Request for Proposals: Tax Increment Financing District Application Services Response Date: December 11, 2009, 2:00 PM

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1 Website: Request for Proposals: Tax Increment Financing District Application Services Response Date: December 11, 2009, 2:00 PM I. PURPOSE The city of Burlington's Community and Economic Development Office seeks professional consulting services to prepare an application to the Vermont Economic Progress Council to establish a new Tax Increment Financing district in the city. II. BACKGROUND Tax Increment Financing districts are state-governed municipal financing tools that help pay for public infrastructure improvements required to stimulate development or redevelopment within an area defined by a municipality, with the goals of providing employment opportunities, improving and broadening the tax base, and enhancing the general economic vitality of a municipality, region, or the state. TIF districts are considered public-private partnerships because they rely on public action to stimulate private investment. In an approved TIF district, tax increment from new private development is captured and set aside to help retire the debt that funded the public infrastructure improvements. Once the debt is retired, all taxes revert to the taxing authorities. Because Vermont has a statewide education property tax, a municipality must apply for the authority to utilize a portion of the incremental Education Fund revenue generated within the TIF District to help finance the infrastructure improvements. The Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) approves applications submitted to the Tax Increment Financing District Program. VEPC is an independent board of nine citizens appointed by the governor, plus two voting members from the General Assembly and two non-voting regional representatives from each region. The TIF funding mechanism in general and the Vermont TIF Program are described in detail at VEPC s webpage: The city of Burlington intends to apply to VEPC to create a new TIF district in parts of the city s state-designated Downtown Development District. The City Council has authorized the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO) to submit a TIF District application, and CEDO has since submitted a Letter of Intent to VEPC. However, CEDO is now seeking a consultant to assemble the actual TIF application. Burlington also has an existing TIF district that primarily encompasses the downtown waterfront area west of Battery Street. The existing district is separate and apart from the proposed new district; this RFP only addresses tasks related to the application for a new district.

2 III. SCOPE OF WORK The consultant will be expected to complete all aspects of a TIF application, consistent with 24 VSA and VEPC guidelines and procedures. The scope of work includes drafting a TIF District Application, a TIF District Plan, and a TIF District Financing Plan. The TIF application process, application forms, and the application timeline, is described in detail at VEPC s TIF District Program webpage (URL listed above, under Background). The consultant will be expected to attend all public meetings required by the TIF application process, as well as VEPC meetings at which the application is being considered. However, if VEPC approves the TIF application, the consultant will not be expected to participate in seeking authorization by the legal voters of Burlington to pledge the credit of the municipality for the purposes of TIF district debt, unless under a separate contract amendment specific to that effort. Similarly, the consultant will not be expected to be involved in any aspect of the TIF district implementation, reporting, or auditing unless under separate contract. The consultant will work in close coordination with the CEDO Director, project manager, and other designated staff, as needed. IV. DELIVERABLES: Deliverables will include all aspects of the VEPC TIF application, including completed: TIF District Application (including all application forms, including application checklist, but for statement, nexus and proportionality analysis, application approval criteria, and authorization and certification). TIF District Plan TIF District Financing Plan These deliverables will be due by April 2, Attendance at VEPC meetings to help present the application will continue beyond the due date. Additionally, the TIF District Financing Plan will likely be completed after the District Plan is approved by VEPC. The consultant will use Microsoft-based software to produce all deliverables, and all materials produced for this project will become the property of the city of Burlington. V. STATUTORY & OTHER REQUIREMENTS This project is partially funded with public funds and will require compliance with applicable state and local rules and regulations including: A. Burlington s Livable Wage Ordinance requires payment of an annually adjusted livable wage to employees working on the funded project. B. If you are a Minority- or Women-Owned Business (defined in the city s Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise Registry Program Guide at and you wish to be identified as such for purposes of the RFP), please contact CEDO at Request for Proposals: Tax Increment Financing District Application Page 2

