Community Campus Master Plan – Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

The City of Mill Creek is soliciting qualifications from experienced planning, architectural, and civic facility consultants to prepare a Community Campus Master Plan for City-owned properties referred to as the DRCC.

Full RFQ document: Community Campus Master Plan RFQ (PDF)

Bidding and RFQ information: millcreekwa.gov/bidding

Background

The DRCC site is a central civic property in Mill Creek. Over the past several years, the City has invested in community engagement, technical studies, and early planning to explore how this property can serve future public services and community needs. Ideas raised include a multipurpose facility, youth and senior facilities, a public works yard, and a new City Hall.

Given rising construction costs and constrained capital budgets, the City now seeks a qualified consultant team to:

• Reconfirm site constraints
• Validate and refine site use scenarios
• Provide clear, actionable recommendations that can guide future funding, design, and phased implementation

Scope of Services

The consultant team will build upon completed surveys, wetland delineations, and needs assessments to deliver a full master plan. Core tasks include:

• Site and constraint analysis (environmental conditions, infrastructure, access, zoning, and permitting pathways)
• Space needs and program validation based on prior studies and community feedback
• Stakeholder engagement with Council, staff, and potential partners
• Visioning and site planning, including layouts, graphics, and 3D massing studies
• Capital strategy and partnership evaluation (funding, public-private partnerships, revenue opportunities)
• Phasing and development strategy aligned with City capital improvement planning
• Operations and maintenance analysis to identify long-term costs
• Permitting and implementation pathway
• Final recommendations with a visual roadmap and clear decision points

Key Considerations

• The City has already advanced important studies and engagement, so this RFQ focuses on refining the vision and testing feasibility.
• Deliverables must help Council make an informed decision and prepare the City for grant funding and phased development.
• The selected consultant will need to balance vision, feasibility, and public value while providing realistic financial and operational strategies.

Timeline

• RFQ Issued: September 11, 2025
• Questions Due: September 25, 2025
• Submittals Due: October 13, 2025 (by 5:00 p.m.)
• Interviews (if held): Late October 2025
• Consultant Selection: Early November 2025
• Project Kickoff: December 2025
• Final Recommendations Delivered: December 2026

Submittal Requirements

Interested firms must provide a single PDF including:

• Cover letter expressing interest
• Team qualifications and relevant examples
• Resumes of key staff
• Proposed approach and methodology
• Samples of comparable civic master plans or feasibility studies

Submittals should be sent electronically to:

• Jeff Ryan, Director of Community Development and Planning
• Email: jeff.ryan@millcreekwa.gov

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be scored based on:

• Relevant project experience (20 points)
• Team and individual qualifications (20 points)
• Clarity and strength of proposed approach (30 points)
• Familiarity with municipal operations (15 points)
• Experience with Washington State jurisdictions (15 points)

General Terms

• All submittals are subject to the Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).
• Proprietary material must be clearly marked as confidential.
• The City reserves the right to reject any or all submittals.
• Equal opportunity applies regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.