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Page 18 of 22
Deconstructing The RFQ
The qualities you intend to include or exclude from your skatepark project are largely up to you and the steering committee. Some skateparks are little more than a single obstacle in a paved public space and may not even need a “real” skatepark designer, while others may be elaborate skateboarding monuments that must address myriad needs. The complexity of the job will determine the specificity of the Request For Qualifications (RFQ) process.
The agency responsible for collecting the RFQ—probably the Parks Department—will publish a list of RFQs on their Web site or contact the firms directly. Many businesses that do frequent work for the Parks Department will usually have an RFQ on file with Parks.
The RFQ will query the potential contractor on a variety of qualities. To identify the best designer for your project, the RFQ might include the following:
• Design philosophy
• Special expertise of staff
• Unique capabilities on similar projects
• Demonstration of relevant experience
• Experience with public process and community participation
• Minimum number of previous and comparable projects
• Experience with progressive skatepark concepts
• Demonstrated coordination with various groups or associations
• Biography of the proposed design team members including sub-consultants
• Role and percentage of work for each member of the design team
• Estimated schedule to complete the project to final design
The potential designer should have most of these items already collected into an RFQ packet, as the process is very similar regardless of the size of the public project. Only the last item may require some specific consideration.
The goal of the review body is to compare those submitted qualifications with the criteria established to identify the proper vendors. For example, if the new skatepark will likely feature lots of street-style terrain, the RFQ should focus on identifying those designers with demonstrated experience designing successful street-style skateparks. Incidentally, the same RFQ process applies to the construction of the skatepark and may be even more important. If the skatepark will likely have hanging concrete, the RFQ should focus on identifying those contractors capable of performing this specialized and challenging type of construction.
Advocates who lack a confident understanding of the RFQ and public bidding process should rely upon the steering committee and Parks Department for guidance. Remember: It is imperative that the RFQ be tailored to the vision for the park and not to who necessarily has the best price tag or comfortable relationship with the city’s bureaucracies.
The RFQ process culminates with the qualified companies being invited to bid on the project. This has its own process and is controlled in many states or counties by specific regulations to manage and document budgets. The qualified companies are contacted with a Request For Proposal, or RFP. The RFP is a simple process that essen-tially asks those companies to bid on the project. For most projects the contract will be awarded to the lowest bidder. The RFQ narrows those who are permitted to bid upon a project and the RFP asks those who are left to compete with each other for that contract.
SAMPLE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
County of Anywhere, Alaska
January 2, 2000
Anywhere County, Alaska is requesting qualifications (RFQs) from firms interested in performing a final conceptual design of a skate park at a designated location in the Parks and Recreation Park System within the Town of Anytown.
The County wishes to use the design model of project delivery in this procurement. The County will evaluate qualifications and may negotiate a contract with the firm deemed most qualified by the County.
Ten (10) copies of each proposal shall be submitted in a sealed envelope or package clearly marked Anywhere County Skatepark Conceptual Design” by 12:00 PM., Pacific Standard Time, on January 2, 2010. Proposals should be delivered to:
Douglas P. Employee, County Administrator
123 Main Street
Anytown, Alaska 12345
(555) 555-5555
Copies of the Request for Qualifications, which specifies what information the County requires and how the information will be used to determine the firm best qualified for the project may be obtained from the Parks and Recreation Department Administrative Office at (540) 635-7750 between 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM weekdays.
The County of Anywhere reserves the right to reject any and all proposals.
County of Anywhere
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
Skate Park Design
Community and Project Goals
Provide engaging facility for the community’s skateboard/bmx enthusiasts
• Migrate participants into appropriate setting
Create landmark that draws world-class participants
• Draws local participants into park, plus enables rapid athletic progression
Generate additional tourist revenue
• Design a professional park to help draw people and create an economic benefit
Create a facility that contributes to our community identity and pride
Project Scope
At a minimum, the selected firm shall do the following:
• Develop a final conceptual design concept for a new 15,000 square feet concrete skatepark which features terrain for beginner to advanced users. Terrain should be an equal mix of street, transition and bowls.
• Develop preliminary cost estimates for full project development (design and materials)
Proposal Format
General Requirements
• To be considered for selection, offerors must submit a complete response to the Request for Qualifications. Failure to submit all information requested may result in the rejection of the incomplete proposal. A committee consisting of Parks and Recreation Commission members, Skatepark Committee members, and Parks and Recreation staff will review the proposals. The committee will recommend the awarding the most qualified firm. Final approval will be made by the Anywhere County Board of Supervisors.
• Proposals shall be signed by an authorized representative of the offeror. Each copy of the proposal shall be bound in a single volume where practical. All documentation submitted with the proposal should be bound in a single volume.
• Ten (10) copies of each proposal shall be submitted in a sealed envelope or package clearly marked “Anywhere County Skatepark Conceptual Design” by 12:00 PM., Monday, January 2nd, 2010. Proposals should be delivered to:
Douglas P. Employee, County Administrator
123 Main Street
Anytown, Alaska 12345
(555) 555-5555
• The County of Anywhere is not responsible for delays in the delivery of the mail by the U.S. Postal Service, private carriers, or the inter-office mail system.
• It is the sole responsibility of the offeror to ensure that its proposal reaches Douglas P. Employee, County Administrator, by the designated date and hour.
• All offerors shall abide by all applicable State and Federal laws. The County of Anywhere does not discriminate against small and minority businesses.
Specific Requirements
• Proposals should be as thorough and detailed as possible so that the Selection Committee may properly evaluate the capabilities of the respective firms to provide the required services. Proposals shall include at a minimum, the following items listed below:
Submittal of Request for Qualifications
Submittals must contain the following information:
Organization
• Design Philosophy
• Special Expertise of Staff
• Unique Capabilities on Similar Projects
Experience
• Demonstration of Relevant Experience
• Experience with Public Process and Participation
• A List of a minimum of Five (5) Former Projects
• Experience with Alternative/Future Skatepark Concepts
• Projects that included coordination with various Groups or Associations.
Design Team
• A biography of the proposed design team members including sub-consultants
• Role and percentage of work for each member of the design team
Schedule
• Estimated schedule to complete the project to final design.
Selection
• The selection will be based upon the submittals. The County expects to award a contract within thirty (30) days. The County reserves the right to reject any or all of the submittals.
The design of a new Skatepark is guided by a vision of a facility, which contributes to our community identity and pride. A facility that is safe but challenging, convenient in its location, secure, comfortable and pleasing to skaters and non-skating community. The image is one of community pride and accessibility by the public.
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