Manchester_ReUnited:_State_Route_65_Reconnecting_Communities_Planning_Study_(Addendum_#1_Revision).pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

2024-RFP-310

MANCHESTER REUNITED: STATE ROUTE 65 RECONNECTING

COMMUNITIES PLANNING STUDY

City of Pittsburgh

City-County Building

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2024

DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: November 8, 2024

RESPONSE DEADLINE: November 15, 2024, 3:00 pm

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

Request for Proposal #2024-RFP-310 Title: Manchester ReUnited: State Route 65 Reconnecting Communities Planning Study https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/pittsburghpa https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/%7bproject.government.code%7d

City of Pittsburgh

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Manchester ReUnited: State Route 65 Reconnecting Communities

Planning Study

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. Federal Funding Requirements X. Miscellaneous Requirements

XI. Vendor Questionnaire

Attachments:

A - Esplanade TIS - 7.23.24 (1)

1. Introduction

1.1. Summary

The City of Pittsburgh Office of Management & Budget, on behalf of the Department of

Mobility & Infrastructure, is seeking proposals from a consultant or consultant team for the

Manchester Reunited: Reconnecting Manchester to The River and The Region planning study. The study area for the feasibility study and alternatives analysis will consist of the approximately 3-mile expressway portion of PA-65 located within Pittsburgh, between I-279N and the McKees Rocks Bridge, and focus on ways to functionally reunite Manchester and

Chateau to better serve the people that surround the corridor while ensuring the safety and connectivity of all PA-65 users.

The ideal Consultant will have expertise in urban highway engineering and planning and experience with a range of interventions, modifications, and alternatives focused on reversing historic harm to communities, creating more multi-modal infrastructure, and expanding access and opportunity. The selected Consultant is expected to understand the land use and community characteristics of the neighborhoods in the study area and to consider community goals in the development of alternatives and complementary policies. To achieve this, the

Consultant will work with residents and decisionmakers in a community-led process, which will be coordinated and co-led by Manchester Citizens Corporation. The final plan product will identify the preferred alternative, provide conceptual design and relevant documents, provide land use and economic policy recommendations, and identify next steps and funding opportunities to implement the preferred alternative.

1.2. Background

Background

Manchester is a majority Black neighborhood in Pittsburgh and is home to a rich history of community organizing, Victorian architecture and productive riverfronts. When urban renewal threatened it in the mid-twentieth century, Black residents joined to fight large-scale, modern development blocks. While some housing was saved, the neighborhood’s business districts and continuous street grid were lost to government demolition and the construction of PA-65.

Manchester had been one community as far back as 1843, but as a result of this new highway, it was divided into two: Chateau, a business area, and Manchester, the historic residential area.

PA-65 construction began in 1960 and has since served as a vehicular artery connecting communities along the Ohio River to, and through, downtown Pittsburgh, moving 65,000 vehicles daily. The roadway was built on a viaduct that stands 40 feet above the surrounding neighborhood and only has two street grade openings allowing for east-west travel between the two neighborhoods. Along each side the highway, are one-way streets, Beaver Avenue

(southbound) and Chateau Street (northbound), each ranging from two to four lanes wide.

Combined, these rights-of-way span 275 feet and act as a major barrier.

Community-driven planning efforts in the Manchester and Chateau neighborhoods have focused on ways to reunite the neighborhoods. The city-adopted 2019 Manchester-Chateau

Neighborhood Plan and the 2021 Manchester (Re)united Transit Revitalization Investment

District study explicitly call for lowering the road to reestablish a unified neighborhood and connected street network. In 2020, technical assistance through the EPA Greening America’s

Communities program helped the City of Pittsburgh (CoP) and Manchester Citizens Corporation

(MCC) identify mid-term improvements to critical connections in Manchester and Chateau. In

2021, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) released a long-range plan identifying the PA-65 corridor and parallel surface streets for future rapid transit service.

This study will focus on ways to functionally reunite Manchester and Chateau to better serve the people that surround the corridor while ensuring the safety and connectivity of all PA-65 users.

Study Area

The study area for the feasibility study and alternatives analysis will consist of the approximately 3-mile expressway portion of PA-65 located within Pittsburgh, between I-279N and the McKees Rocks Bridge. The corridor can be understood in three sections: to the north, ramps connect PA-65 to Route 19 (Marshell Ave), to the south, ramps connect the corridor to the West End Bridge and I-279. In the middle, an approximately 1-mile section bisects a previously continuous urban fabric of Manchester and limits this residential community’s access to Chateau and the Ohio Riverfront, an economically successful industrial and institutional area in transition.

