South Commons RFQ _ Final.pdf

Request for Qualifications for Master Planning

Services for the South Commons District

Solicitation Date: December 1, 2025

Qualifications Packages Due: January 16, 2026

Table of Contents

PROJECT INFORMATION

PROJECT LOCATION AND COMMUNITY PROFILE

REGIONAL MAP

PROJECT AREA

PROJECT AREA MAP

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION

RFQ SELECTION TIMELINE

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AGREEMENT

SUBMITTAL CONDITIONS

SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS

PROJECT INFORMATION

The Development Authority of Columbus, Georgia is soliciting statements of qualifications from firms interested in providing master planning services for the development of a vibrant, year-round, mixed-use destination similar to The Battery Atlanta, which will complement Synovus Park, the new Double-A baseball stadium, and incorporate legacy sites such as the AJ McClung Memorial Stadium and the Civic Center. The development is expected to produce a South Commons District that will feature hospitality, retail, residential and public amenities that will integrate with existing sports and civic facilities. The objective is to ensure sustainable design and community engagement while enhancing economic development and tourism. Especially qualified firms may be invited to interview and offer proposals for these services.

PROJECT LOCATION AND COMMUNITY PROFILE

Columbus, Georgia, a consolidated City-County Government, is situated on the Chattahoochee River in western Georgia, one hundred miles southwest of Atlanta. Although you may follow a GPS to get here, Columbus, Georgia isn’t so much a dot on the map as it is a feeling. It’s a feeling of returning home after a long day; a feeling of adventure; a feeling of prosperity and abundance. Whether you are visiting, thinking about relocating, or moving in, we welcome you to experience these feelings and more that make Columbus special!

The Columbus Region offers a quality of life that cannot be matched. Small-town charm blended with big-city opportunity means safe and friendly neighborhoods, shorter commute times, plenty of local spirit, an abundance of entertainment and nightlife options, adventurous recreation, and a wealth of opportunities in education and business. It was for all these reasons and more that Columbus was ranked among the Top Cities in which to Live for People of All Ages, Top 100 Places to Raise a Family, Top 100 Places to Live in the Country, and The Most Welcoming City, among many other accolades.

Notable companies including Aflac, Char-Broil, Realtree, Synovus, and TSYS have their corporate headquarters in Columbus where the business climate ensures they will prosper. Multi-national companies such as Kia, Kodak, and Pratt & Whitney also have significant footprints in the region and continue to expand their operations.

Additionally, the region is home to Fort Benning and the Maneuver Center of Excellence, which has approximately 40,000 military personnel, contractors and civilians working and training at the installation every day.

PROJECT AREA

South Commons, located on the east bank of the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, is a recreational community space that is managed by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The site is located close to Columbus’ Historic District, the “Uptown” commercial area, the commercial and industrial area known as Victory Drive, and the Liberty District – the pre-desegregation black commercial district. South Commons is home to six large recreational buildings and sports facilities including South Commons Softball Complex and Stadium Fields, Synovus Park, Columbus Civic Center, AJ McClung Memorial Stadium, Columbus Ice Rink, and the Jonathan Hatcher Skatepark.

A map depicting the South Commons area is provided below. The city-owned properties referenced in this RFQ are shown in orange. There are potential other properties owned by others but would be desirable to include in redevelopment plans, pending independent negotiations between the developer and property owners.

Project location

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

A design team is being sought to create a distinctive and sustainable mixed-use and mixed-income, inclusive development/redevelopment of the properties offered by the Columbus Consolidated Government, which may include adjacent properties in proposed area currently owned by others.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Interested firms must submit a proposal which includes:

• Cover letter and executive summary

• Firm profile, team qualifications, and relevant experience

• Approach and methodology

• Project schedule and deliverables

• References (minimum of three)

• Examples of similar mixed use, sports or entertainment projects

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION

The following criteria will be used in the evaluation of the submittals using an overall 100-point scale:

I. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE (30%)

II. PAST PERFORMANCE, REFERENCES, AND SPECIAL OR UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS (45%)

III. UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECT GOALS AND LOCAL CONTEXT (25%)

The firm should be careful to address each criterion, as neglect of any section will result in a lower total score. Do not assume those reviewing your submittal are already familiar with your firm. The proposal should be concise and to the point. Emphasis should be given to a few examples, which clearly show the team’s qualifications, rather than numerous examples, which are unrelated to the project.

THE RFQ & SELECTION TIMELINE

Although subject to change at the Authority’s sole discretion, the following presents the intended timeline with respect to the RFQ and subsequent selection process:

December 1, 2025— RFQ ISSUED December 15, 2025— Last day to submit written questions January 2, 2026— Written responses to questions provided by Authority January 16, 2026— RFQ SUBMITTALS DUE January-February 2026— Interviews (if necessary) February 2026— AUTHORITY SELECTS DESIGN FIRM

The RFQ seeks to identify those design teams who have expressed written interest in exploring the opportunity and both of the following: (i) successfully described relevant development experience, and

(ii) provided a compelling preliminary vision for the project while providing substantive thoughts on key development-related issues necessary for successful financing and timely construction of the project.

