Nexus Studies Update RFP

Location:	California
Posted:	Mar 3, 2026
Due:	Apr 14, 2026
Agency:	City of Berkeley
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	70 - General Purpose Information Technology Equipment (including software).
Solicitation No:	26-11783-C
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Finance Department

General Services Division

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Specification No. 26-11783-C

FOR

NEXUS STUDIES UPDATE RFP

PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY

Dear Proposer:

The City of Berkeley is soliciting written proposals from qualified firms or individuals to provide updates to the

Nexus Studies which support five City of Berkeley Development Fees. As a Request for Proposal (RFP) this is not

an invitation to bid and although price is very important, other factors will be taken into consideration.

The project scope, content of proposal, and vendor selection process are summarized in the RFP (attached).

Proposals must be received no later than 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Proposals are to be sent via

email with the “Specification No 26-11783-C and Nexus Studies Update RFP” clearly indicated in the subject

line of the email. Please submit one (1) PDF of the technical Proposal with the filename saved as, “Proposal:

Vendor Name – 26-11783-C, Nexus Studies Update RFP.” Corresponding pricing proposal shall be submitted as

a separate document with the filename saved as, “Pricing: Vendor Name – 26-11783-C Nexus Studies Update

RFP.”

Email Proposals to:

City of Berkeley

Finance Department/General Services Division

Solicitations@berkeleyca.gov

Proposals will not be accepted after the date and time stated above. Incomplete proposal or proposals that do not

conform to the requirements specified herein will not be considered. Issuance of the RFP does not obligate the City

to award a contract, nor is the City liable for any costs incurred by the proposer in the preparation and submittal of

proposals for the subject work. The City retains the right to award all or parts of this contract to several bidders, to

not select any bidders, and/or to re-solicit proposals. The act of submitting a proposal is a declaration that the

proposer has read the RFP and understands all the requirements and conditions.

For questions concerning the anticipated work, or scope of the project, please contact Jim Bondi, Associate

Management Analyst, via email at JBondi@berkeleyca.gov no later than March 17, 2026. Answers to questions

will not be provided by telephone or email. Answers to all questions or any addenda will be posted on the City of

Berkeley’s site at Bid & Proposal Opportunities | City of Berkeley (berkeleyca.gov). It is the vendor’s responsibility

to check this site. For general questions concerning the submittal process, contact purchasing at 510-981-7320.

We look forward to receiving and reviewing your proposal.

Sincerely,

Henry Oyekanmi

Finance Director

2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: 510.981.7320 TDD: 510.981.6903

E-mail: purchasing@berkeleyca.org Website: cityofberkeley.info/finance/

City of Berkeley

Nexus Studies Update RFP

Specification No. 26-11783-C

Page 2 of 19

Release Date 03/03/2026

I. BACKGROUND/SUMMARY/or INTRODUCTION

The City of Berkeley imposes a few fees on real estate development projects to mitigate the impacts of increased

demand for affordable housing and childcare from commercial development, on streets and open space in the

Downtown area from all kinds of development, and to promote Public Art on private development throughout the

city. Since 2022, State law (AB 602) requires that jurisdictions update the nexus studies which justify the fees

imposed at least every eight years. This procurement seeks a consultant to update the Nexus studies for the

following five existing City development fees:

• Affordable Housing Impact Fee on Commercial Development projects

• Childcare Impact Fee on Commercial Development projects

• Public Art on Private Development requirement

• Downtown Area Streets and Open Space Improvement Projects (SOSIP) requirement

• Downtown Area Privately Owned Public Open Space (POPOS) requirement

The goal of this project is to provide updated studies which demonstrate the nexus between the developments and

their impact on the above-listed City services and goals, and to justify the appropriate rates for each fee. The

contract awarded under this solicitation will NOT analyze the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance in-lieu fee on

Residential Development projects, which has been updated separately.

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Tasks

The specific tasks may include the following:

• Background Research. Review nexus studies and other documentation that were prepared by or for the City

of Berkeley at the time each of the fees was created. Compile current information regarding existing fees,

prevailing economic factors, costs of the services each fee is meant to provide, and the nexus of impacts

from different development types on the needs for each service. Previous studies and ordinances and fee

resolutions to be reviewed include:

o Commercial project Affordable Housing and Child Care fees; studied circa 1988, adopted 1993,

and revised since then.

o Public Art on Private Development policy: adopted by Berkeley City Council June 28, 2016, and

revised since then.

o Downtown Area Plan (March 2012), Downtown Streets and Open Space Improvement Plan (Dec.