Relevant Plans and Materials

• Manchester-Chateau Neighborhood Plan (2019). The neighborhood plan addresses opportunities for the development of public infrastructure; Mobility chapter identifies five challenges facing the neighborhood.

• Public Engagement Guide and Public Engagement Toolkit (2019). The report outlines recommendations and resources for planning equitable and transparent public engagement process.

• Greening America's Communities: Manchester-Chateau (2020). Conceptual design of green corridors highlighted in the Manchester-Chateau Neighborhood Plan.

• Bike(+) Master Plan (2020). The plan envisions a safe, connected and accessible network of facilities in the City of Pittsburgh.

https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/mcnp https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/EngagePGH https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/manchester-chateau https://pittsburghpa.gov/domi/bikeplan

• NexTransit (2021). The 25-year plan for Pittsburgh Regional Transit. The Ohio River

Light Rail Extension (Corridor B) Project is identified as a feasibility study to take place in

5-15 years.

• Rt 65 Corridor Study and Strategic Design Guide (2021). Quaker Valley Council of

Governments’ review and analysis to redefine regional highway corridors and State

Route 65.

• Manchester [Re]United: Manchester-Chateau TRID Planning Study (2022). Action strategy exploring the creation of a Transit Revitalization Investment District to catalyze equitable transit-oriented development near Allegheny Station.

• Esplanade Traffic Impact Study (2024). Attachment provided with RFP.

1.3. Contact Information

Jessie Nusser

Sourcing Specialist

414 Grant St

Suite 502

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Email: jessica.nusser@pittsburghpa.gov

Phone: (412) 255-2458

Department:

Mobility & Infrastructure

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

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 October 18, 2024

Pre-Proposal Meeting (Non-Mandatory) November 1, 2024, 10:00am

Virtual via Microsoft Teams-Please use the RSVP

Manager to indicate attendance, and a link will be sent to you prior to the meeting

Question Submission Deadline November 8, 2024, 3:00pm https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e5b095245a44a402cf55654/t/656f8e32c3bac558c58df8a4/1701809719315/NEXTransit+-+FINAL-web+9-16-21-sm.pdf https://www.qvcog.org/route-65-resources.html https://issuu.com/mbakerintl6/docs/redefining_regional_highway_corridors_strategic_de https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/manchester-reunited mailto:jessica.nusser@pittsburghpa.gov tel:(412)255-2458

Proposal Submission Deadline November 15, 2024, 3:00pm

Proposal Review and Supplier Scoring November 2024

Contract Award December 2024

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. Manchester Reunited: Reconnecting Manchester to The River and The Region

Through this plan, the city seeks to understand the potential of reuniting Manchester – Chateau while honoring and preserving its history and people. The city also seeks to understand the risks for displacement or other harmful impact to the existing community that could occur from transformative changes to the surrounding streets. To that end, the selected project team is expected to understand the land use and community characteristics of the neighborhoods in the study area and to consider community goals in the development of alternatives and complementary land use and other policies.

The community’s goal per the Manchester Chateau Neighborhood Plan is to ensure that any outcome of this planning study is via a lens of equity and justice socio-economically, racially and otherwise. The community is aiming to regain or enhance its status as a key regional asset to better celebrate and preserve its unique characteristics and heritage, while ensuring that development and investment deliver tangible benefits to its residents.

Phase 1: Engagement & Priorities

Rigorous data analysis and robust community engagement are the foundation of the process.

Engagement will identify a shared vision for the planning process which will guide the development of metrics against which alternatives, including a no-build scenario, will be evaluated.

Community engagement will be led by Manchester Citizens Corporation (MCC). The MCC staff team will provide project management and strategy services in this area including:

• Approval of a Public Engagement Plan,

• Establishment and management of a community-based advisory group,

• Resident and stakeholder engagement throughout the process, and

• Event planning and promotions throughout the process.

The selected consultant will be expected to collaborate with MCC’s staff and provide, at a minimum:

• Development of a Public Engagement Plan,

• In collaboration with MCC and City of Pittsburgh, creation of an initial survey for assessing the community’s vision and priorities,

• Working with MCC, co-create a Data-Driven Framework based on the community vision and priorities,

• Provide graphic and visualizations for use in community meetings, and online and in-person engagement. Ex: Post card, door hanger, social media contents.

