511/23022. TYC; Northern MI State Veterans' Cemetery

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, on behalf of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, is procuring professional services for a feasibility study to establish Michigan's first operational state veterans' cemetery in Crawford County's northern lower Michigan region. The project requires a qualified consultant team to conduct comprehensive program validation, requirements definition, and a pro forma study for a proposed 100-acre cemetery anticipated to support 500 annual first interments with capacity for 5,000 burial sites in Phase I development across three burial types: in-ground double-depth lawn crypts (52%), in-ground sites for cremated remains (17%), and columbarium niches (32%). Key project deliverables include a formal written Program Validation and Needs Requirements Study with supporting graphics submitted at 25%, 90% prefinal, and final stages, and a Cemetery Development and Operations Pro Forma submitted at 50%, 90% prefinal, and final stages with Class 5 cost estimates covering land acquisition, construction, facilities, staffing (4-6 full-time personnel), utilities, maintenance, and annual operational projections. The scope encompasses confirming veteran population data, validating site suitability of primary and alternative Crawford County locations, describing organizational structure and operational logistics, identifying pre-planning requirements and permits, developing project timelines reflecting the National Cemetery Administration's six-step process over 3-4 years with initial interments in year four, and examining alternative project delivery methods and sustainability concepts incorporating solar and wind energy systems. Required qualifications include demonstrated expertise in site due diligence studies, project estimating and controls, outdoor facility development and operation (cemeteries, golf courses, parks), project financial analyses, sustainable facility development, and environmental compliance, with key team members including a Project Manager, Planner/GIS Specialist, Financial Analyst, Cost Analyst/Estimator, and Subject Matter Experts. The mandatory pre-proposal meeting was conducted via Microsoft Teams on January 30, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. EST with written questions due by February 3, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. EST, and proposals were due February 9, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. EST through the State of Michigan Procurement website (SIGMA VSS), with contract award recommendations expected within thirty days following the proposal due date. Evaluation criteria weighted technical qualifications at 80 percent and cost proposals at 20 percent, with compensation structured on a not-to-exceed, billable-rate basis for professional services ranging from $35.00 to $100.00 per hour in 2023 with annual increases through 2026, plus reimbursable expenses for travel beyond 100 miles one-way and items such as soil borings, surveys, and laboratory testing.

Prospective respondents must submit a signed Certification of Michigan Based Business and a Responsibility Certification form to be considered eligible for award; the documents do not specify any disadvantaged enterprise set-asides, minority-owned business enterprise designations, women-owned business enterprise restrictions, or other targeted business classifications. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents, and no existing infrastructure or integrated technology systems are referenced as requiring compatibility. Sub-consultant services are permitted with markup not exceeding 5%, and reimbursable expenses may include a markup not exceeding 5% for services not performed in-house; the prime professional firm is required to hold a valid Michigan license to practice pursuant to the Occupational Code. The procurement documents do not specify an overall budget range or maximum contract award value, though the desired completion date for the formal written report is the end of April 2023, and the insurance requirements mandate Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 each occurrence), Professional Liability/Errors and Omissions ($1,000,000 each occurrence/$2,000,000 annual aggregate), and Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 per accident). The contract is governed by Michigan law and includes provisions for termination, indemnification, nondiscrimination compliance, and claims resolution through the DTMB Director with appeal rights to the Michigan Court of Claims; all work must comply with applicable federal regulations administered by EPA, OSHA, and DOT, as well as state regulations under DCH, EGLE, DNR, and MIOSHA.