City_Collection_Audit_Researcher.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

2022-RFP-231

CITY COLLECTION AUDIT RESEARCHER

City of Pittsburgh

City-County Building

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

RELEASE DATE: November 14, 2022

DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: November 22, 2022

RESPONSE DEADLINE: December 16, 2022, 5:00 pm

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/%7bproject.government.code%7d

City of Pittsburgh

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

City Collection Audit Researcher

I. Introduction II. Instructions to Bidders

III. Scope of Work IV. Proposal Format Requirements V. Evaluation Phases

VI. Equal Opportunity Review Commission Terms VII. Award and Contract

VIII. General Terms & Conditions IX. Miscellaneous Requirements X. Vendor Questionnaire

Request for Proposal #2022-RFP-231 Title: City Collection Audit Researcher

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Summary

The City of Pittsburgh's Department of City Planning (DCP) is seeking a qualified professional with a background in research and project management to aid in an audit of the City of Pittsburgh’s collection of public art, monuments, and memorials. The audit will assess the objects in the collection with a focus on identifying inequity within the objects, histories, and practices of the City’s public art narrative.

1.2. Background

The City of Pittsburgh’s public art collection contains over 160 permanent and limited-term artworks, monuments, memorials, and historic objects. These include commissioned public artworks, war memorials and honor rolls, and monuments to historic figures and eras.

The collection was formed over the past two centuries, alongside a national history of structural bias and racism that has often elevated a single cultural narrative at the expense and exclusion of others, both explicitly and implicitly.

These biased systems have resulted in many public spaces and objects that are not representative of the broad range of lived experiences and perspectives that exist within the population, and are at times representative of values and narratives that are harmful to a public realm that is welcoming and inclusive of all people.

The City of Pittsburgh wishes to examine the works in its collection to identify objects that perpetuate inequitable or misrepresentative histories, as well as to determine gaps in representation to inform future public art programs.

Phase 1 of this audit has been completed, with several works identified as needing an immanent priority review. Phase 2 will engage a researcher, who will conduct this priority review, followed by a deeper analysis of all works in the collection. The criteria for this analysis will be determined as part of the researcher’s initial process planning.

1.3. Contact Information

Clarisa Mejias-Shell

Sourcing Specialist

414 Grant Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Email: clarisa.mejias-shell@pittsburghpa.gov

Phone: (412) 255-2422

Department:

City Planning

1.4. Timeline

The following represents the tentative schedule for this project. Any change in the scheduled dates for the Pre Proposal Conference (if applicable), Deadline for Submission of Written Questions, or Proposal mailto:clarisa.mejias-shell@pittsburghpa.gov tel:(412)255-2422

Submission Deadline will be advertised in the form of an addendum to this RFP. The schedule for the evaluation process and other future dates may be adjusted without notice.

RFP Released November 14, 2022

Question Submission Deadline November 22, 2022, 5:00pm

Proposal Submission Deadline December 16, 2022, 5:00pm

Proposal Review and Supplier Scoring Specify the general time for Review and Scoring -

December 2022

Contract Award Specify the general time for Contract Award -

December 2022

2. INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

2.1. Submittal Requirements

All proposals must be submitted electronically. No proposal shall be accepted in person, by U.S. Mail, by private courier service, via oral or email communication, telephone or fax transmission.

Respondents are required to provide one (1) electronic copy of their proposal in either MS Word or PDF by the submission deadline.

If additional hard copies are requested, the proposal should be bound or contained in a loose leaf binder. Document pages shall be 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches in size or folded to such a size. Use section dividers, tabbed in accordance with this Section as specified below. All proposals will need to be provided electronically so the following format will apply for the electronic submittal through the

Beacon website.

2.2. Additional Submission Considerations

Late proposals will not be accepted or considered. Respondents should allow enough time to register company on the City's e-Procurement Portal, search the solicitation they wish to respond to and complete the submission process online before the deadline.

The City of Pittsburgh shall not be responsible for proposals delivered to a person or location other than that specified herein.

All submittals, whether selected or rejected, shall become the property of the City of Pittsburgh and will not be returned.

All costs associated with proposal preparation shall be borne by the applicant.

3. SCOPE OF WORK

3.1. Scope of Work

The Researcher will help to create and direct the process of the audit, working in coordination with the

Public History, Art, & Design Division (PHAD). PHAD will engage an Advisory Committee, who will be consulted throughout the development and implementation of the audit. PACD will hold weekly progress meetings with the Researcher, and will coordinate feedback sessions with the Advisory

Committee as determined by the project schedule.

