2027-009 Quinquennial Revaluation

The City of Gardner Purchasing Department is requesting proposals for a quinquennial revaluation of all real property in Gardner under RFP 2022-646, with proposals due September 24, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. The contractor must demonstrate a minimum of five completed cyclical revaluation projects within Massachusetts and at least ten years of experience in the revaluation business.

The City of Gardner contains approximately 7,163 parcels comprising 6,200 residential, 444 commercial and industrial, and 519 exempt properties. The scope includes data collection, listing, coding, field review, analysis, and certification of values in compliance with Massachusetts Department of Revenue requirements. The contractor must employ the Vision Appraisal CAMA software system currently licensed by the City and manage software conversion, residential and commercial valuation analysis, field review, software upgrades, certification, and project finalization. Qualified staff must meet Commissioner of Revenue standards. The contractor must also provide defense of values services at the Appellate Tax Board.

The valuation date is January 1, 2027, with project performance extending from February 15, 2027 through October 29, 2027. The contract term extends until certification and acceptance by the City Assessor and shall not exceed three years without express written consent. Pricing must be itemized by category—planning and organization, CAMA conversion, residential analysis and valuation, commercial and industrial analysis and valuation, field review, software upgrades, certification, and project finalization—plus per-parcel costs for improved residential, improved commercial and industrial, exempt properties, and vacant land.

A performance bond equal to the full contract amount is required. Comprehensive general and public liability insurance must maintain minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 umbrella coverage. Monthly payments are made based on work completion and Assessor approval, with 90 percent paid upon satisfactory completion and 10 percent retained until final project completion. A $200-per-day penalty applies for failure to meet agreed-upon completion dates. Evaluation criteria include contractor experience and references, project scope understanding, Vision software conversion experience, financial stability, training provisions, and Appellate Tax Board defense capabilities. Award favors the lowest-priced proposal from a contractor meeting minimum criteria and providing the highest performance level.