Brownfield Redevelopment

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The Town of Redding, CT seeks submissions from qualified planning consultants to support the revitalization and redevelopment of the Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill brownfield site and the surrounding Georgetown village area of Redding. Funding will be provided through a 2024 DECD BAR planning grant. The Town expects the project to be completed within the two-year BAR Grant program timeframe and a budget of $220,000.

INQUIRIES:

General questions concerning this request and submission requirements may be directed to Ginger Fiore, Executive Assistant to the First Selectperson via email to: gfiore@townofreddingct.org. All questions must be submitted no later than November 27, 2024, and questions received after that time will not be answered. To ensure consistent interpretation of certain items, answers to questions will be made available to all submitters via the Town of Redding Website by December 2, 2024. Additionally, after submissions are received, the Town reserves the right to communicate with any or all submitters to clarify the provisions of this request and the qualifications of the submitters. The Town further reserves the right to request additional information at any time after the submissions are presented.

PROJECT BACKGROUND and GENERAL OUTLOOK:

Due to 2,000 word limit - see Town of Redding, CT website for complete RFQ: https://townofreddingct.org/rfps/

PROJECT GOALS:

Due to 2,000 word limit - see Town of Redding, CT website for complete RFQ: https://townofreddingct.org/rfps/

REFERENCES:

Additional information about the G&B site:

(Note – prior master plan for the wire mill site by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company can be found under "Land Use History: Zoning" at this link)

https://townofreddingct.org/about-redding/boards-commissions/board-of-selectmen/gilbert-bennett-wire-mill/

The Redding Town Plan of Conservation and Development:

https://townofreddingct.org//about-redding/boards-commissions/planning-commission/

Town of Redding Zoning Regulations:

https://townofreddingct.org/about-redding/boards-commissions/zoning-commission/

I. SCOPE OF SERVICES:

The planning process will engage community stakeholders, integrate public input, and reflect Redding's commitment to environmental stewardship, historic preservation, and economic development.

The selected consultant will be responsible for the following tasks and deliverables:

Task 1: Documentation and assessment of current conditions

Goal: Understand the physical characteristics, strengths and constraints, and community goals for the wire mill site and neighborhood.

Activities will include a review of prior reports, POCD and Zoning regulations, physical conditions including flood plains, vehicle, and pedestrian circulation, building typology, views and open space, and preparation of an assembly of relevant precedents and best practices for discussion. Public outreach during this task will involve a project kick-off to introduce the project team and mission, focused meetings with key stakeholders to understand goals for the area, and presentations of development concepts to obtain community feedback and input.

Task 1 Deliverables:

A Site Analysis and Inventory Report that documents the existing conditions, opportunities, and constraints of the brownfield site and its surrounding areas.

Task 2: Engagement and Visioning

Goal: Develop revitalization scenarios for community feedback and input.

The consultant will work with the town to develop a series of activities intended to engage the community in envisioning the future of Georgetown. Activities may include a) engaging with residents and business owners to understand how they hope redevelopment will improve their lives and businesses; b) interim steps to open up portions of the wire mill site and Main Street area to public and community activity, to allow the community to “own” the area as a part of their community and to keep them engaged in the planning outcome; and c) engaging in a dialog with visitors, potential development partners, etc. about what they would like to see for the area.

Task 2 Deliverables:

• A Community Engagement Report that summarizes the methods, results, and findings of the public and stakeholder outreach and participation activities.
• An Economic Planning Report that presents data on the preferred plan related to feasibility, market conditions, and impact on the town's tax base.

Task 3: Technical Planning

Goal: Develop a revitalization plan to be implemented in phases

Activities include preparing a multi-step implementation strategy for the BAR Planning Area based on preferred scenario(s) identified during the visioning phase of the planning process. The plan will be focused upon ideas that can be implemented over time by both the public and private sectors.

The plan will identify opportunities for public funding, tax incentives, partnerships, and other investments to support redevelopment. The resulting plan will include an evaluation of infrastructure capacity and conditions and zoning regulations with recommendations for improvements, code changes, and architectural standards for review and adoption by Town Boards and Commissions.

Task 3 Deliverables:

• A Physical Planning Report that presents and compares alternative uses and concepts within the Planning Area, with the evaluation criteria and methodology used to select the preferred revitalization activities.
• A draft and final Revitalization Plan document that describes the vision, goals, and recommendations for the land use, design, transportation, infrastructure, open space, and sustainability of the Planning Area.
• An Implementation Plan that details the phasing, funding, architectural standards, and regulatory actions required to realize the plan.

II. ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT OF SUBMISSION

Applicants should describe their approach, team, community engagement strategy, project plan, budget, similar projects, and resources required from the Town. Information in the submission must include:

1. Background and Capabilities: Describe the respondent's history, experience, and capability in providing the full range of services for similar types of projects.
2. Project Team: Identify key team members and team structure, project roles, and qualifications.
3. Joint Ventures: If the respondent is a joint venture, identify the firm that will serve as the principal and the team members and qualifications of all partners/subcontractors. Identify also any history of joint efforts undertaken by the members of the Joint Venture.
4. Project Approach: Explain your approach to the project, key issues to be resolved, recommended strategies, proposed services, and the level of detail that can be accomplished within the available budget.
5. Public Engagement Strategy: Provide a clear public engagement strategy that meets the objectives identified in the scope of services.
6. Work Program: Describe activities to be performed under each phase of the project with an anticipated labor effort by job class/role and task, program schedule, and deliverables.
7. Management Plan. Describe the respondent's management system and how it will function to ensure timely delivery of planning services.
8. References. Describe similar projects and outcomes that have been completed by members of the proposed project team. References should be from no less than three (3) recent recipients of the Respondent's services (within the past five years) and must include contact names, titles, addresses and telephone numbers to allow the Town to contact these references.
9. Provide a list of resources or assistance needed from the Town of Redding.

III. EVALUATION AND AWARD

Selection Process and Tentative Schedule

The anticipated RFQ/RFP schedule is as follows. The town reserves the right to modify this timeline following receipt of RFQ/RFP responses.

The town will review the responses, evaluate the submittals, and invite finalists for an interview. The town will evaluate and select each firm based on the submitted qualifications, experience, performance with similar engagements, references, ability to provide timely services, awareness of project issues, opportunities, and constraints.

The town will rank up to 5 top submitters and will seek to negotiate a contract for services at a recognized market rate starting with the top-ranked submitter. If this is not successful, the Town will proceed down the ranked submissions until a successful contract is achieved.

The selected firm must be able to meet all municipal, state, and federal affirmative action and equal employment opportunity practices and guidelines. The Town reserves the right to negotiate a scope of services and a fee submission with the successful firm. The RFQ/RFP due date and time is December 9, 2024, by 4:00 p.m. All submittals shall be transmitted to the Town via email to Ginger Fiore at gfiore@townofreddingct.org .

RFQ/RFP Published — November 6, 2024

Questions Due — November 27, 2024

Response to Questions Published on Town Website — December 2, 2024

RFQ/RFP Submittal Due Date and Time December 9, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

Interview Selected Consultants — December 2024/January 2025

Select Consultant — December 2024/January 2025

Commencement of Services — January 2025

Program Completion — January 2027