City of Mobile Seeks Consultation Services for its CDBG Property Rehabilitation Grant/Loan Program

Apr 21st, 2011

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

PUBLIC NOTICE
Date: April 18, 2011

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: May 6, 2011, 5 P.M.

The City of Mobile ("City") is seeking competitive proposals from qualified persons to provide consultation services for its CDBG Property Rehabilitation Grant / Loan Program.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE for this Project. The consultant must be available immediately after selection is made.

Responders are encouraged to submit responses in P.D.F. format to the following email address: coumanis@cityofmobile.org. Responses will be received until 5:00 p.m.C.D.T., Friday, May 6, 2011. If regular mail is used, proposals should be addressed to:

Keri Coumanis
c/ o Department of Community Planning and Development
City of Mobile
P. O. Box 1827
Mobile, Alabama 36633
(251) 208-7285

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction
II. Scope of Work
III. Required Professional Qualifications
IV. References
V. Format for Responses
VI. Selection Criteria and Schedule
VII. Disclosures
VIII. Reservation of Rights

I. Introduction
The City requires the services of a qualified construction-industry related professional to assist the City with starting up and managing its Property Rehabilitation Grant and Loan programs. These programs will be funded with federal dollars.

The contract will begin immediately after selection. Preference will be given to a qualified individual who can start promptly, devote sufficient time to this Program, and expedite successful completion of the rehabilitation projects.

The consultant will be hired as an independent contractor, not a City employee.

II. Scope of Work
The consultant will be providing technical assistance including, but not limited to, preparing scopes of work, bid solicitations and cost estimates, for federally-funded homeowner's and small business property rehabilitation grants and loans. Project management and oversight of the rehabilitation projects will be required.
Budgets for specific projects will most likely not exceed $25,000.

Specific duties include:

-Accept and evaluate applications from homeowners and small businesses in designated community development areas seeking to apply for a property rehabilitation loan or grant;
-Estimate and prepare costs estimate (material and labor) for the rehabilitation of residential and nonresidential structures utilizing federal funding;
-Coordinate with City staff, as necessary, to facilitate the completion of the projects;
-Prepare specifications for the rehabilitation work required at the project site;
-Review plans and specifications with appropriate City departments;
-Attend pre-construction meetings with the contractor and the homeowner or business owner;
-Evaluate estimates for their responsiveness to the specifications;
-Provide technical assistance to homeowners and property owners during all phases of construction;
-Inspect each project during the rehabilitation period from start to final acceptance by the Owner;
-Confer with contractors and building inspectors as to methods of construction and materials applications;
-Monitor compliance with specifications and codes;
-Make final inspections and approve payment of invoices to contractors;
-Document, in full detail, each project, compile data and prepares written and oral reports;
-Perform related work as required.

III. Required Professional Qualifications
Consultant must have prior experience working as a building inspector, property inspector, general contractor, homebuilder, project manager, or estimator. The consultant must have demonstrated the following qualifications:

-knowledge of the techniques and methods of computing cost estimates and preparing material specifications in the construction field;
-considerable knowledge of local building and zoning codes;
-skill in preparing specifications, reading blueprints and computing material and labor costs;
-ability to maintain records and prepare complex written and oral reports;
-ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with property owners, City employees and the general public.

Minimum Qualification Requirements
-Completion of two years of college level coursework from a recognized community college, technical college or university and a minimum of three years experience as a general contractor, homebuilder, or materials estimator;
-Or, a level of experience equivalent to these requirements.

Special Requirement
-Possession of a valid Alabama driver's license;
-Applicants must be able to pass a drug test and random testing thereafter.

IV. Sample Work and References
Consultants shall provide a list of five rehabilitation projects completed within the last five years (or most recent years) in which you have played a significant role. This list shall include the location of the project, a general scope of work undertaken at the site, and the consultant's role in achieving substantial completion.

Consultants shall provide the contact information for three (3) references, including contact information with an address and phone number.

