Urban Redevelopment Authority Marketing & Design Firms Request for Consultant Qualifications Issued: March 1, 2010 Due: March 19, 2010 Contact: Megan Stearman 412.255.6576 mstearman@ura.org
I. INTRODUCTION Mission The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) is the City of Pittsburgh s economic development agency, committed to creating jobs, expanding the City s tax base and improving the vitality of businesses and neighborhoods. The URA achieves this mission by assembling, preparing and conveying sites for major mixed-use developments; and by providing a portfolio of programs that include financing for business location, relocation and expansion, housing construction and rehabilitation, and home purchases and improvements. Vision The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh is an innovative redevelopment agency that has transformed the physical and social landscape of Pittsburgh s neighborhoods into vibrant, dynamic, and sustainable communities with a high-quality standard of living for all residents. 2
II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The URA has various marketing and advertising initiatives in which design expertise is needed. Existing marketing initiatives of the URA are neighborhood oriented, with an emphasis on community partnerships. Goals and Objectives The goal of this effort is to select a marketing and design firm that the Authority can hold on retainer for a period of three years. All communications pieces should be provocative and innovative to showcase the URA and redevelopment in Pittsburgh to a variety of audiences, including elected officials, residents of Pittsburgh, community organizations, and potential national investors and partners. We are currently undertaking a strategic planning effort that looks at our communications and messaging. The outcomes of this planning effort will be deliverables for our marketing and design needs. Particular objectives include: Branding all agency communication pieces with a common look and feel. Promote the value of the agency (URA market intervention creates off-site value) and the value of our projects (URA investment is deliberate and purposeful) in a localized voice. Challenges The URA is comprised of 14 different departments, and two separate non-profit organizations. Each department has their own set of projects, data and audiences; however, projects often cross departments multiple times. Because this is a cross-department effort, sharing the story of the full-impact of a project can be difficult to pin down. Deliverables With this contract, we expect to receive the following: A three year contract for an amount not to exceed $30,000. As needed design for print and web advertisements. As needed design for short publications, such as project summaries, program guidelines, and program collateral. As needed video footage including but not limited to project documentations, interviews, celebrations, community meetings. Hourly rates for specific assistance. 3
The URA will provide: All available data and statistics on projects and programs. Necessary contacts for projects and programs. A single point of contact for project management. Images where available. Timeframe The scope of this project is three years. Budget The budget for this project should not exceed $30,000. Contact For more information regarding this Request for Proposals, please contact: Megan Stearman Public Information Officer Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh 11 th floor 200 Ross Street 412.255.6576 mstearman@ura.org 4
III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Procedures for Submission The consultant shall submit one hard copy and one electronic copy of all documents required as part of the RFP. Submissions must be hand delivered or delivered by postal or delivery service by the time indicated below. Submissions lacking one or more of the requested documents may be considered irregular. The URA reserves the right to reject any irregular submissions and reserves the right to waive any irregularity in submissions. It is the consultant s sole responsibility to read and interpret this RFP and the written instructions contained herein. Responses to the RFP shall be submitted to: Megan Stearman Public Information Officer Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh 11 th floor 200 Ross Street 412.255.6576 mstearman@ura.org Responses are due in the URA s office on or before March 19, 2010 by 3pm. Responses to the RFP that are not received in the URA offices prior to the time and date specified will be considered late. LATE RESPONSES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARD. 5
Firm Shall Provide 1. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS a. Identification of the type of legal entity with whom the URA would contract and identification of any special purpose entity. b. The consultant s previous experience including: BRIEF (one-page or less) description of similar projects (date, location, concept) samples of work produced that relate to the project at hand three references with contact information 2. CONCEPTS The consultant shall prepare a brief written description of the proposed approach to the project, including an explanation of the manner in which the proposal meets the goals and objectives of the project. (This can be provided by way of a cover letter.) 3. BUDGET The consultants(s) shall submit hourly rates for individual project elements. Estimates for individual projects may become necessary at the time of project readiness. 4. SCHEDULE The consultant(s) should be prepared to remain as an on-call agency for three years following contract award. 6
IV. SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA After the URA has completed its evaluation of the submittals, those consultants who are short-listed may be asked to make presentations to the Selection Committee. Consultants will be given interview time(s) to present their proposal according to the Selection Committee's schedule. Proposals, however, may be accepted without oral presentations. Final selection of the consultant(s) shall be made by the URA Board. Selection Criteria The URA intends to make a subjective decision based upon information submitted by the consultant in the response to the RFP, interviews, and an analysis of performance in previous undertakings. The selected consultant(s) will be chosen on the basis of quality of the proposed project and factors which may include, but are not limited to: consultant s qualifications and capacity, substantially meeting the stated goals and objectives for the project, experience working with the public sector, particularly public financiers, ability to work in a flexible and on-call manner, provocative and pertinent portfolio, and minority and women business enterprise participation. The URA shall be the sole judge as to which proposals best meet the selection criteria. The URA reserves, at its sole discretion, the right to reject any or all proposals received, to waive any submission requirements contained in this RFP, and to waive any irregularities in any submitted proposal. 7
Selection Schedule March 19, 2010 March 25-31, 2010 April 8, 2010 Proposals due to URA by 3pm Internal review Consultant(s) recommendation to URA Board for final approval Addenda to the RFP Addenda to the Request for Proposals, if issued, will be on file in the office of the URA. In addition, all Addenda will be emailed to each person who received copies of the RFP provided they enter their name and email address on the list maintained by URA for such purpose. It is the responsibility of all parties submitting responses to the RFP to make inquiry as to the Addenda issued and to ascertain prior to submitting a response that all Addenda have been received. All such Addenda shall become part of the RFP documents and all respondents shall be bound by such Addenda, whether or not received by the respondents. V. For Review a. 8