Town and Village of Waterbury
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
for
Consultant Services
for an
Economic Disaster Recovery Director
Introduction:
The Town and Village of Waterbury are seeking proposals for consultant services to assist by providing an Economic Disaster Recovery Director for the Town and Village of Waterbury. The Town and Village have applied for an Economic Adjustment Assistance, FY 2012 Disaster Relief Opportunity Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to assist with this project. This grant project is the outgrowth of the Long-term Community Recovery (LTCR) project that was recently completed with assistance from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). The Economic Disaster Recovery Director/Consultant will work under the supervision of William Shepeluk, the Municipal Manager for the Town & Village of Waterbury, with assistance and project coordination by Stephen Lotspeich, the Community Planner for the Town & Village.
Project Description/Scope of Work:
Overall scope of work: Waterbury is seeking funding assistance to contract with an individual or firm to provide services of an Economic Disaster Recovery Director. The successful contractor will assist with developing and implementing long-term economic recovery projects that have emerged from Waterbury’s Long-term Community Recovery Planning Process. See attached summary of LTCR projects.
The specific objectives include:
(1) Fully develop and implement disaster recovery projects identified by Waterbury’s Long-Term Recovery Planning process to achieve specific economic development goals of increased productivity, innovation, and job creation (see Attachment 3 for a summary of the planning process and proposed projects). Proposed projects go beyond restoring Waterbury to what it was prior to Irene. Several projects address long term needs and capitalize on emerging opportunities such as: transforming some buildings damaged in the flood into affordable housing; developing a center for resilient technology to transfer the learning and technologies gained from the flood into an incubator for green technologies and practices; and establishing a business resource center to support existing businesses and to promote new business growth.
(2) Establish project priorities by working with local officials, stakeholder groups and disaster recovery project champions.
(3) Assist state planners to ensure a speedy and full return of state offices and employees to the Waterbury state complex.
(4) Develop relationships with organizations such as the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation, the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce to promote Waterbury as a desirable site for relocating businesses.
(5) Develop and maintain working relationships with state and federal agencies, local governments, stakeholder groups, and citizen committees participating in recovery projects to ensure that we pursue every opportunity for funding to support programs and projects outlined in the Long Term Recovery Plan.
(6) Provide support to committees, task forces and groups supporting the programs and projects of the Long Term Recovery Plan.
(7) Identify creative financing and gap financing opportunities.
To accomplish these objectives, we will contract for the services of an Economic Disaster
Recovery Director. The qualified individual or firm must demonstrate significant experience in
fields of economic & community development and administration at a leadership level; knowledge of Vermont’s housing, economic and community development programs; considerable experience and expertise in government financial planning, grant writing, and creative financing methods; and demonstrated skills in writing, speaking, group facilitation and project management. The qualifications of all municipal staff involved in the project are provided in Attachment 4.
The priority projects issuing from the Long Term Recovery Plan will define the work plan. The contractor will report to the Waterbury Town Select Board and the Waterbury Village Trustees. The Waterbury Municipal Manager, William Shepeluk will provide oversight of the project for the Town and Village of Waterbury.
Waterbury seeks 18 months of funding to achieve these objectives. The measureable products or achievements that are expected include:
(1) Develops agendas and staffs both monthly and weekly meetings of the Long Term Community Recovery (LTCR) Champions and Steering Committee. Will provide administrative support and serve as a non-voting member of the committees. (2) Identifies grant opportunities for the 22 LTCR projects, writes grant applications,
supervises VISTA member (if one is placed in Waterbury). The economic disaster
recovery director will be expected to raise $3 million in grant monies for LTCR projects. (3) Serves as project manager for LTCR projects as directed by steering committee, with
special emphasis on high-priority projects. The economic disaster recovery director will track monthly status on all projects, issue a monthly status report on all projects, maintain records of recovery meetings and activities, identify overlap and potential conflict among projects, and help allocate resources with oversight from the LTCR steering committee. The recovery director will identify short-term and long-term goals for each of the 22 projects, and strategies for accomplishing these goals. At least 5 of the 22 LTCR projects will be accomplished within the 18-month period. The recovery director will track
number and types of investments in LTCR projects; any jobs created or retained by LTCR projects; any private sector investments resulting from LTCR projects; and any changes in the economic environment.