V. Format for Responses
Your response should be sent in P.D.F. format, and must include:
-a cover letter (including dates of availability and a schedule of fees);
-resume, including a list of prior employers, job responsibilities and a brief description of responsibilities, accomplishments, and dates of services.
-a statement detailing how you have the experience to undertake the work outlined in Section II;
-a list of five prior projects and three references with address and phone numbers as required by Section IV.

If your response cannot be mailed electronically, it may be sent to the address on page 1 of this RFP.

If the response is sent by a firm, partnership or any organization other than an individual, provide the requested information for all individuals who will perform the work.

VI. Selection Criteria and Schedule
The City will evaluate each proposal, based on the following criteria:
-The Consultant's qualifications and successful experience with property rehabilitation projects.
-The Consultant's familiarity with and knowledge of applicable building codes.
-Availability and ability to commit to successful and expeditious completion of the project.

Proposals will be reviewed as they are received. Interviews will conducted by the Mayor of the City of Mobile or his designees between April 15 and May 15, 2011. The Mayor shall make the final selection.

The following schedule applies:

Publication of Request for Proposals: April 18, 2011
Deadline for receipt of responses to RFP: May 6, 2011

VII. Disclosures
The City shall have no financial interest in the business of and shall not be liable for any debts or obligations incurred by the Consultant nor shall City be deemed or construed to be a partner, joint venturer or otherwise interested in the assets of the Consultant, or in the sums earned or derived by Consultant, nor shall the Consultant at any time or times use the name or credit of City in purchasing or attempting to purchase any car, equipment, supplies or other thing or things whatsoever.

Consultant, in the performance of its operations and obligations hereunder, shall not be deemed to be an agent of City but shall be deemed to be an Independent Contractor in every respect and shall take all steps at its own expense, as City may from time to time request, to indicate that it is an independent Contractor. City does not and will not assume any responsibility for the means by which or the manner in which the services by Consultant are performed, but on the contrary, Consultant shall be wholly responsible therefor.

Consultant shall acknowledge that its identity and peculiar capacity to provide the services described hereinabove shall constitute a material consideration for the City's execution of a contract with Consultant. Therefore, Consultant shall not transfer or assign an awarded contract or any of the rights or privileges granted therein without the prior written consent of City; which such consent shall be granted or denied solely at City's discretion.

If selected, Consultant shall agree to comply strictly with all ordinances of the City of Mobile, Alabama, and the laws of the State of Alabama and of the United States while performing its obligations

Consultant agrees that, if selected, it will comply with Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which provides that no person will be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, color, national origin or disability, in connection with federally funded programs.

VIII. Reservation of Rights
The City reserves the right to:
-Amend, modify, or withdraw this RFP
-Revise any requirements under this RFP
-Accept any proposal deemed to be in the best interests of the City, and to reject any and all proposals.
-Require supplemental or clarifying information from any responding party, without having been deemed to have changed the terms of the RFP
-Extend the deadline for submissions of responses
-Negotiate or hold discussions with any Consultant to supplement responses

Additionally:
-The City may exercise all rights at any time without notice and without liability for expenses incurred in responding to any changes in the RFP. Responses are prepared at the sole cost and expense of the Consultant.
-Nothing stated at any time by any City agent or representative will effect a change or addition to the RFP, unless confirmed in writing by the City.
-All information submitted in response to this RFP shall become the property of the City, and as such, may be subject to public review as public records.
-Consultants acknowledge and agree that the City will not be liable for any costs, expenses, losses, damages (including damages for loss of anticipated profit) or liability incurred by the Consultant as a result of, or arising out of, responding to this RFP.
-The City shall release all public information concerning this RFP and selection process, including selection announcements and contract awards. Anyone desiring to release information to the public shall receive prior written approval from an authorized agent of the City.
-The City shall take all necessary and affirmative steps to assure that minority firms and women's business enterprises compete.
-Consultants shall not collude in any manner or engage in any practices with any other Consultant which may restrict or eliminate competition or otherwise restrain trade. Violation of this instruction will cause the City to reject the Consultant's submittal.
-This proposal uses the gender-neutral words "it" and "its" in place of "he" and "she" and "his" and "her, etc., merely for the sake of brevity or to include the possibility that a consulting firm might submit a proposal.