Notice

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that the City of Bozeman (City) is seeking proposals from firms qualified to provide professional services for a comprehensive Community Housing Needs Assessment and development of a Housing Action Plan. Project will result in recommendations for the creation of a comprehensive Affordable Housing Program with the development of both a short-term and long-term goals.

All proposals must be in the format specified, enclosed in a sealed envelope and clearly identified with RFP title, company name and due date and transmitted via email and hard copy.

Deliver proposals to the City Clerk by Thursday July 19, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. MST. It is the sole responsibility of the proposing firm to ensure that proposals are received prior to the closing time as late submittals will not be accepted and will be returned unopened.

The physical address is:

City Clerk's Office, Suite 200, (upstairs) City Hall, 121 N. Rouse Avenue, Bozeman, Montana.

The mailing address is:

City Clerk's Office, City Hall, P.O. Box 1230, Bozeman, Montana, 59771 (USPS only, shipping companies should be sent to the physical address)

Non-Discrimination

The City of Bozeman is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Discrimination in the performance of any agreement awarded under this RFP on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, or actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or disability is prohibited. This prohibition shall apply to the hiring and treatment of the awarded entity's employees and to all subcontracts.

As such, each entity submitting under this notice shall include a provision wherein the submitting entity, or entities, affirms in writing it will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, or because of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or disability and which also recognizes the eventual contract will contain a provision prohibiting discrimination as described above and that this prohibition on discrimination shall apply to the hiring and treatment of the submitting entity's employees and to all subcontracts.

Section 3 Notice

The City of Bozeman has applied for Community Development Block Grant funds from the Montana Department of Commerce. The City of Bozeman will soon commence implementation of a Housing Needs Assessment and Development of a Housing Work Plan project. CDBG regulations governing the grant require that to the greatest extent feasible, opportunities for training and employment arising in connection with this CDBG assisted project will be extended to local lower-income residents. Further, to the greatest extent feasible, business concerns located in or substantially owned by residents of the project area will be utilized. Failure to comply with the above requirements may be cause for the City to deem the submittal non- responsive.

For additional information on this RFP, contact Matthew Madsen, Affordable Housing Program Manager, 406-582-2953,mmadsen@bozeman.net.

Robin Crough
City Clerk
City of Bozeman

For publication on:

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Sunday, July 8, 2018

1. PROJECT OVERVIEW

The City of Bozeman is requesting proposals from a qualified professional consultant to conduct a comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment and Development of a 5-year Housing Action Plan. All work shall be consistent with the requirements of the Unified Development Code (UDC) and pursuant to all other City of Bozeman planning documents and reports.

The goal of this project is to gather and compile the data necessary to develop a comprehensive housing needs assessment and subsequent action plan that will be used to grow the Affordable Housing Program for the City. The consultant that is selected will work with the Affordable Housing Program Manager and the Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board (CAHAB) throughout the process.

An estimated time and work schedule shall be provided as part of the RFP and agreed to by the city before work begins. It is anticipated that the work will take a maximum of seven (7) months to complete from date of notice to proceed until the delivery of the final completed product. A shorter time line is welcome if the work product retains high quality and reliability. A longer time frame may be proposed on evidence of the need for additional time to meet the goals and purpose of the RFP.

2. REPORTS, MEETINGS, AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Bozeman is committed to meaningful public access to public processes and intends the work process to be transparent and understandable to participating parties. A public engagement plan applicable to the subject matter is a required element of the proposal. The plan should be innovative and drive effective public participation.

Effort has already been made in identifying community priorities and relevant information regarding Affordable Housing. Available local resource documents will include:

• 2009 Bozeman Community Plan
• 2012 Community Housing Needs Assessment
• 2012-2016 Community Housing Action Plan
• Ordinance 1922 Affordable Housing Ordinance
• 2014 Recommendations for Regulatory Changes
• Affordable Housing Administrative Manual
• City of Bozeman Strategic Plan
• Demographic and Real Estate Market Assessment
• Community Conversation Responses and Results

Various city departments, citizen advisory boards and neighborhood organizations should be consulted directly during the public participation process. These groups would include but are not limited to:

• Community Development
• Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board (CAHAB)
• Planning and Zoning Commissions
• Economic Development
• Public Works
• Neighborhoods Coordinator
• City of Belgrade
• Gallatin County
• Community Partners – Including but not limited to: Businesses, Individuals, Builders, Developers, Lenders, Non-Profits, Real Estate

3. PROJECT WILL RESULT IN:

An updated Housing Needs Assessment that utilizes a community based participation process and covers the continuum of housing from emergency and transitional to rentals to home ownership. The assessment will look at data including but not limited to:

• Current housing work that has been planned and completed
• Housing market data including short term rentals
• Focus groups, key informant interviews and stakeholder meetings
• Assessment of current inclusionary zoning ordinance including costs, incentives and any other supporting data
• Preservation of the current affordable housing stock (rentals & ownership)
• Short and long term costs associated with home ownership and rentals
• Sustainable development as it relates to Affordable Housing
• Current and future land-use
• Development & Employment trends
• Opportunity zones and possible future housing development
• Transportation infrastructure
• Commercial Linkage Study
• Community connectedness
• Community perceptions of Affordable Housing
• Assessment of other communities Affordable & Workforce Housing Programs

The assessment will include a detailed written report and data set that will be accessible to the City, CAHAB and any partners. Also, a presentation to the city commission of the findings

A 5-year Strategic Housing Action Plan that includes:

• 1, 3 and 5 year goals with specific dates and deliverables.
• A template for 1-year action planning that can be used by city staff, CAHAB and community partners for subsequent yearly planning
• Multiple evidenced based and creative strategies across the housing continuum both regulatory and non-regulatory that look to address the current, short-term and long-term needs of the community
• A process that includes a community based participation utilizing the City, CAHAB and other community organizations and partners.

The Action Plan will become the guiding document for the shaping of the Affordable Housing Program over the next 5-years. The final product will be a written action plan as well as presentation to the commission.

• A report on the methods used for data collection, community engagement, plan development and reporting.
• Recommendations for the current Affordable Housing Ordinance as well as other future policy options.
• Any other relevant information for the successful long-term growth of the City's Affordable Housing Program

4. CITY OF BOZEMAN STAFF PARTICIPATION & SUPPORT

Review existing documents and provide these materials to the consultant at the time of notice to proceed.

• Staff identification of UDC, comprehensive plan and strategic plan goals, objectives, and policies applicable to Affordable Housing Action Plan
• Identify any specific attributes desired for the final document.
• Identify amendments/new information

Drafts

• Coordination and outreach in Bozeman for public access to and review of documents.
• Suggestions of staff for more objective process and how it might be integrated with proposed Strategic Plan updates.

Meetings and site visits

• Coordinate scheduling of Consultant visits with staff and officials.
• Arrange for materials such as meeting room reservations and resources necessary for site investigation.
• Meet with consultant for discussion either in-person or virtually, including for the project kick-off and final draft review meetings.

Work Product

• Review drafts and make necessary duplications and distribution for review by others.
• Review public input, ensure public distribution of drafts, and prepare staff reports.

The full RFP document can be found here.