(4) Uses media (websites, newsletters, press releases) to communicate recovery activities, and serves as media contact for recovery efforts. Will issues website updates at least biweekly, and press releases at least monthly.
(5) Coordinates with FEMA staff and other recovery partners.
(6) Develops business plan and financial strategy for LTCR projects as directed by the LTCR steering committee. Must have knowledge of community economic development
(7) Assesses Waterbury’s economic and community development needs using relevant material from other government- and private-sponsored plans. Assists LTCR steering committee in prioritizing projects to address needs identified in planning documents. Supports goals and objectives contained in LTCR plan, including but not limited to economic development and opportunity; reduction of carbon emissions through transportation strategies; protection of the natural environment; and promotion of workplace technology and high-speed telecommunications.
(8) Conducts community engagement exercises to ensure community support an buy-in for the 22 LTCR projects. Will work with architect to develop conceptual designs of various LTCR projects to facilitate community engagement.
A complete list of the Proposed Waterbury Long-Term Community Recovery Projects is attached for reference.
The consultant will work with the Project Steering Committee, municipal staff, property owners, and other interested individuals to carry out the project.
Project Schedule:
The project will take place over an approximately 18-month period from September, 2012 to March, 2014.
Budget and Payment:
The budget for the project is a maximum of $140,000. Payment will be made on bi-monthly basis A final payment of approximately $14,000 will be made after completion of the consultant’s work on the project.
Proposal Requirements:
The proposal must include the following information that will be used as a basis for evaluation:
A. A brief description of your firm and any subcontractors, the firm's qualifications, and resumes of the key personnel who are proposed to work on this project;
B. A brief approach to the project, including how the various items in the project description will be accomplished;
C. A proposed project schedule with the date the work can begin, referenced to receiving a contract from the municipality;
D. An itemized fee schedule for the scope listed above, including a cost figure for each task identified in the proposal and a not-to-exceed total. An hourly fee schedule for all personnel proposed to work on the project;
E. A list, brief description, and examples of work produced for similar projects you have completed within the past five years, including but not limited to names and telephone numbers of at least three contact people to whom the projects were submitted.
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Requirements:
Because federal monies will be used to fund this planning study, the selected consultant will be required to comply with the requirements of the U.S. Economic Development Administration, including the following:
1. The consultant shall maintain all books, documents, payrolls, papers, accounting records and other evidence pertaining to costs incurred as part of this project and make them available at reasonable times during the period of the contract and for three years thereafter for inspection by any authorized representatives of the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
2. The consultant shall comply with all contractual requirements of the U.S. Economic Development Administrationand all applicable federal regulations.
No person who is an employee, agent, officer, or elected or appointed official of the Town and Village of Waterbury may obtain a personal or financial interest or benefit from, or have an interest in, any contract or proceeds from a contract relating to this project, either for themselves or for those with whom they have family or business ties, during their tenure or for one year thereafter, if they exercise or have exercised any functions of responsibility with respect to the U.S. Economic Development Administration or gain inside information with regard to this funding source.
Short-listed firms may be asked to give an oral presentation to the Project Steering Committee and municipal staff. The Town and Village reserve the right to reject any or all proposals. Interested firms or individuals should submit two copies of a sealed, written proposal, including one copy of work-product examples, as well as an electronic version of the proposal (PDF or Word/Office document), by noon on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, to:
Stephen Lotspeich, Community Planner Waterbury Municipal Offices
51 S. Main St.
Waterbury, VT 05676
If you have questions or need additional information please call (802) 244-1012, or send an e-mail to slotspeich@waterburyvt.com.
