RFP for Community Facilitation and County Code Evaluation Regarding Affordable Housing

Request for Proposals for Community Facilitation and County Code Evaluation Regarding Affordable HousingRFP Bid Packet - For Community Facilitation and County Code Evaluation Regarding Affordable Housing (PDF)Request for QualificationsThis request for proposal (RFP) is being issued by San Miguel County, Colorado. Thegoal is to solicit proposals from qualified consultants to propose a methodology,timeline, budget, and other necessary or valuable steps to deliver the workoutlined in the Scope of Work identified as part of this solicitation. It is anticipated that the main deliverables will include an analysis of suggestedtypes of housing San Miguel County can best support; summaries of communityoutreach and focus group discussions to gather information on communitypriorities and ideas; and draft amendments to the Land Use Code for suggestedrevisions. The consultant will work with staff, the Planning Commission, Board ofCounty Commissioners, and an advisory group, acting as a facilitator throughoutthe process; conduct community outreach; and present findings with proposedamendments to the Planning Commission and the County Board of Commissioners.This project is governed by the Local Planning Capacity grant awarded by DOLA tothe County. The County has received its contract and is approved to issue this RFPfor services. The expected deliverables for this plan are outlined in the Scope of Services belowand should include consideration of concepts identified within InnovativeAffordable Housing Strategies and the Strong Communities Strategies suggestedbest practices among other best practices in affordable housing development forplanning and building review and approval.BackgroundSan Miguel County has been fortunate to receive a CO Proposition 123 - LocalPlanning Capacity Grant to engage a consultant to evaluate our community contextfor affordable housing, review current land use and zoning codes, review currentland use master plan documents, conduct community outreach and determinesuggestions for programs and/or amendments to streamline and incentivizedevelopment of affordable housing within the County. This project is intended to develop recommendations of land use policy, zoningand/or process amendments to facilitate the development of affordable housing andexpedite review timelines; opportunities to increase inventory; public and privatefunding resources; and to otherwise suggest methods to accelerate the developmentof affordable housing within the county with a focus on the unincorporated areaswhere County codes apply. San Miguel County’s affordable housing program dates to the early 1990s, whenrequirements for housing mitigation were added to the Land Use Code, and the firstplanned affordable housing development, Lawson Hill, was approved. Lawson Hill,along with other housing projects, is nearing build-out, and the pace of buildinghousing for local workers and residents has not kept up with the need. An updatedHousing Needs Assessment is in progress, with preliminary estimates of a currentneed of 807 units, and increasing to 1,114 by 2034. The County has an Affordable Housing Planned Unit Development zone district inplace. Its utilization requires a 5-step review process that can take several years.In 2021, the County adopted a new Community Housing zone district. The intent ofthe new zone district was to provide for the development of high-density clusteredhousing, and to streamline the development review process. Two properties were rezoned to Community Housing, one jointly owned by theCounty and the Town of Telluride, and the other owned by the Town of MountainVillage. Neighbors brought suit regarding the County/Telluride parcel, and therezoning was overturned by the District Court. Zoning for the Mountain Villageproperty remains in effect. In 2022-24, the County undertook the preparation and adoption of a new masterplan to replace the 1989 Telluride Regional Area Master Plan. The East End MasterPlan was adopted in June of 2024. Throughout the planning process, public inputcentered on affordable housing and the appropriateness of the Community Housingzone district. In March of 2024, the Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission helda work session to discuss possible changes to the Community Housing zone district toaddress some of the community concerns. At the conclusion of the meeting, the twobodies decided that the best path forward would be to analyze all County housingregulations in order to determine the most effective ways to support the creation ofhousing, and to form an advisory group of professionals with experience in housingprograms and development as well as citizens. It was decided that a consultantwith experience in affordable housing, land use, community outreach andfacilitation should be hired to assist in those efforts. The San Miguel County Land Use Code and with other relevant materials areavailable on the County website at San Miguel County Website and on or Housing Authority website at San Miguel Regional Housing Authority.  Scope of Work and DeliverablesThe selected respondent (“Consultant”) shall be able to provide the followingscope of work:Review of current practices, identified housing needs and other LiteratureCurrent Land Use Code, Zoning, and other Constraints ReviewIdentify the Major constraints to Affordable Housing DevelopmentLand Use Code UpdateThis area of scope is intended to include the following:Conduct a review of existing Land Use Code requirements, zone districts and development standards to identify barriers to the creation of housing or missed opportunities for housing creation.Identify opportunities to remove identified barriers including but not limited to streamlining the development review process, identifying incentives, and revisions to the Land Use Code and development standards. Help formulate Land Use Code amendments that will facilitate the creation of housing, including but not limited to streamlining the permitting process, removing or reducing regulatory barriers, encouraging infill development, and facilitating higher density residential