The scope of work will include the following:

- Initial planning, in coordination with DCP, to map out process and determine assessment goals

- Process examination with Advisory Committee to refine research criteria

- Priority review of works flagged in Phase 1

- Creation of research plan and final criteria for full collection analysis

- Research and analysis of collection, including outreach as necessary

- Final report of findings in slide deck format.

The timeline of this scope is estimated to be twelve weeks (20-24 hours per week) but may be altered as determined necessary by initial process planning. It will include approximately one to two hours per week in meetings with PACD staff and Advisory Committee.

The compensation for this project will be $15,000. This will include all elements of the scope as listed above, and is inclusive of insurance, travel, and any necessary subcontractors. Compensation will be issued in two payments: the first after legal agreements with the Researcher are fully executed, and the second upon project completion.

3.2. Eligibility & Evaluation

This opportunity is open to anyone with a background in research or academics who can show successful completion of at least one previous research project. The ideal candidate will have experience in project management as well as systems and practices of research. Knowledge and experience in public art history and processes and/or social sciences will be considered favorably but is not required.

Applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Background and Statement of Interest (40%)

Qualifications and Experience (30%)

Project Approach and Plan (30%)

3.3. Submission Requirements

All submitted responses shall include the following materials:

1.Narrative - A narrative that is no more than 2000 words, including a statement of interest in the project and relevant background and experience. This section should describe previous research projects including their goals and outcomes.

2.Resume or CV

3.Professional References

4. Project Approach and Plan - A description of research practices, engagement strategies, and general approach to be employed in undertaking this audit. It is understood that final methodologies and strategy will be determined after consultation with Advisory Committee and PHAD.

Additional information may be provided, but should be succinct and relevant to the goals of this RFP.

Failure to include all of the elements specified may be cause for rejection.

4. PROPOSAL FORMAT REQUIREMENTS

4.1. Response Format

All submitted responses shall follow the formatting below, and all proposals will need to be provided electronically through the City's e-Procurement Portal. Each numbered section is to be uploaded as a separate file. If hard copies of submissions are required, each numbered section shall be a removable tab. Document pages shall be 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches in size or folded to such a size.

Response to Scope

1.Narrative - A narrative that is no more than 2000 words, including a statement of interest in the project and relevant background and experience. This section should describe previous research projects including their goals and outcomes.

2.Resume or CV

3.Professional References

4. Project Approach and Plan - A description of research practices, engagement strategies, and general approach to be employed in undertaking this audit. It is understood that final methodologies and strategy will be determined after consultation with Advisory Committee and PHAD.

Cost Proposal

Provide a total cost proposal for all services to be delivered, and a breakdown of costs delineated by major phase and/or deliverable as described in your project plan. Include a schedule of hourly rates for all proposed staff and the amount of time each person will be devoted to this project. Define any reimbursable expenses (e.g., travel) requested to be paid by the City. Note: If travel expenses are included, the rate assumptions generally should not exceed the United States General Services

Administration (GSA) rates for Pittsburgh.

PLEASE NOTE: The City does not agree to late fees, penalties, interest, attorney’s fees or other contingent liability. In no event shall the City be liable for special, indirect, incidental, reliance, lost profits or other business interest damages.

Demonstration of Good Faith Effort

Include statements of assurance regarding the following requirements detailed in the Equal Opportunity section of this solicitation:

A. Solicit certified MBE/WBE/Veteran-Owned companies for various service categories where opportunities exist to subcontract within their company’s business model.

B. Complete MWDBEVOSB Commitment Form to document good faith effort. Please provide scope of services to be delivered by each subcontractor. If a subcontractor is not chosen, a justification is required describing why services could not be rendered by a sub-contractor.

C. Provide email documentation of solicitation correspondence with MBE/WBE/Veteran-Owned companies.

Failure to include all of the elements specified may be cause for rejection. Additional information may be provided, but should be succinct and relevant to the goals of this RFP. Excessive information will not be considered favorably.

5. EVALUATION PHASES

Selection Procedure

Your Proposal will be evaluated by a Proposal Committee comprised of the Director or other supervisor of the Using Department, one or more members of the Director’s staff, at least one member of the

Office of Management & Budget and any other department representatives as deemed necessary.

Submittals will be reviewed for responsiveness, and responsive submittals will further be screened by a selection committee in accordance with the criteria listed below. The firm(s) submitting the highest rated proposal may be invited for interviews.

