Request for Qualifications Safe Streets for All - Planning & Demonstration

____________________ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Division of Planning
240 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
419.627.5891
www.cityofsandusky.com
Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Release date: July 30, 2026
Response due date: August 27, 2026
Project Title: SS4A Planning & Demonstration Project
Introduction
The City of Sandusky, nestled along the picturesque shores of Lake Erie, invites qualified firms to
participate in a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing the urban landscape and fostering a
vibrant, connected community.
Founded in 1818, Sandusky has the distinction of being the only city in the United States with a Masonic-
inspired street grid. The City's historic "Kilbourne Plat," named after the Masonic surveyor who
originally mapped the city, provides for an attractive city center with short blocks, triangle parks, and
scenic vistas down the diagonal thoroughfares. However, this grid also creates some challenges with
multiple confusing intersections that can pose safety issues for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
In the City's most recent strategic plan and comprehensive plan, creating a more connected city with
improvements to pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit infrastructure were identified as a priority for
the City. Since the adoption of those plans in 2016, the City has made progress on creating a more
walkable and bikeable city, specifically by completing signification portions of the Sandusky Bay
Pathway, implementing Safe Routes to School improvements, upgrading sidewalks throughout various
neighborhoods, and adding pedestrian signage to busy intersections. In 2025, the city adopted a Safe
Streets Action Plan and sought and received a Safe Streets Demonstration Grant to begin the
implementation of the Action Plan.
The City of Sandusky has many assets that position it well for growth into the future. Our historic
downtown, neighborhoods with attractive historic housing, and beautiful parks create an attractive
place to live. Our waterfront location and proximity to the Lake Erie Islands and the world-renowned
Cedar Point amusement park help attract more than 10 million visitors to our region every year.
Sandusky offers many of the amenities of larger urban areas but also offers the charm and pace of a
small town.
The results of this project will create a set of city-wide Complete Streets standards and implement
several demonstration projects to advance the goals of making our streets and neighborhoods safer for
our existing residents and visitors, and positioning the city to continue to attract new residents and
visitors who are looking for a walkable and well-connected community to enjoy.

Response Due Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 12:00pm
Communication Restrictions
Please note during the time period between advertisement and the announcement of final
consultant selection, communication with consultants (or their agents) shall be limited as
follows:
Communications which are strictly prohibited:
Any discussions or marketing activities related to this specific project.
Allowable communications include:
Technical or scope of services questions specific to the project or RFQ requirements.
Purpose
The City invites qualified professional design firms to submit qualifications from qualified engineering and
planning services in order to conduct the work necessary for the Project. Services will include
supplemental planning, design and bidding documents (i.e. bid form, specifications, estimate, plans),
grant administration, and (if authorized) construction administration support according to the Safe Streets
Supplemental Planning And Demonstration Grant Award Agreement. Federal Award No. 693JJ32640507.
The City received $600,000 from the U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) through the 2022 Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant program. The City will match
the federal funds with $150,000 of local funding for a total of $750,000 for this project. The fee available
for this supplemental planning and design phase is $365,000. The construction phase budget, expected to
be bid out as a next step after the planning and design project, is $385,000.

