I. INTRODUCTION

The Village of Woodridge (the "Village") is requesting proposals from qualified firms to assist the Village in its understanding of its economic market potential and efforts for the potential redevelopment of a 43 acre shopping center site. The Village wants to be strategic in their economic development planning pursuits as well as their business recruitment and retention efforts via realistic recommendations. The Village would like to better understand market trends and demands, and best practices for fostering a diverse economic environment for this site. We encourage the consultant to look creatively at the entire site and to consider a wide range of options. The consultant will be charged to propose realistic options with possibilities for implementation.

The consultant will assist the Village in a two-phase approach in formulating a redevelopment strategy to include, but not limited to, market data with existing conditions that thoroughly assess whether parcel sizes, traffic flow/circulation/patterns and access can accommodate targeted tenants and uses, retailer site requirements, and the overall market viability to support the proposed uses.

The consultant will also develop a preliminary list of current impediments to such retail redevelopment and Village incentives, if any, needed to foster such redevelopment. It is expected this analysis will result in a final retail feasibility report. If this analysis determines the area is feasible for additional retail redevelopment, it will also identify the type and format of retail redevelopment possible and the type of retailers that would be drawn to the area. The consultant should be able to provide conceptual plans and renderings of potential re-use. If retail is deemed not feasible, the consultant will identify alternative land uses that would be viable to the site and geographic location.

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The study area is the Centerpointe of Woodridge shopping center, a 472,737 square foot property at Woodward Avenue and 75th Street. Current tenants include The Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Office Max, and Baker's Square. In 2017, the shopping center's third largest tenant, JC Penny, announced that they would be closing their over 100,000 square foot store. Later that year Sam's Club, the shopping center's largest tenant, shuttered the doors to their approximately 140,000 square foot store. The loss of both of these stores leaves the shopping center partially empty.

Phase 01 | Retail Market Analysis

The Village is seeking a retail market analysis that will provide for current and future retail needs to ensure the continued economic health of the Village. A market analysis report outlining potential redevelopment options for the shopping center site based on market realities will be the result of the first phase of this project that involves the following:

Existing conditions assessment — The consultant conducts an initial assessment and inventory of the redevelopment potential of the site taking into consideration access, land use, zoning, utilities, transportation, neighborhood conditions and recent land use and retail development trends. This assessment should go beyond Census data to include a breadth of psychographics for further characterization of the Village.

Customer profiles — Provide customer profile information to assist with better understanding customer behavior and how to market and serve them.

A review of Village codes, regulations, and policies.

Needs assessment - Determine the Village's interest and desire for certain types of potential uses or redevelopment and the scale, intensity and economic market for those uses.

Market and retail GAP analysis — Complete a market study to understand supply and demand conditions for our market capacity for the site. The analysis should include a leakage analysis to determine what, if any, retail or other commercial demand is not being met locally.

Retail Market Analysis Report — Prepare a report compiling data and findings from the existing conditions assessment, needs assessment, and market and retail GAP analysis.

Phase 02 | Economic Development Strategy

The selected consultant is expected to develop a more detailed and refined strategy for the site. The resulting strategy should provide a more in-depth detailed analysis with recommendations on how to improve the quality and diversity of uses within the shopping center as well as outline how the Village can leverage resources that will positively influence the redevelopment of this site.

A more detailed and refined strategic report should:

Outline the dynamics of the trade area

Address specific relevant issues such as business mix, vacancies, and market competition from surrounding communities

Identify the appropriate uses for the site that is supported by market data and Village interests and desires

Provide a total of two conceptual development plans based on the identified uses for the site to be utilized by the Village, the owner(s) and their designee to market these newly defined opportunities

Support business expansion and recruitment efforts

Recommend potential public incentives that could improve the site's viability for redevelopment

Provide a recommendation of prospective tenants to assist the Village and shopping center owner(s) with targeted marketing efforts

Provide a detailed recruitment strategy that includes marketing recommendations

The process should involve:

Scoping — undertake an in-person tour and analysis of the shopping center site

Meetings with staff and stakeholders — this includes Village staff, Plan Commissioners, Board members, and business and property owners

Recommendations — where do we go from here and what are the steps required for implementation?

Presentation to staff, commissions, and Village Board — this could involve special public meetings and/or presentation to the Plan Commission and Village Board.

