Development Study and Financial Model Update

Request for Proposals # 274-PLANDEV-Fee Study
Title: Development Study and Financial Model Update
Issue Date: 4/20/2026
Due Date: May 8th, 2026, no later than 5:00PM EST
*LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED*
Issuing Department: Planning and Development
Direct all inquiries concerning this RFP to:
Noah Wike
Fiscal Analyst
Email: Noah.Wike@Raleighnc.gov
(v.09/15/25)

Table of Contents
1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 2
1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................. 2
1.2 Background ........................................................................................ 2
1.3 RFP Timeline ..................................................................................... 3
1.4 Pre-Proposal Conference .................................................................. 3
1.5 Proposal Question ............................................................................. 3
1.6 Proposal Submission Requirements & Contact Information .............. 4
1.7 Business Engagement & Opportunities ............................................. 5
1.8 Rights to Submitted Material .............................................................. 5
1.9 Communications ................................................................................ 6
1.10 Lobbying ............................................................................................ 6
1.11 Conflicts of Interest ............................................................................ 6
1.12 Proposer Expenses ........................................................................... 7
1.13 Proposer Acceptance ........................................................................ 7
2. Proposals ................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Request for Proposals Required Document Format .......................... 8
2.2 RFP Documents .............................................................................. 10
3. Proposal Evaluation .............................................................................. 10
3.1 Proposal Evaluation Criteria (Stage 1) ............................................. 10
3.2 Interview/Demonstration (Stage 2) .................................................. 11
3.3 Final Selection ................................................................................. 11
3.4 Notice to Proposers Regarding RFP Terms & Conditions ............... 12
3.5 Contract Term......................................................................12
4. Scope of Services .................................................................................. 12
Appendix I - Proposal Cost Form ................................................................... 13
Appendix II - Proposer Questionnaire ........................................................... 14
Appendix III - Reference Questionnaire (Instructions) ................................. 15
Appendix III - Reference Questionnaire Form ............................................... 16
Appendix IV - Sample Contract ...................................................................... 18

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose
The City of Raleigh (COR) is solicitating proposals from one or more firm(s) with which
to contract for the following services:
Engage a consultant to review and enhance the existing model for Development Fee
revenues and expenses. The consultant will integrate historical data, optimize fee
structures, incorporate organizational restructuring, and improve methods for collecting
and analyzing volume data collection. The updated model will be implemented with the
Fiscal Year of 2028 and will support the objectives listed below:
* Incorporate Organizational Restructuring
* Enhancement of the Model for Historical Expenses
* Optimization of Volume Data Collection
* Update of the Fee Schedule / Integrating Fee Model with the Unified
Development Ordinance to include upcoming changes to Combined
Development Process
All information related to this solicitation, including any addenda, will be posted to the
North Carolina electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) at https://evp.nc.gov/.
All questions related to this solicitation must be submitted in writing (via email) to the
following individual - questions submitted via telephone will not be answered:
Contact Name Email Address
Noah Wike Noah.wike@raleighnc.gov
1.2 Background
The City of Raleigh, the Capital City of North Carolina, remains one of the fastest growing
areas in the country. A great economy, top educational institutions, and exceptional health
care facilities are some of the characteristics that attract people to the triangle area. The
mild climate, diverse work force and proximity to Research Triangle Park combine to make
Raleigh a great place to live.
Raleigh is a 21st Century City of Innovation focusing on environmental, cultural, and
economic sustainability. The City conserves and protects our environmental resources
through best practice and cutting-edge conservation and stewardship, land use,
infrastructure and building technologies. The City welcomes growth and diversity through
policies and programs that will protect and enhance Raleigh's existing neighborhoods,
natural amenities, history, and cultural and human resources for future generations. The
City leads to improving quality of life for neighborhoods and standard of living for all
citizens. The City works with universities, colleges, citizens, and local partners to promote
new technology, create new job opportunities, and encourage local businesses and
entrepreneurs. The City enlists and prepares 21st Century staff with the skill sets to carry
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out the duties of the City through transparent civic engagement and by providing the very
best customer service to our citizens.
The N.C. General Statutes provide local jurisdictions authority to employ administrators,
inspectors, enforcement officers, planners, technicians, and other staff to develop,
administer and enforce the City's development regulations, see N.C. Gen. Stat. 160A-
402(a), as well as inspectors for the administration and enforcement of Building Code
regulations, see N.C. Gen. Stat. 160D-1102. Among other things, the duties and
responsibilities of these employees include accepting and processing applications for
development approval and conducting inspections to determine if approved development
projects are built according to applicable State and Local laws, local ordinances and
regulations, and according to the terms of the development approval and/or building
permit. The City has the authority, in accordance with State law, to impose fees for the
administration and enforcement of the City's development regulations, and to fix
reasonable fees to support the various administrative functions related to these duties and
responsibilities, including fees for the review and processing of development applications
and inspection services by the City of Raleigh. See generally, N.C. Gen. Stat. 160D-
402(a) and (d). See also N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 160D, Article 11, for administration and
enforcement of the building code.
