2026 @ 5 pm

ANTICIPATED SELECTION OF PROPOSAL By November 2nd, 2026

INTERVIEWS if needed October 30th, 2026 mailto:Nsantoro@foothillsrh.org https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado

1. AUTHORITY’S RESERVATION OF RIGHTS:

1.1. The Authority (Jefferson County Housing Authority d/b/a Foothills Regional Housing) reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any informalities in the RFP process, or to terminate the RFP process at any time if deemed by the Authority to be in its best interest.

1.2. The Authority reserves the right not to award a contract pursuant to this RFP.

1.3. The Authority reserves the right to terminate a contract awarded pursuant to this RFP, at any time for its convenience upon ten (10) days written notice to the successful proposer(s).

1.4. The Authority reserves the right to determine the work schedule and locations that the successful proposer(s) shall provide the services described in this RFP.

1.5. The Authority reserves the right to retain all proposals submitted and not permit withdrawal for a period of sixty (60) days after the deadline for receiving proposals without the written consent of the Authority.

1.6. The Authority reserves the right to negotiate the fees proposed by the proposer entity as described in section 5.5 of this RFP.

1.7. The Authority reserves the right to reject and not consider any proposal that does not meet the requirements of this RFP, including, but not necessarily limited to, incomplete proposals and/or proposals offering alternate or non-requested services.

1.8. The Authority shall have no obligation to compensate any proposer for any costs incurred in responding to this RFP.

1.9. The Authority shall reserve the right to, at any time during the RFP or contract process, prohibit any further participation by a proposer or reject any proposal submitted that does not conform to any of the requirements detailed herein.

2. Background – Jefferson County Housing Authority

The Authority (Jefferson County Housing Authority d/b/a Foothills Regional Housing) is the housing authority serving Colorado’s 774 square mile Jefferson County, located just to the north and west of

Denver. The Authority provides housing opportunities including affordable units, voucher administration, single family rehab, and new development in both incorporated and unincorporated areas of Jefferson County. Our mission is to create vibrant, stable communities in areas of opportunity, via bold and strategic initiatives, and to provide families and individuals with housing options driven by compassion and respect throughout Jefferson County. AUTHORITY’s portfolio includes 23 rental communities with 1300+ units.

FRH has identified a parcel in our portfolio, Wildflower Ridge, as our next development opportunity.

FRH seeks a qualified firm to provide architectural, design and engineering services in support of the development of Wildflower Ridge.

Wildflower Ridge is a 10.8 Acre parcel at the corner of W. Ridge Road and Miller Street, Wheat Ridge.

The northeast corner of the site is planned to be transferred to Red Rocks Community College (RRCC), and the remainder of the site is planned for two to three phases of affordable housing development including a Senior building and a multifamily building. The planned location of this first phase (senior housing) is the southwest corner of the parcel along Ridge Road. The site is just a quarter of a mile from the Arvada Ridge commuter rail station.

See Appendix A for context maps, aerial images, and photos of the parcel.

Key details about the proposed development include:

• Project Features/Uses – The first phase will include – fifty to eighty (50-80) one and two-bedroom apartments for 62+ Seniors.

• LIHTC – JCHA intends to income restrict 100% of the units and will apply for 9% Low Income

Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) Colorado State credits and Transit Oriented Community Tax Credits from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) on February 1, 2027, as the primary source of construction financing. A conceptual set of drawings (elevations, floor plans, site plan) will be needed for the LIHTC submittal and must be made available for general contractor pricing no later than January 1, 2027

• Timeline – Assuming an award of 2027 9% LIHTCs, FRH expects to close the project’s financing and begin construction by the second quarter of 2028.

3. SCOPE OF WORK:

Design Services

FRH seeks design and engineering services for conceptual design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration. The selected firm will be expected to work collaboratively with a diverse group of FRH staff and consultants. FRH intends to select a general contractor early in the design process, with input from the selected design firm, and expects the selected design firm to work collaboratively with the general contractor to create and implement an efficient, cost-effective, and creative design. The selected design firm will be expected to contract with and manage the services of other design and engineering team members, including (but not limited to) landscape architecture, MEP, structural and civil engineering, energy efficiency/green building consultants, low voltage, lighting design, and interior design. FRH expects to participate in the final selection of key design and engineering sub-consultants. Please identify the consultants, the lead staff from the consulting team.