Deliverables

The consultant will assemble the components into final documents for review. The consultant team will provide the Village of Woodridge with ten (10) hard copies of the final report and an electronic version of the final report in both PDF and MS Word formats.

III. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

Interested firms should submit 5 copies of the following:

1) Qualifications of the Firm

A Statement of Qualifications, including resume of personnel proposed for assignment to this engagement; the name of the primary person for this work; a list of previous clients; and a description of how the firm will assure quality of staff skills and work product. In addition, provide a summary of relevant experience as it pertains to economic feasibility and development planning in mature communities.

Submittal of a sample copy of pertinent previous work which is related to this assignment is highly encouraged.

2) Approach to Engagement and Proposed Work Program

An outline of the proposed work program including description of approach to the assignment tasks; the proposed steps or actions to be taken in the development of the work; and anticipated timelines for work components and assignment completion. In addition, please provide an estimate of time needed regarding Village staff and the recommending bodies' role in the consultant's work.

3) Cost

An engagement proposal with an all-inclusive not-to-exceed cost estimate for completion of the assignment and the work program proposed (such a figure to include all estimated out of pocket costs) and a listing by category of all anticipated out of pocket expenses. In addition, hourly rates for additional work or services that may be deemed necessary at a later date.

IV. SELECTION PROCESS

Responses to this RFP will be reviewed by staff and an engagement recommendation will be made. Of prime importance for this assignment will be the consultant's experience and ability to provide high quality work. Final consultant engagement selection is subject to approval of the Village Board of Trustees.

V. SEALED SUBMITTALS SHALL BE DELIVERED TO:

Kimberly Porter, AICP
Village of Woodridge
5 Plaza Drive
Woodridge, IL 60517

Submittals shall be delivered no later than 4:00 PM (CST), Monday, April 13, 2020.

VI. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Village reserves the right to 1) waive any technicalities or irregularities in any proposal; 2) accept the proposal it considers most favorable to the Village, in its sole discretion; 3) reject any and all proposals; 4) seek new proposals, in the Village's sole discretion; and (5) change dates at the sole discretion of the Village.

The Village may seek clarifications from a Respondent at any time, and failure to respond promptly may be cause for rejection. The Village may choose to interview Respondents prior to awarding a contract to a Consultant. All Respondents' costs in responding to the RFP, including, without limitation, attending any interviews, are solely the responsibility of the Respondents. The Village reserves the right to interview only those Respondents that the Village finds, in its sole discretion, to be best qualified for the project, and to negotiate with one or more Respondents to establish contract terms acceptable to the Village.

The final agreement with the successful Consultant(s) shall contain additional standard insurance and indemnification requirements that are utilized in Village professional services agreements, including but not limited to provisions related to additional insured endorsements, notice of cancellation, and proof of coverage.

The selected Respondent agrees to indemnify, save harmless and defend the Village, its agents, attorneys, servants, and employees, and each of them (collectively, "Indemnitees"), against, and hold Indemnitees harmless from any and all lawsuits, claims, demands, liabilities, losses and expenses, including court costs and attorney's fees, for or on account of any injury to any person, or any death at any time resulting from such injury, or any damage to property, which may arise or which may be alleged to have arisen out of or in connection with the work covered by the contract. The foregoing indemnity shall apply except if such injury, death or damage is caused directly by the willful and wanton conduct of Indemnitees, or any other person indemnified hereunder.

The Village shall examine the proposals to determine the validity of any written requests for nondisclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary data identified. After award of the contract, all responses, documents, and materials submitted by the bidder pertaining to this RFP will be considered public information and will be made available for inspection, unless otherwise determined by the Village. All data, documentation and innovations developed as a result of these contractual services shall become the property of the Village. Based upon the public nature of these RFP's, a bidder must inform the Village, in writing, of the exact materials in the offer which cannot be made a part of the public record in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

VII. NOTIFICATION OF AWARD

It is expected that a decision selecting the successful firm will be made within approximately ninety (90) days of the closing date for the receipt of responses. Upon conclusion of final negotiations with the successful firm, all Offerors submitting responses to this RFP will be informed, in writing, of the name of the successful firm. It is expected that the contract will be for an unspecified period of time and subject to termination upon delivery of written notice of no less than 60 days.

VIII. QUESTIONS

All questions must be submitted in writing via e-mail to kporter@vil.woodridge.il.us no less than five (5) business days prior to the scheduled due date of the response.