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Request for Qualifications for Shovel Ready Site Evaluation Initiative

Orange County Industrial Development Agency
Request for Qualifications Shovel Ready Site Evaluation

Background and Purpose:
Orange County has a pressing need to create new sites for economic development and have those sites as “ready-to-go” as possible to attract and support industry. The Orange County IDA (OCIDA) has identified this issue as critical to maintaining and expanding the County’s job growth opportunities. While Orange County has continued to increase in population in recent years through in-migration, many of the previously prepared sites for economic development have been utilized.

Orange County intends to renew its investment opportunities and create a new prime list of sites and buildings for economic development. The Shovel Ready Site Evaluation project is aimed at creating the link between infrastructure, zoning, land use and economic development opportunities in a cost-efficient manner that maximizes the economic benefit of potential projects involving both re-use of existing buildings/parcels as well as expansion of service areas

Scope of Services:
Professional services may be phased and may include but are not limited to:

Grant Application
It is the intent of the Orange County IDA to apply for an Empire State Development (ESD) Fast NY grant and/or other planning grant to support these efforts. Preparation of a Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) is also anticipated.

Data Gathering
Inventory and identify existing water and wastewater systems in the County including publicly owned and significant privately-owned systems. A basic evaluation of the permitted capacity and service areas for each system will be obtained as well as quantitative data regarding existing demands for service and any known future demands and potential service areas. Any current plans for capital improvements will be documented. A database of this gathered information shall be created.

Land Use and Zoning Analysis
Land use documentation will be gathered based on real property information available from Orange County. Zoning maps and laws will be obtained directly from each municipality as appropriate. An evaluation focused on existing industrial/retail/commercial land use and area designated for those uses based on zoning will be conducted. Opportunities for Planned Development Districts (PDD) that could support economic development will be noted. Mapping will be created that illustrates existing land use, areas designated for industrial/tourism destination/retail/commercial and other land use and PDD opportunities

Analysis
GIS mapping will be used to depict the reported service areas of the various systems. With this information in hand, an evaluation of potential economic development parcels will be conducted. Input from the Orange County Industrial Development Agency will be sought. The identification of potential economic development sites will be based on the provision of infrastructure as well as publicly available information regarding land use, zoning and other factors such as environmental constraints (e.g. significant documented wetlands, steep slopes, etc.). The results of this analysis shall be summarized.

Recommendations
Based on results from the analysis portion of the study, recommendations regarding infrastructure management and provision will be developed with an aim at maximizing the economic development potential of the identified sites. As appropriate, a preliminary cost estimate for recommended capital improvements will be developed.

Public Participation
For areas identified as potential for economic development, meetings will be conducted with the leadership of up to four communities to discuss the findings and confirm the community’s interest in advancing economic development in the areas zoned for such uses. In addition, a presentation of the study and findings will be presented to the Orange County Industrial Development Agency’s Staff and Board of Directors.

Deliverables
A document will be created that outlines the study methodology, analysis and results with recommendations along with illustrations of the service areas and potential economic developments sites. The project will also result in the generation of a tabular database of quantitative information gathered as well as GIS mapping files.

Minority and Women-Owned Business Participation
An Empire State Development (ESD) grant opportunity would require at least 30% WMBE participation for the portion funded by ESD. To accommodate this requirement and provide a high-quality project, qualified MWBE subconsultants should be engaged. Successful respondent will have at least five years of recent experience with similar public building projects.

Request for Qualifications:
Respondents must provide seven (7) hardcopies and one (1) PDF of the following information:

• Description of the Firm – History, type of business, expertise, number of employees, contact information for the person or person legally authorized to bind the firm. Discuss any aspects of the project for which subconsulting is anticipated.

• Project Understanding and Approach – Description of the firm’s understanding of the project and approach to similar projects including means to contain costs and deliver project on time and within budget. Describe in general the scope of services anticipated to be undertaken for a complete project.

• Relevant Experience – Firm’s experience with similar projects including location, scope, building size in square feet and total project cost including engineering and construction.

• References – Contact information including name, title, organization, address, phone and email for at least three references for similar work.

• Organization Chart and Resumes of Key Staff – Organization chart depicting the relationship between client and consultant, and among the consultant’s staff and any subconsultants. Resumes of staff anticipated to work on the project including name, title, education and training, professional licenses or certifications and relevant project experience should be included.

Submissions Due:
Submissions must be received by: Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 4:00 PM.

Addressed to:
Bill Fioravanti, CEO
Orange County IDA
4 Crotty Lane
New Windsor, NY 12553

Mark on the exterior envelope:
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS – SHOVEL READY SITE EVALUATION

Selection Process:
The Orange County IDA will determine which firm’s qualifications best satisfy the objectives of the IDA and project using the following criteria:

Relevant Experience – 25%
Understanding and Approach – 25%
References- 20%
Staffing- 10%
Demonstrated ability to deliver project on time and on budget- 20%

Upon receipt of proposals, the IDA may communicate questions to some or all respondents including requests for additional information or clarifications. The IDA may short list respondents and conduct interviews during the review process.

Scope of work and fee will be negotiated with the selected firm.

The selection of a qualified candidate is the sole discretion of the Orange County IDA and the IDA reserves the right not to proceed.