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Background and Statement of Interest

This opportunity is open to anyone with a background in research or academics who can show successful completion of at least one previous research project.

The ideal candidate will have experience in project management as well as systems and practices of research. Knowledge and experience in public art history and processes and/or social sciences will be considered favorably but is not required.

Points Based 40 (40% of Total)

2. Firm’s Qualifications and Experience

Vendor response demonstrated that the firm has the experience and capabilities to successfully perform the scope of services, including providing references for clients of similar size and scope.

Points Based 30 (30% of Total)

3. Project Approach and Plan

A description of research practices, engagement strategies, and general approach to be employed in undertaking this audit. It is understood that final methodologies and strategy will be determined after consultation with Advisory Committee and PHAD.

Additional information may be provided but should be succinct and relevant to the goals of this RFP. Failure to include all of the elements specified may be cause for rejection.

Points Based 30 (30% of Total)

6. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY REVIEW COMMISSION TERMS

6.1. MWE/DBE

The City of Pittsburgh is committed to the ideal of providing all citizens an equal opportunity to participate in City and its Authorities' contracting opportunities. It is therefore the City's goal to encourage increased participation of women and minority groups in all City contracts. The City requires that all respondents demonstrate good faith efforts to obtain the participation of Minority-Owned

Business Enterprises (MBE's) and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE's) in work to be performed under City contracts. The levels of MBE and WBE participation will be monitored by the City of

Pittsburghs Equal Opportunity Review Commission (EORC). In order to ensure that there are opportunities for historically disadvantaged minority groups and women to participate on Covered

Contracts, and consistent with the City's current equal employment opportunity practice and goals, the

EORC will review contracts to include an evaluation of a developer/contractors employment of minority groups and women, encourage goals of eighteen (18) percent and seven (7) percent respectively.

6.2. Veteran-Owned Small Business

It is also the City's goal to encourage participation by veteran-owned small businesses in all contracts.

The City of Pittsburgh shall have an annual goal of not less than five (5) percent participation by veteran-owned small businesses in all contracts. The participation goal shall apply to the overall dollar amount expended with respect to the contracts. The City requires that all respondents demonstrate good faith efforts to obtain the participation of veteran-owned small business in work to be performed under City contracts. The levels of veteran-owned participation will be monitored by the City of Pittsburghs EORC.

6.3. Good Faith Commitment

In order to demonstrate good faith commitment to these goals, all respondents are required to complete and submit with their bids the attached MDE/WBE/Veteran-Owned Solicitation and

Commitment Form (which details the efforts made by the respondents to obtain such participation).

Failure to submit a properly completed form along with documentation of Good Faith Commitment may result in rejection of the bid. Participants are encouraged to contact the Equal Opportunity Review

Commission at 412-255-8804 to assist further. For further information, including definitions and additional requirements, please see Chapter 177A (Sections 177A.01 et. seq.) of the City Code and

Section 161.40 of the City Code.

7. AWARD AND CONTRACT

7.1. Award

After the City has received all Proposals and conducted its initial Evaluation, described above, the

Proposal Committee may invite one or more Respondents to a follow-up interview to further discuss their Proposal(s).

The Proposal Committee may decide to accept the Proposal of one or more Respondents. It may decide to reject all proposals. Once a Proposal is accepted, the contract negotiation process will commence.

This RFP and your response to it, in the form of your entire Proposal, will become part of the Contract. If a real or apparent conflict should arise between this RFP/Proposal and other language contained in the final Contract, the language of the final Contract shall control.

7.2. Contracting Process

Successful Respondents will be required to enter into a Contract with the City of Pittsburgh, contingent upon the approval of City Council. This Contract will be directed and managed by the issuing department and the Office of Management & Budget.

Work cannot commence on the Scope of the RFP until it a contract is fully executed. The City cannot process invoices nor approve payments until this Contract has been fully executed by the Respondent and all required City signatories, including the issuing department, the Law Department, and the City

Controller.

City laws and policies mandate the incorporation of various custom terms and conditions into all City contracts. For this reason the City will not sign any standard contract proffered by the respondent.

An agreement shall not be binding or valid with the City unless and until it is fully executed by authorized representatives of the City and of the Proposer. Once the Contract is fully executed the City will notify Respondent in writing and give the order to proceed.

8. GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

8.1. Examination of Proposal Documents

A. The submission of a proposal shall be deemed a representation and certification by the

Respondent that they:

1. Have carefully read and fully understand the information that was provided by the City to serve as the basis for submission of the proposal.