• Facilitate a working group of State/City/Agency partners, as necessary, and

• Participation in public meetings conducted at key decision points in the process.

Pittsburgh’s Public Engagement Guide outlines a framework for how the City should conduct engagement efforts throughout planning processes and establishes guidelines for improving the approach to engagement more broadly, and includes resources for developing a Public Engagement

Plan. The Public Engagement Plan will be approved by MCC and City Departments and published. Additionally, the Public Engagement Plan will be updated throughout the process.

Based on the vision and priorities of the community, the consultant will develop a Data-Driven

Framework to evaluate the alternatives. The framework should include metrics ranging from health and environmental factors to safety, access for various modes of travel, workforce development opportunities, redevelopment opportunities that provide jobs and housing and access to daily needs, and/or the costs of public investments.

Deliverables

For this phase, the selected applicant should provide the following deliverables at a minimum. The proposal should state in detail how the applicant will produce each work product. Applicants may propose additional or revised tangible work products but should clearly explain the necessity of any proposed changes.

• Publication of the approved Public Engagement Plan

• Creation of a Data-Driven Framework that identifies metrics against which alternatives will be evaluated.

Phase 2: Existing Conditions Analysis

2A: Land Use Assessment

The selected consultant will be expected to analyze the existing land use characteristics of the area within a 500-foot buffer along SR 65 (250 feet from centerline of PA-65). The consultant’s responsibilities should include, at a minimum, the following:

• Review of relevant plans and materials compiled by the City of Pittsburgh and other relevant agencies/organizations.

• Summarize existing land uses and zoning code regulations creating a map of current land uses and zoning within the 500-foot project buffer area.

• Identifying and documenting historic buildings, landmarks, or cultural sites within the area for potential preservation or integration into the project’s design.

• Using City sources, identify land vacancies and public ownership in the project area.

2B: Demographic Analysis https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/7843_Public_Engagement_Guide.pdf

The selected consultant will be required to thoroughly analyze the demographic characteristics of the

Manchester and Chateau neighborhoods. The responsibilities for this task shall include, at a minimum, the following:

• Collecting and analyzing population statistics, including population density, growth rates, and projections.

• Collecting and analyzing data on income levels, employment rates, educational attainment, and other relevant socioeconomic indicators.

• Highlighting racial and socioeconomic disparities experienced by the population residing in the project area.

• Providing an overview of household compositions, sizes, and types.

• Providing an overview of the housing market in the area (ownership v. rental status)

• Analyzing housing affordability and housing stock in the project area.

• Analyzing demographic diversity of the population residing within the population area, addressing factors such as ethnicity, race, age, gender, languages spoken, and any other relevant factors.

• Providing data on public health indicators, access to healthcare services, and public health disparities experienced by historically marginalized groups.

• Analyzing industries, occupations, and commuting patterns of residents.

• Analyzing employment in the area commute patterns into and through Manchester-Chateau.

2C: Mobility Characteristics

SR 65 serves as a critical link connecting Pittsburgh's northern suburbs to the North Shore and downtown. A thorough understanding of this corridor's daily traffic patterns and usage is essential before exploring potential improvements. The selected consultant will be required to thoroughly analyze the roadway and trip characteristics of the project area and surrounding road network. They will be expected to utilize research, in-field data collection, and various third-party data sources to better understand the overall travel characteristics of this corridor and the Manchester-Chateau neighborhood. The responsibilities for this task shall include, at a minimum, the following:

• Collecting and analyzing average annual daily traffic, speed, peak hour traffic factors & multimodal utilization.

• Collecting and analyzing trip characteristics, including origin and destination analysis and mode use.

• Level of service (LOS) comparisons on the corridor and relevant intersections across multiple days of the week and times of day. These comparisons should account for travel time, and congestion metrics (e.g. queue, delays, travel time reliability).

• Future traffic projections timeline: in 2035 & 2045.

2D: Traffic Safety Analysis

The selected consultant will be required to analyze traffic safety within the project area and surrounding road network. They will be expected to utilize research, data analysis, and fieldwork. The responsibilities for this task shall include, at a minimum, the following:

• Collect and analyze 5-year crash data along SR-65, as well as any crashes at on and off-ramps/access point.

• Conduct a safety audit of the current corridor and identify crash hotspots, crash characteristics, and contributing factors.

• Review the City’s 311 system and collect resident safety concerns.

• Conduct predictive crash analysis based on future traffic scenarios and safety trends.

