Building repurposing of 32 main street

The Town of Manchester, Connecticut, located in Hartford County, issued a Request for Proposal (RFP 25/26-52) on April 6, 2026, seeking qualified businesses, organizations, and individuals to purchase and repurpose a historic 0.18-acre Town-owned building located at 32 Main Street in Manchester's North End. The property, previously used as a fire station for the 8th Utilities District, is zoned Industrial and situated in a mixed-use area near residential neighborhoods and a major state road. Qualified respondents must submit comprehensive proposals including firm descriptions, five years of related project experience, organizational staffing and resumes, detailed project approaches and timelines, litigation and arbitration history, insurance compliance confirmations, and a separate cost proposal. Key objectives include increasing employment and tax revenue, preserving the historic structure, maintaining neighborhood compatibility, and avoiding heavy industrial or nuisance uses, with proposals demonstrating historic character preservation and neighborhood enhancement viewed favorably. The RFP evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Proposed Purchase Price, Structure and Requested Assistance (40 points), Financial Capabilities and Financing Plan (40 points), and Fit of the Organization and Proposed Activities within the neighborhood (20 points). Respondents must demonstrate financial capability through audited financial statements, project proformas, and comprehensive financing plans, and must disclose the proposed purchase price, capital improvement plans, and any requested municipal assistance or incentives. Critical deadlines include a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting and building site visit on April 14, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., a question submission deadline of April 27, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., and a proposal submission deadline of May 4, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. through the Town's OpenGov procurement portal.

Respondents are not restricted by disadvantaged enterprise set-asides; however, all contractors awarded contracts exceeding $25,000 in any fiscal year are subject to the Town's Living Wage Ordinance requiring payment of $17.78 per hour with comprehensive health benefits or $26.07 per hour without health benefits to eligible full-time employees. The RFP does not identify incumbent vendors or current contractors, as this is a new procurement for a Town-owned property sale. All proposals must include a completed IRS Form W-9 and living wage certification, and contractors must provide proof of required insurance coverage including Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), Workers' Compensation, Automobile Liability ($1,000,000), and name the Town as Additional Insured on a primary and non-contributory basis with coverage extended three years following project completion. Exemptions from living wage requirements are available for employers with fewer than twenty-five eligible employees, annual contract values less than $25,000, or charitable foundations, trusts, nonprofit agencies, or nonprofit corporations exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code. The RFP does not specify an explicit award value or budget range; rather, proposals will be evaluated based on the proposed purchase price submitted by respondents and their demonstrated financial capability to execute the repurposing project. The Town-selected evaluation committee will review submissions and may conduct interviews with shortlisted respondents before making a final recommendation to the Board of Directors.