Animal Shelter Feasibility Study

The City of Pittsburgh's Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Animal Care & Control is seeking a consultant to conduct a comprehensive Animal Shelter Feasibility Study through RFP #2024-RFP-187. The primary objective is to examine and present viable options for building and operating a new City-owned animal shelter, with specific focus on analyzing current animal sheltering services and exploring alternatives for delivering care at local and regional levels. Potential solutions include utilizing existing facilities, partnering with Allegheny County facilities, or constructing a new shelter within Pittsburgh. The selected consultant must provide a detailed needs assessment that evaluates site and building requirements, management structures, and future sheltering needs, considering the current annual animal handling volume of approximately 1,125 animals. The evaluation will be conducted using a point-based scoring system across five categories: firm qualifications (15 points), project team qualifications (15 points), project approach (30 points), cost proposal (30 points), and MWDBE/VOSB good faith effort (10 points). Proposals are due on July 10, 2024, at 3:00 pm, with the study expected to comprehensively address programming, conceptual planning, and design for animal shelter services including veterinary care, adoption centers, and animal control management.

The City of Pittsburgh has established specific goals for minority business participation, including 18% for minority-owned businesses, 7% for women-owned businesses, 5% for veteran-owned businesses, and 3% for LGBTQIA+ businesses. The procurement appears to be open to consulting firms with demonstrated experience in animal shelter programming, conceptual planning, and design, with a preference for organizations that have successfully completed similar projects. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the feasibility study suggests a significant scope of work that would require substantial expertise in animal shelter infrastructure, municipal service planning, and facility design. The RFP indicates a strong commitment to humane animal treatment and comprehensive service evaluation, seeking a consultant that can provide innovative and practical solutions for the city's animal care and control needs. The evaluation process emphasizes not just technical capabilities, but also the ability to develop a forward-looking approach to animal sheltering that meets the current and future needs of Pittsburgh's animal population.