RFP No. 234138 Community Services Department Fee Study

The City of Salem, Oregon, through its Contracts and Procurement Division, has issued Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 234138 for a comprehensive Community Services Department Fee Study. The primary objective of this procurement is to conduct a detailed analysis of the department's current fee structure, with the goal of decreasing reliance on general fund revenue support. The scope of work includes a thorough review of existing fees compared to similar jurisdictions, an assessment of market limitations for fee changes, and an evaluation of potential rate adjustment methodologies. Key deliverables will include an analysis of advantages and disadvantages of rate changes, a recommendation for implementing a non-city resident differential fee, and a proposed cost-recovery and fee structure plan. Proposers will be evaluated based on their organization structure and approach, staff qualifications, fee proposal, and references, with the cost proposal accounting for 30 out of 100 possible points. The RFP was posted on May 28, 2024, with proposals due by June 21, 2024, at 4:00 PM local time, to be submitted electronically via Equity Hub's Bid Locker. The City reserves the right to award the contract based on initial proposals or to conduct interviews with potential vendors.

The RFP does not specify any explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The successful proposer will be required to complete a Personal Services Agreement and must comply with Oregon's pay equity laws. While no incumbent vendor is directly mentioned, the Notice of Intent to Award indicates that Matrix Consulting Group, Ltd. is the intended recipient of the contract, scheduled for award on July 17, 2024. No specific budget range or project value is explicitly stated in the available documents. The City has indicated flexibility regarding potential additional components, such as a willingness-to-pay survey, which could be considered as part of the contract. The project is expected to be completed by January 2025, suggesting a relatively short-term engagement. Proposers should be prepared to demonstrate expertise in municipal fee structures, cost recovery analysis, and comparative market research to be competitive in this procurement opportunity.