And your firm’s experience working with your firm. FRH will procure a geotechnical engineer directly.

Conceptual Design: FRH expects that the design process will build on the work done on our master plan and could include several potential design concepts. Based on initial design work, cost estimation feedback, and input from team members and consultants, FRH will iteratively refine the design. The selected firm will develop conceptual/schematic design documents including site plans, floor plans, elevations, and related engineering drawings, as well as renderings for LIHTC and related financing applications and for communication with various stakeholders. Conceptual Design documents will also include narrative descriptions of the scope of work which FRH will use to communicate with financing partners and other stakeholders.

Design Development: The firm selected will develop Design Development documents and work collaboratively with the general contractor and other team members to ensure that the design is efficient and cost-effective and to identify value engineering opportunities. The firm selected will be expected to assist the general contractor in developing preliminary pricing, including providing all information needed to ensure that pricing is based on accurate and complete assumptions. The firm selected will also be expected to work with FRH facilities staff to incorporate life cycle cost and maintenance considerations into system-related, fixture and finish design choices. Design Development documents should include enough visual information to allow FRH staff and other members of the development team to make informed decisions about finishes, fixtures, etc.

Construction Documents: The selected firm will develop a full set of accurate, complete 100%

Construction Documents, and will continue to work with the general contractor to identify value engineering opportunities and to ensure that pricing is based on accurate and complete assumptions.

Construction Administration: The selected firm will work in a collaborative, creative, and transparent manner with the general contractor to ensure that the project is delivered on budget and on schedule, including responding timely and completely to RFIs and submittals, and working to identify creative solutions as construction issues emerge. Assuming a 15–18-month construction schedule, the selected firm will participate in weekly OAC meetings and visit the site for other meetings as needed. The selected firm will assist FRH in reviewing the project upon substantial completion and preparing punch lists.

Entitlements: The selected firm will be expected to attend planning and building-related meetings with

FRH staff and the City of Wheat Ridge as needed. Early design concepts should be informed by and incorporate feedback from City of Wheat Ridge staff on all site requirements related to City of Wheat

Ridge building and development regulations. The selected firm will assist FRH in preparing and submitting all documents required to obtain planning approvals and building permits, and in responding to feedback from planning staff and other stakeholders.

Stakeholder Communication: The firm selected will be expected to attend meetings with community members and potentially other stakeholders to present and receive feedback on the proposed design.

The selected firm will be expected to provide current renderings and other visual information/graphic materials on an as-needed basis to assist FRH staff in communicating about the project to a variety of stakeholders.

Design Meetings: To assist with budgeting, the selected firm should expect to attend weekly meetings, held on zoom or at the selected firm’s office, for a one-hour duration from November 2026 through July

2027. Assuming a tax credit award is made to the project, the selected firm should expect weekly meetings with the client to resume until a building permit is awarded.

Sustainability and Accessibility: FRH intends to utilize financing from a variety of sources that mandate sustainability and accessibility requirements. Specifically, FRH will leverage federal funds that will require compliance with Section 504 (in addition to ADA) accessibility requirements. The design must meet the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s (CHFA) energy efficiency and green building requirements which can be accessed here. Applicants must meet one of the following green building certification programs: Enterprise Green Communities (EGC), Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design (LEED), or National Green Building Standards (NGB). In addition, applicants will be required to have EV ready parking, provide energy use reporting and water-wise landscaping. Above and beyond meeting these standards, JCHA desires that its re-investment into this property will enhance the property’s accessibility for residents with disabilities, as well as its energy performance. JCHA desires the property to include a rooftop solar array, or to be designed as solar-ready should funding prohibit the installation of a PV system at the time of construction.

FRH will consider responses that include proposed additions to the scope of work and intends to award the response that provides the overall best value to FRH.

4. PROPOSAL FORMAT:

4.1. Best Value Selection the Authority intends to select the successful proposer on a “Best Value” basis, not solely on a low-bid basis. The Authority will evaluate proposals based on factors including qualifications, relevant experience, demonstrated understanding of the project, references, and cost.

Therefore, for the Authority to properly evaluate the proposals received, all submissions must be formatted in accordance with the sequence detailed below. None of the proposed services may conflict with any requirement the Authority has published in this RFP or issued by addendum.