The City of Raleigh's Planning and Development Department is the primary source of
development inspection services. Other departments and divisions impacted by
development activity have separate inspections and fees, such as Raleigh Fire
Department; Transportation; Raleigh Water; Engineering Services (Stormwater Division);
Information Technology (Addressing Division); Solid Waste Services; and Parks,
Recreation, and Cultural Resources (Urban Forestry Division), are collectively referred to
as matrix departments.
Integrate historical expenses and revenues into the current model to provide insights on
past performance and align with North Carolina's statute NCGS 160D-1102 (c). The State
of North Carolina General Statute requires detailed financial data for the past fiscal year
on Building Safety Permit Inspections, including total revenue from permit fees and related
sources, a breakdown of expenditures (personnel, operations, training, equipment, etc.),
and the fund balance (revenues minus expenditures) to assess whether the program had
a surplus or deficit. Within the model it follows time in motion study, observation of the
volume of all the fees that handle along with understanding the expenditures of the
department uses for the Planning and Development.
North Carolina G.S. 160D-1102(c) Building Inspection Fees Annual Financial Report set
requirements that the expenses model be able to clearly demonstrate based on actual
expenses and actual revenue the annual surplus or deficit. Planning and Development
wants the model to help represent the data for transparency and include a structure that
helps identify and help optimize volume and data collection for their revenues. The
department has been currently working on updating the Unified Development Ordinance
and restructuring their system. To ensure efficiency the department will need to update
their system.
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Planning and Development (PlanDev) is undertaking a comprehensive restructuring in
FY27 to improve efficiency, predictability, and customer experience of development
related services. Beginning July 1, 2026, PlanDev will implement internal process
improvements and organizational changes focused on strengthening accountability,
clarifying process ownership, and meeting rising service demands driven by continued
citywide growth.
These restructures are designed to strengthen accountability in the development review
process, ensure consistency in customer service and project support, and improve
project delivery through the realignment of the Urban Projects Group.
The City's Development Fee Guide can be found at: Fee Guide
1.3 Request for Proposal (RFP) Timeline
Provided below is a list of the anticipated schedule of events related to this solicitation.
The City of Raleigh reserves the right to modify and/or adjust the following schedule to
meet the needs of the service. All times shown are Eastern Time (EST):
RFP Process Date and Time
RFP Date (04/20/2026)
Pre-Proposal Meeting/Site-Visit
N/A
(if required)
Deadline for Written Questions 04/27/2026
City Response to Questions
05/1/2026
(anticipated)
05/08/2026
Proposal Due Date and Time
at 5:00 PM
Evaluation Meeting
May 22th 2026
(anticipated)
Interviews
Not Required
(if required)
Selection Announced
(tentative) May 29th 2026
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1.4 Pre-Proposal Conference
If the City of Raleigh elects to conduct a Pre-Proposal Conference or Site Visit, attendance
by prospective proposers is strongly encouraged but is not mandatory. Prospective
Proposers are encouraged to submit written questions in advance. Date, time, and
location of pre-proposal conference is shown above in the RFP Timeline (Section 1.3).
1.5 Proposal Questions
Requests for clarification and questions to this RFP must be received by the City not later
than the date shown above in the RFP Timeline (Section 1.3) for the submittal of written
inquires. The firm's failure to request clarification and submit questions by the date in the
RFP Timeline above shall be considered to constitute the firm's acceptance of all City's
terms and conditions and requirements.
The City shall issue addenda reflecting questions and answers to this RFP, if any, and
shall be posted to North Carolina electronic Vendor Portal (eVP). No information,
instruction or advice provided orally or informally by any City personnel, whether made in
response to a question or otherwise in connection with this RFP, shall be considered
authoritative or binding. Proposers can only rely on written material contained in an
Addendum to this RFP.
It is important that all Proposers submitting to this RFP periodically check eVP for
any Addenda. It is the Proposers responsibility to ensure that all addenda have
been reviewed and, if required signed and returned.
All questions related to this solicitation must be submitted in writing (via email) to the
following individual - questions submitted via telephone will not be answered:
Contact Name Email Address
Noah Wike Noah.wike@raleighnc.gov
1.6 Proposal Submission Requirements and Contact Information
Proposals must follow the format as defined in Section 2 (PROPOSALS), and be
addressed and submitted as follows:
The preferred method is to submit proposals electronically as a viewable and printable
Adobe Portable Document File (PDF) by email. The PDF electronic version must be
received by the City on or before the RFP due date and time provided. Proposals
received after the RFP due date and time will not be considered.
