Full RFQ with attachments available online at: https://www.atascadero.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=117&Itemid=505

INTRODUCTION

The City of Atascadero Department of Community Development requests written responses to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for selection of a consultant team to provide professional services related to an update to the City';s General Plan. The qualified consultant(s) shall also prepare the environmental analysis of the completed general plan draft, and produce the necessary environmental document. The Consultant shall have a proven ability to assess a City's current conditions, and demonstrate knowledge of current State and local regulations as it applies to the completion of General Plan updates and CEQA compliance, including current knowledge of the latest California case law is it pertains to CEQA and Zoning Laws.

The focus of this project is to update the Land Use, Circulation, Noise, Safety, and Conservation and Open Space, Elements of the General Plan. Since the City';s Housing Element was updated and adopted in 2020 and is valid until 2028, the Housing Element will not be a part of the current update process, but can be used to inform and supplement this activity. The Consultant shall conduct extensive public outreach along with field studies, staff and public interviews, and research as necessary, analyze current and future trends, including advancements in technology, changes in consumer and workplace behaviors, and other local and regional trends that impact local land use and the economy. This analysis will help the City review and adjust policies and recommendations that will best meet the future needs of the community and extend the General Plan's horizon to year 2045. The updated General Plan will be based upon the results of a comprehensive visioning process and robust public engagement program to ensure that all facets of the community participate and are fully represented in shaping Atascadero';s future.

Upon consultant procurement, the consultant team will facilitate (with support from city staff) a joint public scoping meeting with City Council and Planning Commission in late 2021. The scoping meeting will provide direction on the development of a project scope of work, budget and timeline that fits the city';s needs. The City has budgeted approximately $1.1 M for Fiscal Years 2021-23 to complete the General Plan Update Process. This amount does not include City staff time. If remaining funds are available, the City is interested in updating the City';s Zoning Ordinance following adoption of the General Plan in order to implement the new Land Use Element and corresponding policies. This activity may be scoped as a supplemental activity.

The City anticipates the General Plan Update and EIR to be completed and ready for adoption within approximately 1-2 years from execution of the consultant contract.

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant's role will be to provide professional planning services resulting in an updated General Plan, related CEQA analysis and updated development regulations no later than December 2023.

Work product will include comprehensive updates to the following required elements:

1. Land Use, Open Space & Conservation
2. Circulation
3. Safety & Noise

Elements may be combined or separate and should be consistent with the newly adopted Housing Element. Additional elements may be suggested if deemed as appropriate through the joint scoping meeting.

CEQA Analysis and Other Considerations

The consultant will also be responsible for conducting any analysis required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). There will be a preference given for including a San Luis Obispo County-based environmental consultant on your team or a consultant team that is very familiar with our region';s unique political and environmental conditions.

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

Please limit the response to thirty (30) pages. The SOQ submittal shall be provided electronically as a tabbed and bookmarked PDF. Only one hard copy submission is required. The document should provide the items below in the following order:

TAB #

1. Cover letter: Letter of Interest, to include an understanding of the scope of services and the firm';s approach to delivering services related to that scope.
2. Executive summary: Provide a brief summary of the Consultant';s understanding of the services requested, a summary of the Consultant';s related qualifications, and the Consultant';s proposed approach to the services contemplated.
3. Project Team and Qualifications: Indicate the location of principal office that will be responsible for the implementation of the contract and provide an organization chart indicating the staff members which might have responsibilities related to the project tasks. Indicate on the chart the names of the project manager and key personnel, their titles, and their responsibilities for both prime and sub-consultants including their office location(s). Indicate the number local staff serving as prime or sub consultant team members. Include a resume of each key staff member identified. There will be a preference given for including a San Luis Obispo County-based environmental consultant on your team.
4. Billing Rate Sheet: Provide an itemized billing rate schedule that identifies hourly rates for each proposed staff members and expenses. Include any proposed costplus charges on sub-consultant work.
5. References: Provide a list of references for which Consultant has performed similar work. List should include client name, address, phone number and a brief description of services provided.
6. Proprietary Information Statement: Provide a statement indicating that no materials included in the submitted RFQ are proprietary. All submitted materials shall become the property of the City of Atascadero.
7. Liability Insurance: Provide a statement that all required insurances will be in force at time of contract execution. The firm will be required to have professional liability insurance, worker';s compensation insurance, professional liability insurance and vehicle coverage insurance (including comprehensive and collision insurance) at a minimum of one million per occurrence for each policy. Insurances must be primary and non-contributory, naming the City of Atascadero as additional insured and waiving subrogation rights.
8. Additional Information: Please state if there is any issue that would prohibit your company from signing the City';s Standard Contractual Agreement (see Attachment A). Consultants may also provide any additional information which they would like to have considered.

RFQ SCHEDULE

The anticipated schedule of activities related to this RFQ is as follows:

• RFQ Issued: August 13, 2021
• Last day for questions to be submitted: September 3, 2021
• Qualifications Submittal Deadline: September 20, 2021
• Consultant Procurement: October 2021
• CC/PC Public Scoping Session with Consultant: November 2021
• Project Completion: Before December 2023

AMENDMENTS TO RFQ

City reserves the right to amend the RFQ by Addendum. If necessary, the Statement of Qualifications submittal deadline will be extended to allow submitters additional time to respond to the RFQ Addendum.

QUESTIONS

Questions related to this solicitation shall be submitted via email and addressed to:

Loreli Cappel, Deputy Director of Economic and Community Development
Department of Community Development
City of Atascadero

Email: lcappel@atascadero.org

SUBMITTAL

Qualification packages are due no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, September 20, 2021.

1. An electronic PDF submittal must be emailed to cityclerk@atascadero.org. Platforms such as DropBox, or other similar, cloud-based .FTP site are preferred due to file size.
2. One sealed hard copy submittal must clearly identify the RFQ number CD-2021-02 and shall be mailed to:

   City of Atascadero
   Attn: City Clerk
   6500 Palma Avenue
   Atascadero, CA 93422

All submittals will become a public record, available for review upon request.