Please submit a response that includes the following elements. Proposals must be numbered in accordance with the numbered items below:

1. Statement of Interest and Project Understanding

2. References for projects of similar scope

3. Detailed Cost Proposal

4. Signed Exhibit B – HUD Section 3 & Federal Compliance

5. Signed Exhibit C – Federal Certifications https://multifamily-ehub.chfainfo.com/green-codes

4.2. Proposal Submission: All proposals must be received by the Authority through the

Bidnet/Rocky Mountain e-Purchasing System only - https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado by no later than the submittal deadline stated here or within any ensuing addendum. Proposals should be in Adobe Format with all attachments in one single PDF.

4.3. Submission Responsibilities: It shall be the responsibility of each proposer to be aware of and to abide by all dates, times, conditions, requirements, and specifications set forth in all applicable documents issued by the Authority, including the RFP document, the documents listed within the RFP, and any addenda and required attachments submitted by the proposer. By virtue of completing, signing, and submitting the completed documents, the proposer is stating his/her agreement to comply with all conditions and requirements set forth in those documents.

Written notice from the proposer not authorized in writing by the Authority to exclude any of the Authority requirements contained within the documents may cause the proposer to not be considered for award.

4.4. Proposer's Responsibility-Contact with the Authority: It is the proposer’s responsibility to address all communication and correspondence pertaining to this RFP process to the aforementioned email address only. Proposers may not make inquiry or communicate with any other Authority staff member, contracted consultants, or official (including members of the

Board of Commissioners) pertaining to this RFP. Failure to abide by this requirement may be cause for the Authority to not consider submitted proposal.

5. PROPOSAL EVALUATION

5.1. Evaluation Method: The Authority will evaluate each proposal submitted in accordance with the RFP procedures shown within the Authority’s Procurement Policy.

5.1.1. Proposals shall be reviewed and evaluated by Authority staff, which may include contracted expertise.

5.1.2. Restrictions: All persons having familial (including in-laws) and/or employment relationships (past or current) with principals and/or employees of a proposer entity will be excluded from participation on the Authority evaluation panel. Similarly, all persons having ownership interest in and/or contract with a proposing entity will be excluded from participation on the Authority’s evaluation panel.

5.1.3. An evaluation committee shall review and rank the submittals based on the evaluation criteria described in Section 5.2 of this RFP. Based on the submittals and price negotiation results, proposer(s) shall be recommended to the Authority’s CEO and/or the Board of

Commissioners for award.

5.2. Evaluation Criteria: The following factors will be utilized by the evaluation personnel appointed by the Authority to evaluate each proposal submittal received.

https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado o Initial ratings will be based on Proposed Fees, Relevant Experience, and Process as assessed by the Authority selection team. References may be contacted, and further interviews may be required to make a final selection.

The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive minor informalities or irregularities in proposals received, and to make an award in the best interest of the

Authority in accordance with the Authority’s Procurement Policy and applicable federal requirements.

6. CONTRACT AWARD

6.1. If a contract is awarded pursuant to this RFP, the following detailed procedures will be followed:

6.1.1. Upon final completion of the proposal evaluation process, the evaluation panel will forward the completed evaluations to the designated Authority staff. The designated staff will formulate and forward to the Authority’s CEO for consideration and approval of a written award recommendation. The CEO may choose to approve the award or may take the award recommendation to the Authority’s Board of Commissioners at a scheduled board meeting for approval (required procedure for contracts with a total value greater than $200,000). If so, the Authority’s Board of Commissioners will then make its determination and may or may not follow the panel’s recommendation. If the recommendation is followed and the top-rated proposer is approved for award, all proposers will receive a Notice of Results of Evaluation. Contract price negotiations may, at the Authority's option, be conducted prior to or after the Board’s approval.

6.1.2. In conjunction with the current timeline of the project, the Authority may accelerate the approval process to accommodate the requirements of the project.