2E: Inventory of Right-of-Way and Assets

The selected consultant will be required to create an inventory of the right-of-way and assets within the

500-foot buffer along SR 65. They will be expected to utilize research, data analysis, and fieldwork. The responsibilities for this task shall include, at a minimum, the following:

• Develop a typical cross-section of the critical points of the right-of-way limits

• Collect and create an inventory of roadway assets, including but not limited to, signage, lighting, pavement conditions, and markings based on city-provided information or third-party data. A full field survey is not expected.

• Conduct right-of-way and deed research if instructed by the City Project Manager.

2F: Engineering, Structural, and Environmental Context

The selected consultant will be required to understand the engineering, structural, and environmental context of SR-65. The consultant is expected to inquire facility owner PennDOT for the past inspection reports for this review. Supplemental field visit for field verification is encouraged. The responsibilities for this task may include the following:

• Review available assessment reports and plans for future maintenance.

• Conduct an initial geotechnical assessment of the current status of the SR65 structure & its sub-surface.

• Inventory any structural deficiencies or maintenance needs that the structure has in its current state.

• Develop an inventory of properties subject to Section 4(f) protections.

• Draft an evaluation document in compliance with NEPA standards to understand the current structure’s impact on its surrounding environmentally sensitive components.

• And any other evaluations identified by the contractor to develop or analyze alternatives.

Deliverables

For this task, the selected applicant should provide the following deliverables at a minimum. The proposal should state in detail how the applicant will produce each work product. Applicants may propose additional or revised tangible work products but should clearly explain the necessity of any proposed changes.

• Existing Conditions Memo:

• Mobility Characteristics of Manchester neighborhood

• Trip Characteristics of SR 65

• Traffic Safety Analysis of [SR 65, Beaver and Chateau)

• Inventory of Right-of-Way and Assets that may be subject to modification

• Including Engineering, Structural, and Environmental Context

• Land Use Characteristics and Demographic Analysis

Phase 3: Alternative Scenario Analysis and Concept Visualization

3A: Conceptualizing the Alternatives for SR-65 Listed in the Manchester-Chateau Neighborhood Plan

The selected consultant will be expected to conduct initial community engagement reviews, detailed traffic studies, and initial constructability reviews on the proposed scenarios outlined in the Manchester-

Chateau Neighborhood Plan.

The consultant will be required to conceptualize and evaluate the following scenarios which the city anticipates to include at a minimum:

• BAU/No Build Scenario

• Improved/increased connections under, over, or along the corridor

• At-grade boulevard with changes to beaver and Chateau

• An expansion of the SR-65 bridge span

Each scenario should be conceptualized and evaluated accounting for the following:

• The impacts of each alternative on metrics identified in the Data Driven Framework.

• Each alternative's potential to safely and accessibly reconnect the Manchester and Chateau neighborhoods.

https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/8151_Manchester_Chateau_Neighborhood_Plan.pdf https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/8151_Manchester_Chateau_Neighborhood_Plan.pdf

• The potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of each alternative scenario.

• Evaluate the potential for development, such as the maximum building envelope with a mixture of programming that aligns with the Community’s vision and priorities, that each alternative could support within the 500-foot buffer of SR 65 in Manchester and Chateau.

• The impacts of each alternative on traffic & commute patterns in Manchester, Chateau, and the suburban communities of the North Hills that border these neighborhoods.

• The compatibility of each alternative with planned future developments and infrastructure projects in the project area. At a minimum, this shall include:

o The Esplanade development.

o The Ohio River Light Rail Extension Project, the Northside Light Rail Extension, and the North

Hills Rapid Transit Line, which are identified in Pittsburgh Region Transit’s NEXTransit Long

Range Plan.

o Improving multimodal connections to the Allegheny Light Rail Station, which serves as the terminus of the Blue, Red, and Silver Lines of PRT’s Light Rail Network o Beaver avenue two-way conversion project.

• Evaluate the construction feasibility and associated costs (plan level estimates) for each alternative.

• The evaluation should include equity driven plan level Benefit-Cost analysis for each of the alternative focusing all the above factors.

The consultant is required to outline a brief methodology within their Scope of Interest (SOI) for creating the alternative analysis scenarios. The consultant must also describe a data-driven comparison process that will effectively allow for the community, PennDOT, and the city in evaluating the alternatives comprehensively.

The consultant will develop public-facing visualization packages with the findings of their alternative studies for community engagement. As a part of the consultant's application, they are expected to provide relevant examples of previous work.

