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Qualifications for Architecture Services 1 The City of Missoula on behalf of THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT GROUP (RMDG) Request for Qualifications for Architecture Services The City of Missoula, on behalf of Rocky Mountain Development Group (RMDG), has received a federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) award in the amount of $5 million from the Montana Department of Commerce (MDOC) as part of an $11 million project for site and architectural design and new construction of 115 units of rental apartments for low-, moderate- and middle-income households. The site is located at 1311 E. Broadway in Missoula, Montana, which is being purchased by RMDG. The construction contractor is expected to be under contract no later than September 30, 2010. Contingent upon this award, the City of Missoula is soliciting Letters of Interest and Statements of Qualification for architectural/engineering services to assist RMDG in designing and supervising construction of this project in compliance with all applicable requirements under the Montana NSP Program. Payment terms will be negotiated with the selected respondent. The fee for architectural/engineering services will be paid with NSP funds. Services to be provided: 1. Prepare a schematic design for the project; 2. Prepare a preliminary site plan; 3. Design architectural plans for project improvements including all architecture and engineering for off-site work (if necessary), site work, structures, and cost estimation for total improvements, and acquire engineering services as needed; 4. Supervise site development and preparation in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations; 5. Determine maximum use of site, need for variances to achieve maximum site utilization, and prepare for, attend, and participate as needed in any public hearings; 6. Provide geotechnical services to establish soils bearing capacity and other pertinent soils criteria necessary to design; 7. Prepare construction bid package, subject to MDOC review and approval, including plans and specifications in conformance with applicable Montana NSP requirements, and supervise the bid advertising, tabulation, and award process, including preparing the advertisements for bid solicitation, conducting the bid opening, and issuing the Notice of Award and Notice to Proceed; 8. Provide survey services to establish site benchmarks for construction contractor to maintain vertical and horizontal control for site grading and improvement location; 9. Conduct the preconstruction conference; 10. Conduct weekly progress meetings with owner’s representative(s), project manager(s), and contractor(s); 11. Supervise and inspect construction work and prepare inspection reports; 12. Test soils compaction and concrete in accordance with specification requirements; ---PAGE BREAK--- Qualifications for Architecture Services 2 13. Review and recommend approval of all contractor submittals, requests for change orders, and requests for payment to certify that all work indicated is complete and/or materials utilized and submit approved requests to the developer; 14. Assure compliance with all labor requirements for construction work activities, including weekly review of required weekly payroll reports for compliance with Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements; periodic visits to the construction site to assure that required equal opportunity, labor standards, and Davis-Bacon wage determinations have been posted; conducting regular on-site interviews with construction personnel to assure Davis-Bacon compliance, and doing follow-up investigations, communications and negotiations) to achieve compliance if non-compliance with labor standards is identified; 15. Submit Davis-Bacon wage reports to the Project Manager for review and recordkeeping; 16. In conjunction with the project manager, assure compliance with applicable civil rights and equal employment opportunity requirements, including preparation of any reports required by NSP; 17. Keep the project manager and project developer informed of all significant construction project activities, including preparation of regular reports (written and verbal) as required by the contract for architectural services; 18. Provide reproducible “as-built” plan drawings to RMDG and the City upon project completion; and 19. Conduct final inspection and assist in preparing the Certificate of Completion. ---PAGE BREAK--- Qualifications for Architecture Services 3 Responses to include: 1. Letter of interest, including the principal firm’s legal name, address, and telephone number; 2. Statement of Qualifications including: a) The principal(s) of each firm who will be part of the project team, their experience and qualifications; b) The experience and qualifications of the staff to be assigned to the project; c) A description of the firm’s prior experience, including any similar projects, projects funded by the HOME Program or the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, size of community, location, total construction cost, and name of an owner’s representative with knowledge regarding the firm’s performance; d) A description of the firm’s anticipated availability during the term of the project, including how the firm’s current work activities would be coordinated with the project; e) The proposed work plan and schedule for activities to be performed. Responses lacking