Design Doc2402442542 QBS Ellington Feasibility Studies

The Portland Housing Bureau is soliciting proposals via Qualifications-Based Selection for a campus-scale energy and water conservation feasibility study of the Ellington Apartments, a 267-unit affordable housing property in Portland, Oregon, with proposals due November 13, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. and a non-mandatory pre-submittal meeting on October 13 at 1:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams.

The scope requires a comprehensive feasibility analysis investigating campus-scaled sustainability features—energy and water reduction measures, life-cycle cost analysis, and payback periods—that address redevelopment goals while maintaining long-term housing affordability. Deliverables include baseline development, technical feasibility assessment, a draft report in Week 24, and a final integrated report with executive summary, methodology, feasibility findings, cost estimates, and campus-scale recommendations, all due in Week 32 of a six-month contract term beginning February 2027. The critical constraint is that sustainability strategies must be evaluated not only for environmental performance but also for their ability to reduce long-term utility, operations, and maintenance costs without creating capital or operating burdens that could undermine continued affordability—a decision-flipping scope qualifier that filters proposers' understanding of affordable-housing economics.

The project is funded through HUD Community Project Funding. Evaluation uses Qualifications-Based Selection with written proposals scored on six criteria: Project Team (28 points), Proposer Capabilities (20 points), Project Approach (28 points), and Corporate Responsibility (24 points), for a maximum 100 points at Evaluation Level #1; oral interviews may follow at Evaluation Level #2. The City will request cost information separately from the highest-scoring proposer after issuing a Notice of Intent to Negotiate and Award; failure to provide costs within seven days may result in termination of negotiations. Proposers must obtain a City of Portland Tax Registration Number and maintain Commercial General Liability ($2 million minimum), Automobile Liability ($2 million), and Professional Liability ($1 million) coverage. Compensation is hourly billing with a not-to-exceed amount per contract rates in Exhibit C; the City expects demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, local contracting preferences, subconsultant participation opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, and sustainable practices aligned with Portland's sustainability principles.