Professional Design Services Related to City Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan

The City of Waxahachie, Texas is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for professional planning and design services to develop an updated Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan. The procurement seeks a qualified consulting firm to create a strategic, actionable, and comprehensive master plan that reflects community priorities and positions Waxahachie as a premier destination for residents and visitors. Qualified respondents must demonstrate a minimum of five years' experience developing Parks and Open Space Master Plans with proven success in grant programs. Deliverables include a 25-page maximum Statement of Qualifications containing available resources, project team organizational chart with qualifications, methodology and approach, proposed timeline, and three work samples from recent projects. The evaluation will be conducted on a 100-point scale based on firm qualifications (25 points), team experience and project success (25 points), available resources (15 points), project approach (25 points), and technical innovation (11 points). Key deadlines include questions due by May 18, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and Statements of Qualifications due by May 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., with submission opening scheduled for May 22, 2026 at 10:15 a.m. via online Teams meeting. Electronic submissions are preferred through the OpenGov Procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waxahachie-tx, though paper submissions are accepted at the City Secretary's office. The anticipated project timeline is 9 to 12 months, with milestones to be developed during final contract negotiations.

The RFQ does not identify any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed in the procurement documentation. The City will utilize a two-step selection process, with up to four firms shortlisted for interviews, followed by contract negotiations with the highest-ranked firm. The selected consultant must provide commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, business auto liability of $1,000,000, and workers' compensation coverage. All work must comply with Texas laws and City policies, and the consultant will be required to submit Form 1295 to the State of Texas prior to contract execution. The contract term shall commence upon City Council approval and execution, with the City retaining the right to extend or terminate with thirty days' written notice. No specific award value or budget range is provided in the RFQ documentation.