Zoning Code Rewrite and Development Review Process Improvements

Location:	Michigan
Posted:	Jun 25, 2026
Due:	Aug 11, 2026
Agency:	City of Ann Arbor
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	A - Research and development R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services U - Education and Training Services
Solicitation No:	RFP 26-39
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP # 26-39

Zoning Code Rewrite and Development Review Process

Improvements

City of Ann Arbor

Planning Unit

Due Date: August 11, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. (local time)

Issued By:

City of Ann Arbor

Procurement Unit

301 E. Huron Street

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Table of Contents

SECTION I – GENERAL INFORMATION ....................................................................... 3

SECTION II – SCOPE OF SERVICES.......................................................................... 10

SECTION III - MINIMUM INFORMATION REQUIRED ................................................. 21

SECTION IV – ATTACHMENTS ................................................................................... 25

SECTION I – GENERAL INFORMATION

A. OBJECTIVE

The City of Ann Arbor is seeking the services of a consultant (firm, nonprofit organization,

private agency) to rewrite Chapter 55 of the City Code, known as the Unified Development

Code (UDC), which contains the City’s zoning code / land use regulations, and complete

a Development Review Process Improvement Report. On March 16, 2026, the City of

Ann Arbor adopted a new Comprehensive Plan that establishes a long-term vision for

growth that is affordable, sustainable, equitable, and dynamic. Implementing that vision

will require both modernizing the City's land use regulations and improving the processes

through which development is reviewed and approved.

To advance these objectives, the City seeks consultant services for two closely related

initiatives. The first is a comprehensive rewrite of the UDC, including the adoption of a

new Zoning Map, to implement the Comprehensive Plan's future land use framework,

which will be led by City of Ann Arbor Planning Unit. The second is an evaluation of the

City's development review process to identify opportunities to improve efficiency,

transparency, predictability, and customer service for applicants, residents, and other

stakeholders, which will be led by the City of Ann Arbor Office of Economic Development.

Because these initiatives are closely connected but have distinct goals, deliverables, and

funding sources, the City intends to undertake them as separate but coordinated work

programs under a single consultant team.

For the UDC Rewrite, the City is seeking completion within a period of 24-36 months,

based on an anticipated start in November 2026. For the Development Review Process

Improvement Report, recommendations should be provided within 4-6 months from the

same initial starting date.

The consultant will coordinate work with teams from the Planning Unit, the Office of

Economic Development, the Planning Commission, City Council and any established

support committees for this project. The Planning Manager and the Economic

Development Director will oversee the direction and quality of work of this consultant.

B. QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS / DESIGNATED CITY CONTACTS

All questions regarding this Request for Proposal (RFP) shall be submitted via e-mail.

Questions will be accepted and answered in accordance with the terms and conditions of

this RFP.

All questions shall be submitted on or before July 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (local

time), and should be addressed as follows:

• Scope of Work/Proposal Content questions shall be e-mailed to Michelle

Bennett, Principal Planner - mbennett@a2gov.org

• RFP Process and Compliance questions shall be e-mailed to Colin Spencer,

Buyer - CSpencer@a2gov.org

Should any prospective offeror be in doubt as to the true meaning of any portion of this

RFP, or should the prospective offeror find any ambiguity, inconsistency, or omission

therein, the prospective offeror shall make a written request for an official interpretation

or correction by the due date for questions above.

All interpretations, corrections, or additions to this RFP will be made only as an official

addendum that will be posted to a2gov.org and MITN.info and it shall be the prospective

offeror’s responsibility to ensure they have received all addenda before submitting a

proposal. Any addendum issued by the City shall become part of the RFP and must be

incorporated in the proposal where applicable.

C. PRE-PROPOSAL MEETING

No pre-proposal meeting will be held for this RFP. Please contact staff indicated above

with general questions regarding the RFP.