2. Have the capability to successfully undertake and complete the responsibilities and obligations of the proposal being submitted.

3. Represent that all information contained in the proposal is true and correct.

4. Did not, in any way, collude; conspire to agree, directly or indirectly, with any person, firm, corporation or other proposer in regard to the amount, terms or conditions of this proposal.

5. Acknowledge that the City has the right to make any inquiry it deems appropriate to substantiate or supplement information supplied by a proposer, and proposer hereby grants the City permission to make these inquiries, and to provide any and all related documentation in a timely manner.

B. No request for modification of the proposal shall be considered after its submission on the grounds that the proposer was not fully informed to any fact or condition.

8.2. RFP Term

Respondent’s proposal shall remain firm and effective, subject to the City’s review and approval, for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days from the closing date for the receipt of proposals.

The City may enter into negotiations with one or more Respondents during the one hundred twenty

(120) day period during which all proposals will stay effective. The purpose of such negotiations will be to address questions and identify issues as the parties move towards the execution of a final contract or contracts.

8.3. RFP Communications

Unauthorized contact regarding this RFP with employees or officials of the City of Pittsburgh other than the RFP Coordinator named in the header section of this solicitation may result in disqualification from this procurement process.

Neither Respondent(s) nor any person acting on Respondent(s)’s behalf shall attempt to influence the outcome of the award by the offer, presentation or promise of gratuities, favors, or anything of value to any appointed or elected official or employee of the City of Pittsburgh, their families or staff members.

All inquiries regarding the solicitation are to be directed to the designated RFP Coordinator. Outside of pertinent RFP questions directed to the City of Pittsburgh as specified above, any other attempts to contact any City of Pittsburgh personnel regarding this RFP, without prior approval by the RFP

Coordinator will be considered grounds for dismissal and immediate disqualification from the RFP process. This includes, but is not limited to, all verbal, voice, text, e-mail, and social media (e.g. –

LinkedIn) contact.

Please note the following:

A. The City shall not be responsible for nor bound by any oral instructions, interpretations or explanations issued by the City or its representatives.

B. Each proposer shall assume the risk of the method of dispatching any communication or proposal. •The RFP Coordinator must receive all written comments, including questions and requests for clarification, no later than the Deadline for Submission Questions listed in the tentative project schedule.

C. The City reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, the appropriate and adequate responses to written comments, questions, and requests for clarification. The City’s official responses and other official communications pursuant to this RFP shall constitute an addendum of this RFP.

D. The City will publish all official responses and communications pursuant to this RFP to the City of

Pittsburgh procurement website. It is the responsibility of each proposer to check the site and incorporate all addenda into their response.

E. All addenda for this RFP will be distributed via the City of Pittsburgh procurement website at procurement.pittsburghpa.gov/beacon/opportunities

F. Only the City’s official, written responses and communications shall be considered binding with regard to this RFP.

8.4. Addenda/Clarifications

Should discrepancies or omissions be found in this RFP or should there be a need to clarify this RFP, questions or comments regarding this RFP must be put in writing and received by the RFP Coordinator within the Question and Answer tab.

8.5. Withdrawal of Proposals

A proposer may withdraw its proposal at any time before the expiration of the time for submission of proposals as provided in this RFP by delivering a written request for withdrawal signed by, or on behalf of, the proposer.

8.6. Public Record

Respondent, by submittal of a proposal, acknowledges that all proposals may be considered public information in accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Right to Know laws. Subject to award of this RFP, all or part of any submittal may be released to any person or firm who may request it.

Therefore, proposers shall specify in their proposal response if any portion of their submittal should be treated as proprietary and not releasable as public information. Proposers should be aware that all such requests may be subject to legal review and challenge.

Any information considered proprietary should be indicated as such or not included in the response.

8.7. Non-Conforming Proposal

A proposal shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions of these RFP instructions and specifications. Any alteration, omission, addition, variance, or limitation of, from or to a proposal may be sufficient grounds for non-acceptance of the proposal, at the sole discretion of the City.