either a dated Letter of Interest or a Statement of Qualifications will not be considered. Qualifications Evaluation Criteria: The selection of finalists to be interviewed will be based on an evaluation of the written responses. The final award will be made to the most qualified respondent whose qualifications are deemed most advantageous to the City of Missoula on behalf of Rocky Mountain Development Group, all factors considered, following successful negotiations of the contract for services. Unsuccessful respondents will be notified as soon as possible. Respondents will be evaluated according to the following criteria: 1. QUALITY OF THE PROPOSAL (100 POINTS) A. Does the proposal include sufficient detail in the Letter of Interest and Statement of Qualifications? (20 Points) B. Does the proposal respond comprehensively to the tasks outlined in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ)? (20 Points) C. Does the proposal reflect a good understanding of the scope of issues involved in the project and understanding of the requirements for an NSP project? (20 Points) D. Is there a clear description of how the work will be managed and coordinated with the City and RMDG? (20 Points) ---PAGE BREAK--- Qualifications for Architecture Services 4 E. Is there a step by step timetable for the work with milestones indicating when key tasks will be performed and by whom? Does the schedule appear complete and realistic? (20 Points) SCORE FOR QUALITY OF PROPOSAL: BEST (81-100 POINTS) ABOVE AVERAGE (61-80 POINTS) AVERAGE (41-60 POINTS) BELOW AVERAGE (21-40 POINTS) POOR (0-20 POINTS) 2. RESPONDENT QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: (200 POINTS) A. Does the respondent have experience with NSP or similar federally financed projects? (20 Points) B. Does the respondent have experience in designing similar facilities? (40 Points) C. Do the staff to be assigned to the project on a day-to-day basis and project team have experience appropriate to the project described in the RFQ? (20 Points) Architect Civil Engineer Electrical Engineer Mechanical Engineer Other D. Will experienced senior staff be available to supervise project staff on-site? (20 Points) E. Does the respondent present evidence of comprehensive liability and errors and omissions insurance? (20 points) F. Does the respondent demonstrate experience with local jurisdiction regulatory process? (20 points) G. How do previous clients rate the respondent’s overall performance? (20 Points) H. What is the respondent’s track record on similar projects for timely performance within original budgets? (20 Points) I. Are the reference checks supportive of the respondent’s technical abilities and ability to work cooperatively with others involved in the process, including owners, grant managers, contractors and regulatory officials? (20 Points) ---PAGE BREAK--- Qualifications for Architecture Services 5 SCORE FOR RESPONDENT QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: BEST (161-200 POINTS) ABOVE AVERAGE (121-160 POINTS) AVERAGE (81-120 POINTS) BELOW AVERAGE (41-80 POINTS) POOR (0-4O POINTS) 3. AVAILABILITY AND CAPACITY TO RESPOND: (100 POINTS) A. Given the current and projected workload of the respondent, will the respondent have sufficient time available to devote to the project? (20 POINTS) B. How much time will the respondent or staff actually spend in the community on a day-to- day basis over the term of the project? (20 POINTS) C. Is the respondent capable of meeting the time and budget requirements for the project? (20 POINTS) D. Does the project team, including subcontractors, have prior experience as a team? (20 POINTS) E. Were the team’s projects deemed successful by previous clients? (20 POINTS) SCORE FOR AVAILABILITY AND CAPACITY TO RESPOND: BEST (81-100 POINTS) ABOVE AVERAGE (61-80 POINTS) AVERAGE (41-60 POINTS) BELOW AVERAGE (21-40 POINTS) POOR (0-20 POINTS) TOTAL POINTS: (400 MAXIMUM) SCORE FOR QUALITY OF PROPOSAL (MAXIMUM 100 POINTS) SCORE FOR RESPONDENT QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE (MAXIMUM 200 POINTS) SCORE FOR AVAILABILITY AND CAPACITY TO RESPOND (MAXIMUM 100 POINTS) Questions and Responses: ---PAGE BREAK--- Qualifications for Architecture Services 6 Questions and responses should be directed to Nancy Harte, Office of Planning and Grants, 435 Ryman, Missoula, MT 59802, (406) 258-4934. All responses must be received no later than 3:00 p.m., Thursday, March 11, 2010. Please submit six copies and state “RMDG Architecture Services Qualifications” on the outside of the response package. Respondents may review the NSP application which includes a description of the proposed project, budget, schedule, and other pertinent information by visiting the Missoula Office of Planning and Grants, 435 Ryman, Missoula, Montana, or Rocky Mountain Development Group, 131 S. Higgins, Unit P-1, Missoula, Montana, during regular office hours. A copy of the application is also available for review at the offices of the Montana Department of Commerce, 301 South Park Street, Helena, MT 59620. This solicitation is being offered in accordance with federal and state statutes governing procurement of professional services. Accordingly, the City of Missoula on behalf of Rocky Mountain Development Group reserves the right to negotiate an agreement based on fair and reasonable compensation for the scope of work and services provided, as well as the right to reject any and all responses deemed unqualified, unsatisfactory or inappropriate.