Request for Proposals: Development of Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Designs
| Location: | New York |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Due: | May 8, 2026 |
| Agency: | City of Ithaca |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
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| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
| Bid Title: |
Request for Proposals: Development of Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Designs
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| Category: | Bids & RFP's from the City |
| Status: | Open |
|
Attachment Preview
CITY OF ITHACA
108 E. Green St. — Third Floor Ithaca, NY 14850-5690
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Lisa Nicholas, AICP, Director
Planning & Development – 607-274-6550
Community Development/IURA – 607-274-6565
E-Mail: dgrunder@cityofithaca.org
Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit
(ADU) Designs
Request for Proposals
Posting Date: April 1, 2026
Submission Deadline: May 8, 2026
Department of Planning and Development
108 E. Green Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Request for Proposals: Development of Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit
(ADU) Designs
This document outlines the scope of work for the project and related planning services.
Electronic proposals will be accepted until May 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Proposals shall be
submitted by email* to:
Sam Quinn-Jacobs, Planner
City of Ithaca Department of Planning and Development
zoning@cityofithaca.org
*An email reply will be sent confirming the City’s receipt of the proposal. Please contact Planning staff at
planninginfo@cityofithaca.org if you do not receive a confirmation email within two business days.
Summary
The City of Ithaca seeks to reduce barriers to ADU development, shorten permitting timelines, lower design
costs, and increase access to high quality, energy efficient, and accessible small scale housing options
consistent with the City’s adopted ADU legislation. As part of this effort, the City of Ithaca Planning and
Development Department is seeking proposals for a set of construction ready set of plans for a City of
Ithaca “Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Design”. Through a competitive process, the City will
select a qualified design professional(s) to produce complete ADU construction documents compliant with
building code, zoning, and site plan review (with site specific review still required at time of permit). In
exchange for a one-time license fee, the selected design(s) will serve as the “City of Ithaca Public ADU
Design,” for which the City will receive a perpetual, royalty-free license to distribute the design at no cost.
Responses should highlight any customization options including, but not limited to, materials, architectural
finishes, and siting needs.
Background
The City of Ithaca recently adopted an amendment to Chapter 325 (Zoning) to facilitate the development of
accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in designated zoning districts throughout the city. This amendment is part
of a broader set of housing-related policy initiatives, including updates to short-term rental regulations and
zoning reforms intended to address housing availability, affordability, and access.
While the updated ADU ordinance creates new opportunities for small-scale housing development, the
timeline, procedural requirements, and professional design costs associated with ADU construction can
present barriers for property owners. The development review process, including zoning, site plan, and
building code review, may take several months prior to issuance of a building permit, particularly when
board review is required.
To reduce these barriers and encourage greater uptake of ADUs, the City identified the creation of a pre-
approved ADU design as an implementation strategy. By developing a curated set of ADU plans that are
pre-reviewed for compliance with applicable zoning, building code, and site plan standards, the City aims to
streamline permitting, reduce discretionary review where possible, minimize uncertainty, shorten approval
timelines, and lower overall project costs for residents.
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The City will host the design(s) on a public website that includes designer contact information and related
materials. Community members will be able to utilize the plans but will be responsible for all permitting
and site specific design costs.
The City has allocated capital funding for implementation of this initiative and has secured additional
support through a Tompkins County Housing Affordability and Supportive Infrastructure Grant, which
supports municipalities working to address the community’s housing shortage and improve access to
small-scale housing solutions.
Scope of Work
The Respondent’s proposal shall address each of the tasks described below. The City will select at least
one Respondent based on the evaluation considerations outlined in this RFP.
The successful Respondent(s) (the “Consultant”) will be responsible for preparing one or more complete,
code-compliant Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) prototype designs suitable for advance review and
inclusion in the City of Ithaca Pre-Approved ADU Design Library. The Consultant will work with the City to
ensure that the selected design(s) comply with the City’s ADU ordinance and all applicable state and local
codes. The Consultant will receive a one-time lump-sum payment as proposed in the cost proposal
submitted in accordance with the RFP Submission Requirements. In exchange, the City will receive a
perpetual, royalty-free license to reproduce and distribute the design(s) at no cost.
The City may consider alternative or refined approaches to the tasks described below on a case-by-case
basis. In such instances, the Respondent should describe how the task will be completed by the
Consultant, the City, and/or other project partners. The final scope of work will be negotiated prior to
execution of a contract and may be refined as necessary to best achieve the project goals.