8.8. Disqualification

Factors such as, but not limited to, any of the following may be considered just cause to disqualify a proposal without further consideration:

A. Evidence of collusion, directly or indirectly, among proposers in regard to the amount, terms or conditions of this proposal;

B. Any attempt to improperly influence any member of the evaluation team;

C. Existence of any lawsuit, unresolved contractual claim, or dispute between the proposer and the

City; •Evidence of incorrect information submitted as part of the proposal;

D. Evidence of proposer’s inability to successfully complete the responsibilities and obligation of the proposal; and

E. Proposer’s default under any previous agreement with the City, which results in termination of the agreement.

8.9. Restrictions on Gifts & Activities

The City of Pittsburgh Ethics Code and Chapter 197 of the City Code (Code of Conduct) was established to promote public confidence in the proper operation of our local government. These resources outline the requirements for disclosure of interests and restricted activities as related to public procurement processes. Proposers are responsible to determine the applicability of these requirements to their activities and to comply with its requirements.

8.10. Rights of the City of Pittsburgh

This RFP does not commit the City to enter into a contract, nor does it obligate the City to pay for any costs incurred in preparation and submission of proposals or in anticipation of a contract.

The City reserves the right to:

A. Reject any and all proposals;

B. Issue subsequent Requests for Proposals;

C. Cancel this RFP with or without issuing another RFP;

D. Remedy technical errors in the Request for Proposals process;

E. Approve or disapprove the use of particular sub-consultants;

F. Make an award without further discussion of the submittal with the proposer (therefore, the proposal should be submitted initially on the most favorable terms that the firm or individual might propose);

G. Meet with select proposers at any time to gather additional information;

H. Make adjustments to the scope of services at any time if deemed by the Office of Management and Budget to be in the best interest of the City;

I. Accept other than the lowest offer.

J. Waive any informality, defect, non-responsiveness, or deviation from this RFP that is not material to the Respondent’s proposal;

K. Reject the proposal of any Respondent who, in the City’s sole judgment, has been delinquent or unfaithful in the performance of any contract with the City;

L. Reject the proposal of any Respondent who, in the City’s sole judgment, is financially or technically incapable of performing in accordance with this RFP;

M. Negotiate with any, all, or none of the Offerors and to enter into an agreement with another

Offeror in the event that the originally selected finalist defaults or fails to execute an agreement with the City.

N. Award a contract to the firm(s) that presents the best qualifications and whose proposal best accomplishes the desired results; and/or

O. Enter into an agreement with another proposer in the event the originally selected proposer defaults or fails to execute an agreement with the City.

P. Require a performance bond and/or other “failure to deliver” agreement by the awardee at time of contracting.

9. MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS

9.1. Acknowledgements

A. Conflict of Interest - By submission of a proposal to this solicitation, Respondent agrees that it presently has no interest and shall not have any interest, direct or indirect, which would conflict in any manner with the performance of the services required under this RFP.

B. Code of Ethics - By submission of a proposal to this solicitation, Respondent agrees to abide by the Code of Ethics of The City of Pittsburgh. The full Ethics Handbook can be found here:http://pittsburghpa.gov/humanresources/files/policies/10_Ethics_Handbook.pdf

C. Fair Trade Certification - By responding to this solicitation, the Respondent certifies that no attempt has been made, or will be made, by the Respondent to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a submission for the purpose of restricting competition.

D. Non-Disclosure - By responding to this solicitation, the Respondent acknowledges they may be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement during the contracting process if they are the successful respondent.

E. Debarment - This solicitation is also subject to Section 161.22 of the City of Pittsburgh Code related to debarment from bidding on and participating in City contracts.

F. Financial Interest - No proposal shall be accepted from, or contract awarded to, any individual or firm in which any City employee, director, or official has a direct or indirect financial interest in violation of applicable City and State ethics rules. Entities that are legally related to each other or to a common entity which seek to submit separate and competing proposals must disclose the nature of their relatedness.

G. Full Fee Disclosure - Pursuant to Section 161.36 of the Pittsburgh City Code, a Respondent must include a disclosure of any finder’s fees, fee splitting, firm affiliation or relationship with any broker-dealer, payments to consultants, lobbyists, or commissioned representatives or other contractual arrangements of the firm that could present a real or perceived conflict of interest.

http://here:http:/pittsburghpa.gov/humanresources/files/policies/10_Ethics_Handbook.pdf

10. VENDOR QUESTIONNAIRE

10.1. Response to Scope Proposal

Please upload your Response to Scope detailed in Proposal Format Requirements

10.2. Cost Proposal

Please upload your Cost Proposal detailed in Proposal Format Requirements

10.3. Do you agree with the City's Terms and Conditions?*

☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

10.4. Authorized Signatory*

Provide the name, title, & email address of the authorized signatory for your company (for details on who is considered an authorized signatory, please look at our terms & conditions section)

*Response required https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa/projects/28130?section=226296 https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa/projects/28130?section=226296