2012), and associated Nexus Study (City Council Jan 29, 2013)

• Compare Neighboring Jurisdictions. Compare these five fees in Berkeley to any similar fees in nearby

comparably sized municipalities, such as Oakland, Emeryville, and Albany, or larger cities like Fremont,

San Jose, or San Francisco.

• Nexus Study updates. Update the previous Nexus studies used in association with the five listed fees, to

reflect current economic conditions, the impacts of relevant development types on the conditions the fees

seek to mitigate, demonstrating the nexus between the need and the fee. Separate Nexus updates will be

required for each of the five fees, to provide sufficient justification and compliance with AB 602.

• Summary of Findings. (1) Prepare a memo that summarizes the overall findings, including conclusions as to

whether the five nexuses continue to be demonstrated. Include time for review and revision with staff. (2)

Prepare a final report that explains the methodology, findings and caveats/considerations regarding each of

the five fees, and a range of recommended fee rates which the studies support, for possible future City

Council action.

• Presentations. Upon request, be available to assist staff in presenting findings to the City Council.

Term

The project should be completed, with performances of all tasks and deliverables listed in the scope of this RFP,

within six months of contract execution.

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Nexus Studies Update RFP

Specification No. 26-11783-C

Page 3 of 19

Release Date 03/03/2026

Expected Deliverables

The intent of this contract is that the selected vendor delivers to the City all materials necessary to update the

justifications for each of the five fees sufficient to meet the requirements of AB 602, within six months of the

beginning of the contract term, unless extended by mutual agreement. The deliverables will include:

• Nexus Study updates: methodologically sound studies demonstrating the nexus between the needs which

each fee seeks to address, the impacts on those needs from each the development types subject to each fee,

and an analysis of the proper fee rates which are justified.

• Summary Memo: A short summary, no more than five pages, describing the work done to analyze the nexus

of each fee and the conclusions reached, including whether the nexus continues to exist, and what would be

a range of appropriate fee levels.

• Detailed Report: A full recounting of the work done to analyze each fee, including methodology used,

variables included, and conclusions reached. It is expected that City staff will use this report as the substance

for future staff report to the City Council seeking re-adoption or revision of each fee.

• Presentation materials: Power point slides for use in presenting findings to the City Council

• Presentation availability: At least one senior team member from the selected vendor shall make themselves

available to attend and assist in presenting findings to the City Council

III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All proposals shall include the following information, organized as separate sections of the proposal. The proposal

should be concise and to the point.

1. Contractor Identification:

Provide the name of the firm, the firm's principal place of business (see section VII, F. – Local Vendor

Preference), the name and telephone number of the contact person and company tax identification number.

2. Client References:

Provide a minimum of three (3) client references. References should be California cities or other large public

sector entities. Provide the designated person's name, title, organization, address, telephone number, and the

project(s) that were completed under that client’s direction.

3. Qualifications:

Describe your qualifications as they relate to the scope of services described above. Cite examples of similar

projects that have been completed by you or your firm. Include the names and qualifications of the individuals

that would be assigned to the project, and describe their roles.

4. Project Approach:

Describe how you will approach this project in pursuit of the goal stated above. Identify unique needs or

approaches that may be required for any of the five specific fees being studied. Explain the specific tasks you

will implement and specifically describe the deliveries you will make to the City of Berkeley. List any

challenges that you anticipate, and explain how you will overcome those challenges.

5. Price Proposal:

The proposal shall include pricing for all services. Pricing shall be all inclusive unless indicated otherwise.

Pricing proposals shall be a separate document. The Proposal shall itemize all services, including hourly rates

for all professional, technical and support personnel, and all other charges related to completion of the work

shall be itemized.

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Nexus Studies Update RFP

Specification No. 26-11783-C

Page 4 of 19

Release Date 03/03/2026

6. Contract Terminations:

If your organization has had a contract terminated in the last five (5) years, describe each such incident.

Termination for default is defined as notice to stop performance due to the vendor’s non-performance or poor

performance and the issue of performance was either (a) not litigated due to inaction on the part of the vendor,

or (b) litigated and such litigation determined that the vendor was in default.

Submit full details of the terms for default including the other party’s name, address, and phone number.

Present the vendor’s position on the matter. The City will evaluate the facts and may, at its sole discretion,

reject the proposal on the grounds of the past experience.

If the firm has not experienced any such termination for default or early termination in the past five (5) years,

so indicate.

IV. SELECTION CRITERIA

The following criteria will be considered, although not exclusively, in determining which firm is hired.