Deliverables

For this phase, the selected applicant should provide the following deliverables at a minimum. The proposal should state in detail how the applicant will produce each work product. Applicants may propose additional or revised tangible work products but should clearly explain the necessity of any proposed changes.

• Individual alternative study memo with findings for each alternative.

• Comparison memo of the alternatives with benefit/cost analyses and initial community engagement outputs.

• Public facing visualizations & presentation documents including a typical cross-section and simple rendering of the alternatives.

• Any contents requested by the City Project Manager for online engagement page updates.

• Any design memo requested by the City Project Manager for facility owner-PennDOT’s submission.

Phase 4: Preferred Alternative Project Development

Through extensive community engagement and collaboration with PennDOT and other regional stakeholders, the project team will select a preferred alternative. In this phase, the consultant will be expected to prepare a conceptual design and an opinion of probable cost for the preferred alternative.

4A: Conceptual Design of the Preferred Alternatives

The selected consultant will be responsible for developing a conceptual design submission of the preferred alternative. The contents will include at a minimum:

• General concept design of the proposed alternative

• Initial PEL-Planning & environmental linkage documentations.

• Initial planning level cost estimate for future grant applications

4B: Land Use and Economic Policy Recommendations

The selected consultant will develop land use and economic policy recommendations to facilitate the construction of the preferred roadway alternative. They will also provide strategic guidance on fostering equitable economic development and ensuring alignment with broader sustainability goals. This includes at a minimum:

• Recommendations for policy interventions and built environment countermeasures that would allow existing residents to stay in their homes and mitigate potential displacement that could result from the project's direct and indirect impacts.

• Provide strategies for use of publicly owned land within the 500-foot buffer of SR 65 in

Manchester and Chateau that promote affordable housing, economic opportunity and entrepreneurship, and community wealth building.

• Providing policy recommendations and/or identify priority locations within the 500-foot buffer of SR 65 in Manchester and Chateau for density or zoning changes to promote equitable transit-oriented development around proposed additions or enhancements to transit infrastructure, including the light rail extensions, rapid transit corridors, and/or new busways studied in Task

3A.

• Providing recommendations for preserving or integrating historic buildings, landmarks, or cultural sites within the 500-foot buffer of SR 65 in Manchester and Chateau.

Deliverables

For this task, the selected applicant should provide the following deliverables at a minimum. The proposal should state in detail how the applicant will produce each work product. Applicants may propose additional or revised tangible work products but should clearly explain the necessity of any proposed changes.

• Preliminary concept design and relevant documents.

• Land use and economic policy recommendation document.

• Public facing contents for community engagement with the preferred design.

Phase 5: Workforce Development

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda — including the Bipartisan Infrastructure

Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act — are catalyzing public- and private-sector investments across the nation, including significant concentrations in key regions. As part of the

Administration’s Investing in America workforce initiatives, the Pittsburgh region was selected as one of five Workforce Hubs. The Pittsburgh Workforce Development Hub Initiative seeks to build momentum for actions and partnerships that will connect people in the Pittsburgh region to good-quality careers related to major federal and private-sector investments. As part of the economic policy recommendations, the consultant is expected to outline:

• What are the various job sectors/skills necessary to deliver and maintain future phases of this infrastructure project?

• Assessment of skilled or trained labor needed, and job potential (number of jobs created)

• How this project can increase recruitment, training, & hiring of disadvantaged workers and individuals. Identify potential opportunities to partners with the Manchester-Chateau community.

• How can this project create apprenticeship program that can directly impact the Manchester-

Chateau neighborhood?

• How the various phases of this project can align with ongoing activities of the Pittsburgh workforce hub?

Deliverables

For this task, the selected applicant should provide the following deliverables at a minimum. The proposal should state in detail how the applicant will produce each work product. Applicants may propose additional or revised tangible work products but should clearly explain the necessity of any proposed changes.

https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/white-house-workforce-talent-hub

• Inclusion of workforce development potential for the transportation proejct in the data drive framework

• Workforce development strategies for to be included in later phases of project development and delivery

Phase 6: Action Plan

The selected consultant will create a public facing Action Plan document outlining all the findings from the previous 5 phases. This will include an Executive Summary, existing conditions analysis, alternative scenario analysis, community engagement activities, community vetted data informed preferred alternative selection process, the Preferred Alternative Design & Environmental Clearance

Documentation summary and Supportive Land Use and Economic Policy Recommendations. The Action plan will also identify additional studies that are needed and funding opportunities to implement the preferred alternative. This document will go through 2 phases of revisions, as per the city’s instructions. This document should also be accompanied by separate appendices with detailed information from Phases 1-3.

