Request for Proposals

COLLEGE PARK CITY-UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP STRATEGIC VISION PROJECT

The College Park City-University Partnership, Inc. (Partnership) is the nonprofit local community development corporation jointly supported by the City of College Park and the University of Maryland. The Partnership’s mission is to promote and support the economic welfare of College Park and the University of Maryland through activities including commercial revitalization, community development, and quality housing opportunities consistent with the interests of the City of College Park and the University of Maryland. The Partnership is governed by a ten-member Board appointed by the City Council of College Park and the president of the University of Maryland.

Project Overview

The Partnership is seeking assistance to design and execute a strategic vision project that consists of two interrelated processes.  First, updating the “University District Vision 2020” for the period 2020 to 2030. Completed in 2011 with extensive input for stakeholders, city residents, and university students, staff, and faculty, Vision 2020 established the joint vision and goals for the city and the university in five related areas: Housing & Development, Transportation, Public Safety, Education and Sustainability.  The second related process is to assist the Partnership in its mission, and establish its own vision and guiding principles based on, and integrated with the updated University District Vision as well as  outlining potential new areas for the organization’s focus and work over the next decade, as well as areas the organization may not need to focus on.

Specifically, the Partnership wishes to enlist the assistance of a consultant who can help support the two related processes by:

  • Reviewing and analyzing the major activities of the Partnership, and related activities of the City and the University, over the past decade to determine which should be continued, which should be modified, and which should be undertaken by others;
  • Reviewing, and working with the Partnership board and other stakeholders to draft an update to the principles of the Vision 2020 Statement to reflect the new realities of the next decade;
  • Measuring the success of the Partnership, the City and the University in building a strong coalition against a minimum of three similar university/city partnerships;
  • Assisting the Partnership to determine what additional information needs to be examined;
  • Assisting the Partnership to determine the best method of receiving input from stakeholders, city residents, and university students, staff and faculty;
  • Facilitating information gathering;
  • Analyzing and presenting information to Partnership Board and the stakeholders; and
  • Delivering a report of findings, draft 2030 Strategic Vision Plan, and final University District Vision 2030 in electronic format;
  • Working with the Partnership board to present the drafted update for approval to the City and University.

Preliminary Timeline

Proposals are due by 5 pm, September 27, 2019. We intend to select a consultant by early October work to begin by the end of October. We expect to have a preliminary draft of work items completed by the end of September 2020, with the final due by early December 2020.

Available Information

Bidders may obtain the following from Valerie Woodall, Senior Program Associate, at vwoodall@collegeparkpartnership.org or 845-649-2477:

  • Current Vision 2020 statement and implementation plan;
  • Annual Reports for the last 3 years;
  • An organizational chart;
  • Other documents as requested by you for preparation of a proposal

Proposal Specifications

Provide the following information, in the order below, in your proposal. We are particularly interested in consultants who have worked with other city/university partnerships.

  1. Provide a description of your organization, including staff size, number of professionals, and industries served.
  2. Describe two recent projects similar to the one described in this RFP.
  3. Identify the professionals that will lead this project and tell us about their experience with consulting work for similar organizations.
  4. Tell us whether you anticipate any problems meeting the deadlines identified in this request for proposals.
  5. Describe your firm’s philosophy and approach to assisting organizations similar to the Partnership.
  6. Describe the extent to which our organization’s personnel will be expected to contribute to the work effort.
  7. Describe any existing or potential relationships between your firm and our organization and any employee or officer of the organization that could affect your independence and objectivity because of an actual or perceived conflict of interest.
  8. Provide your proposed fee, including professional and reimbursable cost and the anticipated number of hours to be spent by professionals. Provide hourly fees for professionals.
  9. Provide any additional information that may assist us in making a decision in awarding this project.

Other Proposal Instructions

Bidders are expected to examine the specifications and all instructions contained in this Request for Proposals.  The proposal must be signed by a duly authorized representative of the Bidder.

Consideration may be given to such matters as contractor integrity, record of past performance, and financial and technical resources. Upon request, bidders must be willing to provide information concerning these matters.

For any additional questions or clarifications, please contact Valerie Woodall, Senior Program Associate, at (845) 649-2477 or vwoodall@collegeparkpartnership.org.

Proposal Deadline

The deadline for receipt of your proposal submission is 5:00 p.m., September 27, 2019. Documents should be emailed to Valerie Woodall at vwoodall@collegeparkpartnership.org. No proposals received after this time/date will be considered. All proposal submissions will be responded to once a decision has been made.