DELIVERED BY EMAIL:
Noah.wike@raleighnc.gov
Subject: Development Study and Financial Model Update
Body: 274-PLANDEV-Fee Study RFP
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DELIVERED BY US POSTAL SERVICE Or OTHER
DELIVERY SERVICES:
City of Raleigh
ATTN: Noah Wike
One Exchange Plaza, 4th Floor
Raleigh, NC 27601
RFP No. 274-PLANDEV-Fee Study
Proposals not emailed must be enclosed in an envelope or package and clearly marked
with the name of the submitting company, the RFP number and the RFP Title.
Proposers must submit:
A. One (1) signed original;
B. One (1) electronic version of the signed proposal and;
C. Three (3) copies of the signed proposal not to exceed 25 pages excluding
appendices.
The electronic version of the Proposal must be submitted as a viewable and printable
Adobe Portable Document File (PDF) on a USB Flash Drive. Both hard copy and
electronic versions must be received by the City on or before the RFP due date and time
provided in RFP Timeline (Section 1.3). Proposals received after the RFP due date and
time will not be considered and will be returned unopened to the return address on the
submission envelope or package.
Proposers must respond to the entire Request for Proposals (RFP). Any
incomplete proposal may be eliminated from competition at the discretion of the
City of Raleigh. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals for any reason
and to waive any informality it deems in its best interest.
Proposals that arrive after the due date and time will not be accepted or considered for
any reason whatsoever. If the firm elects to mail in its response, the firm must allow
sufficient time to ensure the City's proper receipt of the package by the time specified in
the RFP Timeline (Section 1.3). Regardless of the delivery method, it is the responsibility
of the firm to ensure that their proposal arrives at the designated location specified in this
Section by the due date and time specified in the RFP Timeline (Section 1.3).
1.7 Business Engagement & Opportunities
The City of Raleigh maintains processes to conduct business with all business
enterprises, including small, emerging, growing, under-capitalized, and under-resourced
firms or organizations.
1.8 Rights to Submitted Material
All proposals and supporting materials, as well as correspondence relating to this RFP,
shall become the property of the City. The content of all submittals will be held confidential
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until the selection of the firm is made. Proposals will be reviewed by the Evaluation Team,
as well as other City staff and members of the general public who submit public record
requests. Any proprietary data must be clearly marked. In submitting a Proposal, each
Prospective Proposer agrees that the City may reveal any trade secret materials
contained in such response to all City staff and City officials involved in the selection
process and to any outside consultant or other third party who serves on the Evaluation
Team or who is hired by the City to assist in the selection process.
Proposals marked entirely as "confidential", "proprietary", or "trade secret" will be
considered non-responsive and will be removed from the evaluation process.
1.9 Communications
All communications of any nature regarding this RFP with any City staff, elected City
officials, evaluation committee members, are strictly forbidden from the time the
solicitation is publicly posted until award. Questions must be submitted in writing to the
individual designated in Section 1.1 (Purpose), prior to the deadline provided in the RFP
Timeline (Section 1.3). Violation of this provision may result in the firm's proposal being
removed from consideration.
1.10 Lobbying
By responding to this RFP, the firm certifies that is has not and will not pay any person or
firm to influence or attempt to influence an officer or employee of the City or the State of
North Carolina, or any elected official in connection with obtaining a contract as a result
of this RFP.
1.11 Conflicts of Interest
City of Raleigh contracts are controlled by three conflict of interest provisions.
First, federal procurement standards provide in 2 CFR 200.318 (c)(1),
No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration
of a contract supported by a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict
of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or agent,
any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or a firm which employs
or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest
in or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract. The officers,
employees, and agents of the non-Federal entity may neither solicit nor accept
gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to
subcontracts.
Similarly, the North Carolina General Statutes provides a criminal statute for conflicts of
interest in public contracting. N.C.G.S. 14-234(a):
(1) No public officer or employee who is involved in making or administering a contract
on behalf of a public agency may derive a direct benefit from the contract except as
provided in this section, or as otherwise allowed by law. (2) A public officer or employee
who will derive a direct benefit from a contract with the public agency he or she serves,
but who is not involved in making or administering the contract, shall not attempt to
influence any other person who is involved in making or administering the contract. (3)
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No public officer or employee may solicit or receive any gift, favor, reward, service, or
promise of reward, including a promise of future employment, in exchange for
recommending, influencing, or attempting to influence the award of a contract by the
public agency he or she serves.