Deliverables

For this task, the selected applicant should provide the following deliverables at a minimum. The proposal should state in detail how the applicant will produce each work product. Applicants may propose additional or revised tangible work products but should clearly explain the necessity of any proposed changes.

• Action Plan document

• All raw materials (design files, spreadsheets, tables, images, shapefiles and maps, etc) and editable final digital copies of Reports, Analyses, and electronic copies of related PowerPoint presentation(s), all GIS shape files and maps, and other presentation materials.

Project Management

Consultant Project Management

The consultant team is expected to assist the City Project Manager along the life cycle of the project in managing various aspect of this project. The tasks will involve various aspects of planning, scheduling, organizing and controlling of resources to achieve specific objectives within established schedule, budget and quality standards. The tasks will include but not limited to:

• Attend all project meetings as necessary, including meeting preparation and minutes.

• Provide necessary assistance to organize public meetings that will include an agenda and any visuals necessary to conduct the meeting. Meeting minutes will be prepared in a timely and accurate manner.

• Ensure quality assurance & quality control of all the submissions from the sub consultants.

• On a monthly basis prepare a project status report of which should address the current status of the project schedule and budget.

• Will facilitate various inter agency coordination meetings.

• Coordinate various aspects of community engagement in collaboration with the City Project

Manager.

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

Firm’s Qualifications, Experience and References

Describe the firm and provide a statement of the firm’s qualifications for providing the scope of services.

Identify the services which would be completed by your firm’s staff and those that would be provided by sub-consultants, if any. Identify any sub-consultants you proposed to utilize to supplement your firm’s staff.

Provide a summary of the firm’s experience in providing these or similar services. Provide a minimum of three references for related projects, including dates, contact person, phone number, email, and a brief description of the project or scope of work. (5 Page Maximum)

Qualifications of Project Team

Provide a brief summary of the qualifications and experience of each team member assigned to this project, including length of service with the firm and resume/bio, and the qualifications /experience of any sub-consultant staff on your project team. (5 Page Maximum)

Project Approach and Plan

Provide a detailed discussion of your firm’s approach to the successful completion of the scope of services outlined in this RFP. Include thorough discussions of methodologies you believe are essential to accomplishing this project or completing the scope of services. Include a proposed work schedule to accomplish all of the required tasks within the desired timeline. Identify the staff roles who would be assigned to each major task, including sub-consultants. (25 Page Maximum)

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. Firm’s Qualifications, Experience and

References- 5 page maximum including figures, photos, tables

Vendor response demonstrated that the firm(s) has the experience and capabilities to successfully perform the scope of services for this transportation feasibility plan, including providing references for clients of similar size and scope and firms' management of multidisciplinary teams.

Points Based 15 (15% of Total)

2. Qualifications of Project Team- 5 page maximum including figures, photos, tables

The lead project manager will submit material which describes the development of the proposed multidisciplinary team including sub-consultants. Individual staff resumes/bios are only required for staff assigned to over 60 hours of work and can be provided as appendix which will not count toward page limits.

Points Based 20 (20% of Total)

3. Project Approach and Plan- 25 page maximum including figures, photos, tables etc

Vendor response demonstrated a firm understanding of the scope of services, the response included thorough and complete responses to the items outlined in the Section

4, and the vendor has the appropriate expertise, procedures, and methods in place to perform the scope of services.

Points Based 40 (40% of Total)

4. Cost Proposal

Vendor response provided a total cost proposal for all services to be delivered, a breakdown of costs delineated by major phase and/or a schedule of hourly rates.

Points Based 15 (15% of Total)

5. MWDBE/VOSB Good Faith Effort

Vendor response was detailed and demonstrated clear Good Faith Effort to obtain

MWDBE & VOSB Participation.

Points Based 10 (10% 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 and LGBTQIA+ Small Business Goals

It is also the City's goal to encourage participation by veteran-owned and LGBTQIA+ 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 and not less than three (3) percent participation by

LGBTQIA+ 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 participation will be monitored by the City of Pittsburgh’s 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 MWDBE/Veteran-Owned/LGBTQIA+ 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;

D. Evidence of incorrect information submitted as part of the proposal;

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

F. 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…