Task 1: Finalize ADU Design
The Consultant and the Department of Planning & Development (the “Department”) shall develop a project
schedule, outlining specific tasks, deliverables, and timeline. The workplan shall include coordination with
Planning, Building, and other appropriate City staff and identify review checkpoints necessary to achieve
pre-approval status. The Consultant shall obtain technical feedback on zoning compliance, building code,
site plan requirements, constructability, accessibility and energy performance. The Consultant shall revise
the prototype design(s) as necessary to address staff comments prior to Planning Board review.
The Consultant will build upon the conceptual design submitted in response to this RFP and produce
schematic design drawings and other materials necessary for full site plan review of the proposed ADU
designs. Designs shall consider factors related to construction affordability, energy efficiency, and
compatibility with the surrounding site and neighborhood, as well as the ability to comply with other
applicable requirements, including those associated with designated historic districts and floodplain
development requirements.
Products:
• Final workplan with tasks, deliverables, and timelines
• Preliminary Drawings (elevations, floorplans, sketches etc.)
• Site plan depicting a configuration for an ADU on an Ithaca property
• Code analysis demonstrating compliance with zoning and building requirements
• Estimated construction costs including a demonstration of affordability and constructability
• Summary memo addressing staff feedback and documenting revisions
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• Description of how the proposal addresses the considerations above
• Revised schematic plan set suitable for Planning Board review
Task 2: Planning Board Review
The Consultant shall assist the Department in preparing materials necessary for Planning Board review of
the proposed pre-approved ADU prototype design(s). The Consultant shall attend and present at Planning
Board meetings as necessary.
The Consultant shall revise materials as required to address Planning Board comments and secure formal
approval.
Products:
• Presentation materials for Planning Board review
• Revised plan set reflecting Planning Board direction
• Documentation confirming Planning Board approval
Task 3: Finalize Construction Documents and Deliverables
Following Planning Board approval of the schematic design(s), the Consultant shall prepare complete
construction drawings suitable for building permit submission and final pre-approval designation.
The Consultant shall ensure that the final construction documents are internally consistent and suitable for
public distribution as a pre-approved ADU plan. The Consultant shall grant the City a perpetual, royalty-free
license to distribute the plan at no cost.
The Consultant shall provide final digital files formatted appropriately for hosting on the City’s website.
Products:
• Complete construction drawing set suitable for building permit submission
• Final code compliance documentation
• Executed licensing agreement
• Final digital plan files (PDF and source files, as agreed)
• Public facing summary sheet describing key design specifications
RFP Submission Requirements
Submittals shall be submitted electronically and include the following components. Each proposal will be
evaluated based on the following documents and requirements. Notwithstanding the evaluation
considerations listed below, the City reserves sole award discretion.
1. Cover Letter
Please include a narrative addressing the goals outlined in this document, including how the proposal
intends to address the considerations listed as well as comply with the City’s ADU ordinance and building
codes. Respondents should also include a description of the proposed design including square footage,
material options, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, energy performance and other relevant design
considerations.
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2. Conceptual Design Drawings
Please include conceptual drawings of the proposed ADU design, such as preliminary elevations, an
example site plan, and any other available design materials that would assist in evaluating the proposal,
such as floor plans and material lists.
3. Past Project Experience
Please include examples of successfully completed comparable projects.
4. Cost Proposal and Schedule
Please include a project budget, cost breakdown and proposed schedule that addresses all tasks and
deliverables listed above. Cost proposals must include a total not-to-exceed amount for the proposed
services.
If applicable, provide the price of any optional services that would be complementary to the services
requested.
Important Dates
Publication of RFP
Proposal Submission Deadline
Selection
Project Kickoff Meeting
April 1, 2026
May 8, 2026
May 2026
June 2026
Submission
Submissions will only be accepted via email using the following address and subject line:
Email: zoning@cityofithaca.org
Subject Line: RFP Response: Pre-Approved ADU Design Proposal
Responses submitted to this Request for Proposal (RFP) will become property of the City of Ithaca at the
time of submission. Any confidential information, such as a company’s financial status, if required by the
specifications, shall be submitted separately and marked “Confidential.” All responses may be released
pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law. This RFP is subject to the City of Ithaca Purchasing Policy
and Procedure Manual and all applicable local, state, and federal law. All proposals must be submitted by
the May 8, 2026. The City of Ithaca may extend the advertising period of this RFP in its sole discretion.
Proposal Evaluation
A selection committee composed of City staff and Planning and Development Board member(s) will
evaluate each proposal by the evaluation considerations described below to select a short list of
applicants for further consideration. The City reserves the right to reject proposals found to be
unresponsive and/or deficient in any of the requested information. The submission of a proposal with all
requested information does not guarantee that the applicant is a candidate for further consideration. The
City may contact references to verify material submitted by an applicant.
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
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