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Request For Proposals for Architectural Engineering Services

Jul 27th, 2011

Date: July 29, 2011

The City of Mobile (“City”) is seeking competitive proposals from qualified design professionals to provide standard architectural and engineering related services for its public improvements and property rehabilitation projects associated with federal grant funds, including, but not limited to Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships funding.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction
II. Scope of Work
III. Required Professional Qualifications
IV. Format for Responses
V. Submittal of Proposals
VI. Selection Criteria and Schedule
VII. Other Conditions
VIII. Disclosures
IX. Reservation of Rights

I. Introduction

The City requires the services of a qualified architect to assist the City in the design and construction of various City park and community services related projects (hereinafter, “the Projects”) funded with federal dollars.

The contract will begin immediately after selection. Preference will be given to a qualified firm that can start promptly, devote sufficient time to these Projects, and expedite successful and timely completion of the Projects.

II. Scope of Work

The architect will be providing design services for the following federally-funded public improvements and rehabilitation of municipal facilities:

Baumhauer Randle Park – miscellaneous park improvements
Theodore Annex Park – concession stand/restroom structure, entrance drive/parking, facility and other park improvements
Woodcock School – renovation of cafeteria/kitchen and central wing the existing building
Other projects as required

Each of the proposed improvements listed above will be treated as a separate and distinct project for design and construction purposes. It is anticipated that a separate Owner-Architect and Owner-Contractor Agreement will be issued for each project. Architectural fees will be negotiated on a fixed fee or hourly billing rate basis for each project.

III. Required Professional Qualifications

Firms interested in performing the work will be considered on the basis of a written response to the Request for Proposals. All applicants must submit their qualifications and responses to the following:

1. Statement of registration of the firm.
2. Statement of the names and duties of the individuals that will be involved in this project.
3. Statement of experience in the fields that the proposed services are requested and work of a similar nature which the proposed staff for requested services was in responsible charge. Proposed staff names and experience are to be provided.
4. Statement of experience within the local jurisdiction and knowledge of local standards and codes.
5. Statement of availability and adequacy, in both number and quality of remaining staff, to perform all other functions needed for the proposed services.
6. List of qualified personnel in other disciplines required for proposed services, both in-house and those to be acquired from outside sources.
7. List prior experience with Federal and State programs, especially CBDG projects

IV. Format for Responses

Your response must include:

 a cover letter (including dates of availability and a schedule of fees);
 resumes of key personnel along with a brief description of responsibilities, accomplishments, and dates of service;
 a statement of qualifications as outlined in Section III;
 a list of three (3) prior projects and three references with address and phone numbers.
 a list of hourly billing rates for all personnel (Architect and Consultants) that will be employed on the project.
 information on your firm and your consultants concerning disadvantaged and minority business participation.

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.

V. Submittal of Proposals

Questions concerning this Request for Proposals should be directed to Brad Christensen at 251-208-7454 or brad.christensen@cityofmobile.org. Responses will be received until 3:00 pm CDT on Friday, August 5, 2011. Please submit one original Proposal and two copies to:

City of Mobile
Architectural Engineering Department
205 Government Street, Suite S-554
(P. O. Box 1827)
Mobile, Alabama 36633
Attn: Brad Christensen

VI. Selection Criteria and Schedule

The City will evaluate each proposal, based on the following criteria:

 The Consultant’s qualifications and successful experience commensurate with the Scope of Work outlined in Section II;
 The Consultant’s ability to meet the requirements outlined in Section III;
 The Consultant’s response to the requirements outlined in Section IV;
 Any demonstrated familiarity with HUD/CDBG projects;
 Availability and ability to commit to successful and expeditious completion of the Projects.
 Disadvantaged and Minority Business Enterprise Participation:

Proposals will be reviewed as they are received. Interviews will be conducted between August 8 and August 10, 2011. The Mayor or his designees shall make the final selection.

The following schedule applies:
Publication of Request for Proposals: July 29, 2011
Deadline for receipt of responses to RFP: August 5, 2011

VII. Other Conditions
The firm or individual practitioner must:
1. Have current City of Mobile Business License.
2. Have an established local business office. This office shall be open and staffed for business during normal business hours Monday through Friday. Telephone and fax communication shall be available at all times.
3. The licensed professional must be accessible by telephone and available for consultation between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
4. Must furnish proof of Insurance as follows:
1) Automobile Liability Insurance each in the minimum amount of:
Bodily Injury - $250,000 each person / $500,000 each occurrence, and
Property Damage - $100,000 each occurrence, or
Combined single limit - $500,000
2) General Liability Insurance each in the minimum amount of:
Bodily Injury - $250,000 each person / $500,000 each occurrence, and
Property Damage - $100,000 per occurrence, or
Combined single limit - $500,000
3) Workmen’s Compensation Insurance: Statutory-Amount and coverage required by the State of Alabama
4) Professional Liability Insurance in the amounts of: $100,000 for Projects from $250,000 to $1,000,000 and $1,000,000 for Projects over $1,000,000.
5. Provide a construction cost estimate and schedule for each project.

VIII. 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 therefore.

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.

IV. 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.

This Request for Proposals is available in its entirety on the City of Mobile’s website at www.cityofmobile.org, and at the Department of Architectural Engineering, Government Plaza – South Tower, 5th Floor, Suite S-554, 205 Government St.

END