1. Qualifications (30%)

2. Description of Project Approach (30%)

3. References (10%)

4. Price Proposal (30%)

* Effective 1/1/2022. Local Vendor Preference. For the purposes of comparing pricing as part of this competitive

RFP for goods up to $100,000 or non-professional services up to $250,000, 5% shall be deducted from the bid price

proposal from any local Berkeley vendor.

A selection panel will be convened of City staff to evaluate proposals and select a vendor. At the City’s discretion, it

may make a vendor selection based entirely on the evaluation of written proposals, or may choose to conduct follow-

up interviews with finalists.

V. PAYMENT

Invoices: Invoices must be fully itemized, and provide sufficient information for approving payment and audit.

Invoices must be accompanied by receipt for services in order for payment to be processed. Email invoices to

Accounts Payable and cc: JBondi@berkeleyca.gov; (List on invoice, Attn: Jim Bondi/Planning Department) and

reference the contract number.

City of Berkeley

Accounts Payable

P.O. Box 700

Berkeley, CA 94710-700

Email: AccountsPayable@berkeleyca.gov

Phone: 510-981-7310

Payments: The City will make payment to the vendor within 30 days of receipt of a correct, approved and

complete invoice.

VI. CITY REQUIREMENTS

A. Non-Discrimination Requirements:

Ordinance No. 5876-N.S. codified in B.M.C. Chapter 13.26 states that, for contracts worth more than $3,000

bids for supplies or bids or proposals for services shall include a completed Workforce Composition Form.

Businesses with fewer than five employees are exempt from submitting this form. (See B.M.C. 13.26.030)

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Nexus Studies Update RFP

Specification No. 26-11783-C

Page 5 of 19

Release Date 03/03/2026

Under B.M.C. section 13.26.060, the City may require any bidder or vendor it believes may have discriminated

to submit a Non-Discrimination Program. The Contract Compliance Officer will make this determination. This

applies to all contracts and all consultants (contractors). Berkeley Municipal Code section 13.26.070 requires

that all contracts with the City contain a non-discrimination clause, in which the contractor agrees not to

discriminate and allows the City access to records necessary to monitor compliance. This section also applies to

all contracts and all consultants.

Bidders must submit the attached Non-Discrimination Disclosure Form with their proposal.

B. Nuclear Free Berkeley Disclosure Form:

Berkeley Municipal Code section 12.90.070 prohibits the City from granting contracts to companies that

knowingly engage in work for nuclear weapons. This contracting prohibition may be waived if the City

Council determines that no reasonable alternative exists to doing business with a company that engages in

nuclear weapons work. If your company engages in work for nuclear weapons, explain on the Disclosure Form

the nature of such work.

Bidders must submit the attached Nuclear Free Disclosure Form with their proposal.

C. Oppressive States:

The City of Berkeley prohibits granting of contracts to firms that knowingly provide personal services to

specified Countries. This contracting prohibition may be waived if the City Council determines that no

reasonable alternative exists to doing business with a company that is covered by City Council Resolution Nos.

59,853-N.S., 60,382-N.S., and 70,606-N.S. If your company or any subsidiary is covered, explain on the

Disclosure Form the nature of such work.

Bidders must submit the attached Oppressive States Disclosure Form with their proposal.

D. Sanctuary City Contracting Ordinance:

Chapter 13.105 of the Berkeley Municipal Code prohibits the City from granting and or retaining contracts with

any person or entity that provides Data Broker or Extreme Vetting services to the U.S. Immigration and

Customs Enforcement Division of the United States Department of Homeland Security (“ICE”).

Bidders must submit the attached Sanctuary City Compliance Statement with their proposal.

E. Conflict of Interest:

In the sole judgment of the City, any and all proposals are subject to disqualification on the basis of a conflict

of interest. The City may not contract with a vendor if the vendor or an employee, officer or director of the

proposer's firm, or any immediate family member of the preceding, has served as an elected official, employee,

board or commission member of the City who influences the making of the contract or has a direct or indirect

interest in the contract.

Furthermore, the City may not contract with any vendor whose income, investment, or real property interest

may be affected by the contract. The City, at its sole option, may disqualify any proposal on the basis of such a

conflict of interest.

Please identify any person associated with the firm that has a potential conflict of interest.

F. Berkeley Living Wage Ordinance:

Chapter 13.27 of the Berkeley Municipal Code requires that contractors offer all eligible employees with City

mandated minimum compensation during the term of any contract that may be awarded by the City. If the

Contractor is not currently subject to the Living Wage Ordinance, cumulative contracts with the City within a

one-year period may subject Contractor to the requirements under B.M.C. Chapter 13.27. A certification of

RFP Revised Nov2022

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Nexus Studies Update RFP

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See also