Project Scope
Qualification packages should develop a draft scope of services based on the following project
components as required by the grant agreement:
Task 1: Base Planning
A. Develop city-wide Complete Street standards for implementing traffic calming
B. Develop and conduct speed management education
C. Select locations for demonstration projects
D. Conduct community and stakeholder engagement as beneficial to completion of this task
E. Support staff in grant administration tasks such as quarterly reporting
Task 2: Final Design
A. Complete final design and bid documents for each demonstration measure
B. Develop submittal documents for NEPA review and any required permitting or ROW certification
for each demonstration measure
C. Conduct stakeholder engagement as necessary for completion of this task
D. Support staff in grant administration tasks such as quarterly reporting and NEPA review
communications
[If Authorized] Task 3: Construction
A. Complete RFIs and support construction administration
B. Support staff in grant administration tasks such as quarterly reporting
Invitation
The City will select a professional design firm based on the Statements of Qualifications as determined at
the City's discretion in accordance with the procedures of Sandusky Codified Ordinance 141. The City
anticipates authorizing the selected Professional Design Firm to proceed in the fall of 2026.
Required Qualifications: Firm must have prior experience with transportation safety measures for all
modes of transportation and traffic calming, with a high preference for those with experience
implementing a SS4A Demonstration Grant project. Proof of success in funding and construction
implementation of recommendations is strongly desired.
Final deliverables will be discussed during the Scope of Services negotiations with the selected firm.
Existing studies will be provided once a consultant has been selected. The selected firm must develop and
adhere to a schedule that will be mutually agreed upon during the negotiations.
Please include with the qualification packet (max. 16 pages):
* Cover letter indicating the lead firm, subconsultant team, and Project Manager
* Experience of firm and personnel assigned to this project that will uniquely qualify your firm to
complete this work, including resumes and proximate locations of key project team members
* List of firms' ODOT prequalification's (this is not an ODOT funded project)
* Description of the firm's overall understanding of the project and recommended scope of services
to accomplish the stated goals.
* A project management schedule showing all milestones and completion dates based on "Schedule
of Activities"
* Project staffing plan (max. 1 page)
* References (max. 1 page)

* Examples of firm's current or past planning and public engagement projects; funding and
construction implementation recommended (max. 8 pages)
* Do not send additional forms, resumes, brochures, or other material-qualification packets over
the 16-page limit.
* Cover letter and section divider pages (provided they are primarily color block and/or images) do
not count toward the page limit.
The City of Sandusky will form a Selection Committee comprised of city staff to review qualifications. The
Selection Committee will evaluate and select the most qualified consultant. Competitive price selection
will not be utilized under the selection process.
The following criteria will be used in the consultant selection process:
* Strength of project manager and strength/experience of key team members and proposed
subcontracted firms' key personnel
* Past performance and experience with projects of similar scope and size
* Specific experience with SS4A Demonstration Projects
* Project approach, which includes all listed items in the Scope of Work
* Project schedule, location of key staff, and familiarity with the community
Based on the qualifications submitted, the City of Sandusky may conduct interviews with firms that best
demonstrate an understanding of the City's objectives and that adequately address all elements of the
RFQ. Whether interviews are performed or not, the City shall enter into contract negotiations with the
preferred firm to determine the final scope of services and project budget. If negotiations fail, the City
shall enter into negotiations with the second highest ranked firm. This process shall continue until a
contract is successfully negotiated or the City determines to issue a second RFQ. The contract must be
approved by Sandusky City Commission.
All qualifications shall be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
citizenship, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran/reserve/national guard or any other similarly
protected status.
One original qualification packet and one electronic copy via email in PDF format shall be received by
Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 12:00 pm to:
Arin Blair, AICP
Chief Planner
240 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
If under 20MB, the requested electronic copy can be emailed to Melissa Vassallo
mvassallo@cityofsandusky.com Call (419) 627-5932 with questions. A OneDrive link can be accepted (or
set up by the city to be received) for file sizes exceeding the email limitations.

Evaluation Form
City of Sandusky
Safe Street Action Plan
Name of Firm:
__________________________________________________________________
Name of Evaluator:
__________________________________________________________________
Criteria Points Score
1 Strength of project manager and
strength/experience of key team
members and proposed 30
subcontracted firms key personnel
2 Past performance and experience
with projects of similar scope and 25
size.
3 Experience with SS4A
Demonstration Grant project(s) 15
and associated federal funding
requirements (NEPA, grant
reporting, etc)
4 Project approach, which includes
all listed items in the Scope of 15
Work
5 Project Schedule, Location of key
staff, Familiarity with the 15
community