D. PROPOSAL FORMAT

To be considered, each offeror must submit a response to this RFP using the format

provided in Section III. No other distribution of proposals is to be made by the prospective

offeror. An official authorized to bind the offeror to its provisions must sign the proposal.

Each proposal must remain valid for at least ninety days from the due date of this RFP.

Proposals should be prepared simply and economically providing a straightforward,

concise description of the offeror’s ability to meet the requirements of the RFP. No

erasures are permitted. Mistakes may be crossed out and corrected and must be initialed

in ink by the person signing the proposal.

E. SELECTION CRITERIA

Responses to this RFP will be evaluated using a point system as shown in Section III. A

selection committee comprised of staff from the City will complete the evaluation.

The fee proposals will not be reviewed at the initial evaluation. After initial evaluation, the

City will determine top proposals, and open only those fee proposals. The City will then

determine which, if any, consultants will be interviewed. During the interviews, the

selected consultants will be given the opportunity to discuss their proposal, qualifications,

past experience, and their fee proposal in more detail. The City further reserves the right

to interview the key personnel assigned by the selected offeror to this project. If the City

chooses to interview any offerors, the in-person interviews will be tentatively held the

week of September 14, 2026. Offeror must be available on these dates.

All proposals submitted may be subject to clarifications and further negotiation. All

agreements resulting from negotiations that differ from what is represented within the RFP

or in the proposal response shall be documented and included as part of the final contract.

F. SEALED PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

All proposals are due and must be delivered to the City on or before, August 11,

2026, at 2:00 p.m. (local time). Proposals submitted late or via oral, telephonic,

telegraphic, electronic mail or facsimile will not be considered or accepted.

Each offeror must submit in a sealed envelope marked Proposal:

• One (1) original proposal

• Six (6) additional proposal copies

• One (1) digital copy of the proposal preferably on a USB/flash drive as one file

in PDF format

Each offeror should submit in a single separate sealed envelope marked Fee Proposal:

• Two (2) copies of the fee proposal

The fee proposal and all costs should be separate from the rest of the proposal.

Proposals submitted should be clearly marked: “RFP No.26-39 – Zoning Code Rewrite

and Development Review Process Improvement” and list the offeror’s name and address.

Proposals must be addressed and delivered to:

City of Ann Arbor

c/o Customer Service

301 East Huron Street

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

All proposals received on or before the due date will be publicly opened and recorded on

the due date. No immediate decisions will be rendered.

Hand delivered proposals may be dropped off in the Purchasing drop box located in the

Ann Street (north) vestibule/entrance of City Hall which is open to the public Monday

through Friday from 8am to 5pm (except holidays). The City will not be liable to any

prospective offeror for any unforeseen circumstances, delivery, or postal delays.

Postmarking on the due date will not substitute for receipt of the proposal. Offerors are

responsible for submission of their proposal. Additional time will not be granted to a single

prospective offeror. However, additional time may be granted to all prospective offerors

at the discretion of the City.

A proposal may be disqualified if the following required forms are not included with the

proposal:

Attachment B - Non-Discrimination Ordinance Declaration of Compliance

Attachment C - Living Wage Ordinance Declaration of Compliance

Attachment D - Vendor Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form

Proposals that fail to provide these forms listed above upon proposal opening may be

deemed non-responsive and may not be considered for award.

Please provide the forms outlined above (Attachments B, C and D) within the envelope

marked Proposal, not within the separately sealed Fee Proposal envelope.

All proposed fees, cost or compensation for the services requested herein should be

provided in the separately sealed Fee Proposal envelope only.

G. DISCLOSURES

Under the Freedom of Information Act (Public Act 442), the City is obligated to permit

review of its files, if requested by others. All information in a proposal is subject to

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

due date & time	bid description	bid #	primary contact	status
August 11, 2026 2:00PM	Zoning Code Rewrite and Development Review Process Improvements	RFP 26-39	Michelle Bennett	Open

Zoning Code Rewrite and Development Review Process Improvements

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