City of Raleigh Charter Section 3.9 regulates private transactions between the City and
its officials and employees. The Charter states:
No member of the City Council, official, or employee of the City of Raleigh shall be
financially interested, or have any personal beneficial interest, either directly or
indirectly, as agent, representative, or otherwise, in the purchase of, or contract for, or
in furnishing any materials, equipment or supplies to the City of Raleigh, nor shall any
official or employee of the City of Raleigh accept or receive, or agree to accept or
receive, directly or indirectly, from any person, firm or corporation to whom any contract
may be awarded or from whom any materials, equipment or supplies may be purchased
by the City of Raleigh, by rebate, gift, or otherwise, any money or anything of value
whatsoever, or any promise, obligation or contract for future reward or compensation,
for recommending or procuring the uses of any such materials, equipment or supplies
by the City of Raleigh; no member of the City Council, official or employee of the City of
Raleigh shall for his own personal benefit operate, directly or indirectly, any concession
in any building or on any lands of the City of Raleigh, nor shall any official or employee
of the City of Raleigh bid for or be awarded any contract granting concessionary rights
of any nature or kind from the City of Raleigh; it shall be unlawful for any member of the
City Council, official or employee of the City of Raleigh to bid for or to purchase or to
contract to purchase from the City of Raleigh any real estate, equipment, materials, or
supplies of any nature or kind whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, at either public or
private sale, either singly, or through or jointly with any other person.
1.12 Proposer Expenses
The City of Raleigh will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any Proposer in
the development of a response to this Request for Proposal or any other activities
associated with this procurement including but not limited to any onsite (or otherwise)
interviews and/or presentations, and/or supplemental information provided, submitted, or
given to City of Raleigh and/or its representatives. Further, the City of Raleigh shall
reserve the right to cancel the work described herein prior to issuance and acceptance of
any contractual agreement/purchase order by the recommended Proposer even if the
awarding authority for each entity has formally accepted a recommendation.
1.13 Proposer Acceptance
Submission of any proposal indicates a Proposer's acceptance of the conditions
contained in this RFP. Furthermore, the City of Raleigh is not bound to accept a proposal
on the basis of lowest price, and further, the City has the sole discretion and reserves the
right to cancel this RFP, and to reject any and all proposals, to waive any and all
informalities and/or irregularities and reserves the right to re-advertise this RFP with either
the identical or revised scope and specifications if it is deemed to be in the best interests
of the City to do so.
The City of Raleigh reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of the items in the
proposal, and to award the contract in whole or in part and/or negotiate any or all items
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with individual Proposers if it is deemed in the best interest of the City to do so. Moreover,
the City reserves the right to make no selection if proposals are deemed to be outside the
fiscal constraint or not in the best interest of the City.
2 PROPOSALS
Submitted proposals must follow the format outlined below. The City may reject as non-
responsive at its sole discretion any proposal that does not provide complete and/or adequate
responses or departs in any substantial way from the required format.
2.1 Request for Proposals Required Document Format
Proposals should be on 8-1/2" x 11" (A4-sized) paper, printed on both sides, bound with
only removable clips or staples (no 3-ring binders), and divided into sections using tabs
to easily identify and separate each section as follows:
2.1.1. Section/Tab 1: Cover Letter
Provide an introduction letter summarizing the unique proposal of your firm to meet the
needs of this service requirement. This letter should be presented on the firm's official
letterhead and signed by an authorized representative who has the authority to enter into
a contract with the City on behalf of the firm. Additionally, include the name, address,
telephone and email address of the individual who serves as the point of contact for this
solicitation.
2.1.2. Section/Tab 2: Corporate Background and Experience
Include background information on the firm and provide detailed information regarding the
firm's experience with similar projects. Provide a list of all similar contracts performed in
the past 10 years, accompanied by at least 3 references (contact persons, firm, telephone
number and email address).
Include the total amount invoiced for each listed project, the length of the project, and list
of those involved in the project who are also proposed for the subject project named in
this solicitation. Failure to provide a list of all similar contracts in the specified period may
result in the rejection of the firm's proposal. The evaluation team reserves the right to
contact any or all listed references, and to contact other public entities regarding past
performance on similar projects.
2.1.3. Section/Tab 3: Financial Information
Review and provide one of the following three (3) financial statement options:
1. Recent audited or reviewed financial statements prepared by an independent certified
public accountant (CPA) that shall include, at a minimum, a balance sheet, income
statement (i.e., profit/loss statement) and cash flow statement and, if the audited or
reviewed financial statements were prepared more than six (6) months prior to the
issuance of this RFP, the Proposer shall submit its most recent internal financial
statements (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement or budget with
entries reflecting revenues and expenditures from the date of the audited or reviewed
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