6.2. Contract Conditions: The following provisions are considered conditions of any contract award made by Authority pursuant to this RFP:

6.2.1. Contract Form: The Authority intends to enter into a contract with the selected bidder based on a negotiated version of the Authority’s Service contract. The Professional

Services Agreement attached as Exhibit C will serve as the basis for the final contract. By submitting a proposal, the successful proposer agrees to negotiate in good faith a mutually agreeable form of contract. It is the responsibility of each prospective proposer to notify the Authority in writing prior to submitting a proposal, of any contract clause that the proposer is not willing to include in the final executed contract and abide by. The Authority will consider and respond to such written correspondence, and if the prospective proposer is not willing to abide by the Authority's response (decision), then that prospective proposer shall be deemed ineligible to submit a proposal.

6.2.2. Assignment of Personnel: The Authority shall retain the right to demand and receive a change in personnel assigned to the work if the Authority believes that such change is in the best interest of the Authority and the completion of the contracted work. Contractor shall select and employ the replacement personnel.

6.2.3. Unauthorized Sub-Contracting Prohibited: The successful proposer shall not assign any right, nor delegate any duty for the work proposed pursuant to this RFP (including, but not limited to, selling, or transferring the contract) without the prior written consent of the

Authority’s CEO. Any purported assignment of interest or delegation of duty, without the prior written consent of the CEO shall be void. It may result in the cancellation of the contract with the Authority or may result in the full or partial forfeiture of funds paid to the successful proposer as a result of the proposed contract; as determined by the CEO.

6.3. Contract Period: The Authority shall retain the right to contract with the successful proposer for any amount of time that, in the opinion of the Authority, it takes to conclude any matter that the successful proposer may begin work on not to exceed the maximum five (5) year contract period.

6.3.1. Included with provisions among agreement will be Certification that the awarded

Contractor does not knowingly employ or contract with an illegal alien, and Contractor will participate in the E-Verify Program

6.4. Licensing and Insurance Requirements: Prior to award (but not prior to submission of the proposal) the successful proposer will be required to provide:

6.4.1. The contractor shall provide to the Authority with copies of any required current City, State and/or Federal licenses. Failure to maintain these licenses in a current status during the term(s) of this contract shall constitute a material breach thereof.

6.4.2. If applicable, a copy of the proposer's license issued by the State of Colorado licensing authority allowing the proposer to provide the services detailed herein.

6.4.3. Appropriate proof of insurance coverages and W-9 which minimally include:

6.4.3.1. Worker's compensation insurance to cover obligations imposed by applicable law for any employee engaged in the performance of work under this Agreement.

6.4.3.2. Commercial general liability insurance with minimum combined single limits of one million dollars ($1,000,000) each occurrence and two million dollars ($2,000,000) general aggregate. The policy shall be applicable to all premises and operations. The policy shall include coverage for bodily injury, broad form property damage

(including completed operations), personal injury (including coverage for contractual and employee acts), blanket contractual, products, and completed operations. The policy shall contain a severability of interests’ provision and shall be endorsed to include the Authority and the Authority's officers, employees, and contractors as additional insureds. No additional insured endorsement shall contain any exclusion for bodily injury or property damage arising from completed operations.

6.4.4. Performance & Payment Bonds: Intentionally deleted.

6.4.5. Right to Negotiate Final Fees: The Authority shall retain the right to negotiate the amount of fees that are paid to the successful proposer. The fees proposed by the top-rated proposer may, at the Authority's option, be the basis for the beginning of negotiations.

Such negotiations shall begin after the Authority evaluation panel has chosen a top-rated proposer. If such negotiations are not, in the opinion of the Authority’s CEO, successfully concluded within five (5) business days, the Authority shall retain the right to end such negotiations and begin negotiations with the next rated proposer. The Authority shall also retain the right to negotiate with and make an award to more than one proposer, as long as such negotiation(s) and/or award(s) are addressed in the above manner (i.e. top-rated first, then next rated following until a successful negotiation is reached).

6.4.6. Contract Service Standards: All work performed pursuant to this RFP must conform to and comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.

7 COLORADO OPEN RECORDS ACT (CORA)

Please note that when providing proposals to the Authority in any format, the Authority is subject to the spirit of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) and any information provided by your company may be provided to the public. Please mark any proprietary information included in your submittal.

8 Attachments / Exhibits (Part of the Solicitation)

The following documents are incorporated into and made part of this solicitation:

• Exhibit A – Master Plan (below)

• Exhibit B – HUD Section 3 & Federal Compliance

• Exhibit C – Federal Certifications

EXHIBIT A