development. Provide draft Land Use Code amendments and be present for Planning Commission and County Board meetings to discuss the proposed amendments.Identify if or how the County can reduce fees associated with Land Use approvals and the Building Permit process without causing harm to County funds or services.Identify funding opportunities available to the County by signing on to Proposition 123 and other state and federal funding opportunities for land and water banking. Assist in the formation of a County-appointed focus group that is comprised of officials, people involved in housing and development, and local residents, and act as facilitators within those meetings. Develop a community engagement plan that will identify methods of conducting community outreach to identify housing issues that are important to citizens, provide multiple ways for people to provide feedback and be informed, and ensure information is disseminated throughout the process.Proposed ScheduleThe proposed schedule for the Consultant selection is as follows: Milestone                                                                                    Proposed DatesRFP Issued                                                                                   Apr 23, 2025Question Deadline                                                                         May 2, 2025Addendum Response Deadline                                                        May 5, 2025Proposals Due                                                                               May 13, 2025Interviews (if necessary)                                                                May 16, 2025Notification of Selection (Tentative)                                                 May 23, 2025Contract (Tentative)                                                                       Jun 4, 2025Estimated Design Project Kickoff                                                     Jun 9, 2025All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the County.InquiriesInquiries or questions on the contents and requirements of the RFP will be accepted in written electronic form only. Inquiries can be emailed to the attention of: Jarrod Biggs to For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. using the subject line: “Questions on 25AH-CCE”. The deadline for inquiries is Friday, May 2nd at 3:00 PM Mountain Standard Time, after which time no further inquiries will be addressed.Substantive requests for information received may be responded to in writing by the County in the form of an addendum to this RFP and sent to all recipients of the RFP.Proposal RequirementsMaximum page count for the proposal is ten (10) sheets, two-sided (twenty pagestotal).Proposals must include clear descriptions of the firm’s capabilities and experience inperforming the requirements of the RFP, including the following:Transmittal Letter. This letter should outline the Contractor’s ability to provide the experience and scope of services requested. Please provide a profile of the firm and identify the primary project contact for the proposal.Staff Experience. Include a description of each key staff assigned to a typical project. Identify any sub-consultants proposed to serve on the project as well. This should include identification of experience working with affordable housing programs, preparation of Land Use Codes and regulations, meeting facilitation and community outreach.Proposed Project Approach and Estimated Timeline. Explain the consultant’s understanding of the project, and expected project activities. Include an estimated project timeline for the previously mentioned project steps. Explain the availability and capacity of the consultant and any subcontractors to execute and see the project to completion.Sample Projects. Include up to five (5) sample projects that include similar tasks and deliverables to what the County seeks. Include a brief description of each project, and owner contact information for reference checks.Exceptions. Please include a statement regarding exceptions to the County’s sample contract included in the Attachments. If no exceptions are included, the County expects the Consultant will be able to sign the County’s contract and provide the required insurance and indemnification.Signatory Requirements. The Transmittal Letter must be signed by the contractor’s representative who is empowered with signatory authority for the company.Proposal SubmittalThe proposals must be submitted by Tuesday, May 13th at 4:00 PM Mountain Time. Late proposals will not be accepted. It is the Consultant’s responsibility to see that the Proposal is received at the proper time. The County is not responsible for delayed deliveries due to connectivity problems. The time the proposal is logged as received in the City’s email system shall determine the official time received. Please submit an electronic copy of the proposal to the attention of: Jarrod Biggs to For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. with subject heading “RFP Response for 25AH-CCE.”Selection Procedure and Evaluation CriteriaThe County will have a Selection Committee for the evaluation and ranking ofproposals. The County may conduct interviews if determined necessary afterreview of the proposals. The selected firm based upon the proposals (and interviews if held) will be giventhe opportunity to execute a professional services agreement with the County inthe form attached to this RFP. If an agreement regarding scope and fee is not reached within a reasonableperiod, the County may pursue negotiations with another firm or reissue the RFPaltogether. The Proposals will be evaluated and rated based on the factors listed below.Qualification                                                                        Max PointsFirm qualifications and capacity                                                20Qualification and experience of key personnel                            20Understanding of the type of work being requested                    20Approach and scheduling of the tasks required                          20Cost proposal                                                                         20