Upon reviewing the RFQ submittals and after initial interviews (if necessary), the Authority may choose to begin more formal discussions with one or more prospective private developers. The Authority reserves the right to modify and/or terminate this process at any point in time.

SIGNED AND NOTARIZED AGREEMENT

Each team is required to execute and notarize the agreement on the following page. Any submittal that does not include a fully executed and notarized agreement will be deemed nonresponsive to the RFQ and will be eliminated from consideration.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AGREEMENT

If any person or entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with any person or entity that provides a submittal in response to this RFQ (a “Claiming Party”), initiates, joins, has a direct financial interest in, or offers substantial assistance to any lawsuit or other legal, regulatory, or administrative proceeding (“Claim”) against (a) the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia (“City”), or any person or entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the City, (b) any person or entity involved in the City's preparation or distribution of this RFQ, the evaluation of RFQs, or the selection of any particular RFQ or any person or entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such person or entity (a "City RFQ Party"), or (c) any other person or entity that provides a submittal in response to this RFQ or any person or entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such person or entity ("Other Submitter"), then each Claiming Party shall be obligated jointly and severally to reimburse the City, each City RFQ Party, and each Other Submitter for all of such party’s legal fees, litigation expenses, and costs incurred in such Claim if the Claiming Party (or the third party that received substantial assistance from the Claiming Party, or in whose Claim the Claiming Party has a direct financial Interest) does not obtain a judgment on the merits which substantially achieves, in substance and amount, the remedy sought.

Company Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Telephone Number:

Individual Name:

Title:

Authorized Signature:

Date:

SWORN to before me this day of 201

Notary Public: _______________________________________

SUBMITTAL CONDITIONS

By submitting a response to this RFQ, the Proposer acknowledges that:

• the Proposer understands that the Authority and Columbus may at its sole and absolute discretion amend, change or cancel this process at any time and for any reason as well as the right to reject any or all responses; and

• this process does not bind or commit the Authority and Columbus to enter into any agreement or continue any discussions with any Developer; and

• the Proposer understands that upon selection by the Authority, they and their Project Team partners will be subject to and cooperate with additional due diligence by the Authority and Columbus to assure that it has the collective experience, track record and financial capacity to successfully finance and develop the Project; and

• the selected Proposer shall develop and implement a design review process that will provide the Authority and Columbus and its professional staff input into the design of the Project with a primary emphasis on exterior-related issues. Once approved, no material changes may be made without the approval of the Authority and Columbus; and

• the Proposer is not entitled to recover any costs related to the preparation of their proposal, whether due to not being selected and/or due to cancellation of this process by the Authority;

and

• the Proposer has relied exclusively on its own investigations, interpretations, and analyses of the Project. Information provided by the Authority is done so without any warranty or representation, express or implied, as to its content, its accuracy, or its completeness; and

• the Proposer understands that information provided will be relied upon, and such information is warranted by the Proposer to be true and accurate. The Proposer agrees to furnish such additional information in this regard as may be requested by the Authority. The Proposer further understands that the information contained in this Submittal may be confirmed through a background investigation conducted by the Authority and the Proposer agrees to cooperate with this investigation; and

• no party of the Proposers submittal team including the Developer responding to this process is granted any rights hereunder; and

• this RFQ does not bind or commit the Authority or Columbus to enter into any agreement with any Proposer or Developer or continue any discussions; and

• the Authority may need to issue one or more addenda related to this RFQ; and

• all submissions will become the property of the Authority; and

• the preparation of a response shall be at the expense of the Developer. The Authority will not reimburse proposers for any costs associated with the preparation or submittal of a response;

and

• no party, including any Developer responding to this RFQ, is granted any rights hereunder; and

• developers should satisfy themselves, by personal investigation and any other means they deem necessary, as to the conditions affecting the proposed project and the cost thereof. Developers are solely responsible for conducting their own independent research and due diligence in preparation of their response; and

• neither the Authority nor Columbus assumes any responsibility for the completeness or the accuracy of any information presented in this RFQ, or otherwise distributed or made available during this procurement process.

SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS

One electronic copy of the RFQ submittal must be emailed to the addressee below on or before 5:00 PM local time on Friday, January 16, 2026. Late submittals will not be accepted. The subject line in the email submittal message should read: “South Commons RFQ”.

Development Authority of Columbus, Georgia Missy Kendrick, President & CEO Office: 706.243.8980 Mobile: 770.584.5234 missykendrick@choosecolumbusga.com

All inquiries regarding the RFQ must be directed to Ms. Kendrick.

It is expressly understood that the receipt of any response to the Request for Qualifications does not commit the CCG or DACG to the quitclaim, sale or lease of the property. CCG/DACG reserves the right to reject all proposals if it is determined to be in the best interest of the CCG/DACG.

All proposals and presentations will be at the proposer’s own cost and expense. CCG/DACG will have no financial obligations relative to the submission of any proposal. Information regarding competitive proposals will be maintained as “competitive- confidential” until all proposals have been evaluated.

Proposals may be made public at such time recommendations for contract award are made public by the evaluation committee to the City Council. Any specific information included in the proposals that is considered confidential or proprietary by the proposer shall be clearly marked as such, but may be subject to the disclosure under the Georgia Open Records Act in some instances.

mailto:bsillitto@columbusgachamber.com