3 VI. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS A. Technical Proposal Requirements The Technical Proposal should demonstrate that the Proposer understands the intent and scope of the project, the character of the deliverables, the services required for their delivery, and the specific tasks that must be performed in the course of supplying these services. In addition, the qualifications of the Proposer to supply the required services must be demonstrated, particularly in regards to familiarity with tax increment financing in general, and the Vermont TIF Program in particular. Please include the following in the Technical Proposal: Cover Letter The letter should provide a brief introduction along with an overview of the Proposer s understanding of the nature of the work and approach to be taken. Introduction to the Consultant Firm(s) Proposers shall provide the following information relative to their firms. Similar information must be provided for each sub-consultant or each member of a joint venture. 1. Firm name, primary contact, business address, telephone number, and address. 2. Year established; include former firm names and year established, if applicable. 3. Identify the state in which the firm was organized or incorporated. 4. Type of ownership, and name and location of parent company and subsidiaries, if any. 5. A description of the firm s general qualifications, including experience with similar types of projects. 6. A description of the specific skills and services the firm offers. Qualifications and Experience of Key Staff Proposers shall identify key individuals assigned to this project and include the function and/or responsibility of each. Experience summaries of these key individuals shall be provided, with emphasis on previous experience on similar projects in similar roles. Résumés of these key individuals may also be included as an appendix. This section should include a discussion of the firm s ability to respond to requests in a timely manner. References The respondent shall submit names, addresses, and phone numbers of at least three references familiar with the consultant s ability, experience, and reliability in the performance and management of projects of a similar nature. B. Cost Proposal and Timeline Requirements The cost proposal should present a table including hourly rates for all personnel who may be utilized under this contract, the total cost of services to complete the scope of work, and the proposed timeline for completing the scope of work described in this RFP. Request for Proposals: Tax Increment Financing District Application Page 3

4 C. Deadline and Submission Instructions An original and two copies of the complete proposal must be received by 2:00 PM, Friday, December 11, 2009 at the Community and Economic Development Office, addressed to: Community & Economic Development Office Room 32 - City Hall 149 Church Street Burlington, VT ATTN: TIF District Application Proposal Proposers are solely responsible for ensuring that proposals arrive on time. Proposals received after the due date and time will be returned unopened. Faxed proposals will not be accepted. The city will not pay any costs incurred by any proposer in the submission of a proposal; proposers are responsible for all costs associated with responding to this RFP. All materials submitted in response to this RFP will become the property of the city upon delivery. VII. SELECTION CRITERIA: Award of the contract resulting from this RFP will be based upon the most responsive Proposer whose offer will be the most advantageous in terms of cost, functionality, and other factors as specified elsewhere in this RFP. The following will be the primary criteria in evaluating proposals submitted: 1. Completion of all required responses in the correct format. 2. The extent to which the proposal addresses the stated requirements of this RFP. 3. Qualifications of the firm and personnel (including any subcontractors) to be assigned to this project and their past experience completing similar projects (special consideration will be given to familiarity with tax increment financing in general, and the Vermont TIF Program in particular). 4. Demonstration of overall project understanding, clarity of the proposal, and knowledge of the local area. 5. An assessment of the Proposer s ability to deliver the indicated services in accordance with the specifications set out in this RFP, including timeline. 6. Overall cost of the proposal. The city of Burlington reserves the right to: Reject any or all offers and discontinue this RFP process without obligation or liability to any potential Vendor, Accept other than the lowest priced offer, Request for Proposals: Tax Increment Financing District Application Page 4

5 Award a contract on the basis of initial offers received, without discussions or requests for best and final offers, and Award more than one contract. VIII. CONTACT PERSON The designated contact person for this Request for Proposal is: David Weinstein, Special Projects Coordinator, Community and Economic Development Office, Room 32, City Hall, Burlington, Vermont 05401, (802) dweinstein@ci.burlington.vt.us. Any questions about this Request for Proposal must be received by the designated contact person via or regular mail no later than December 4, IX. DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS An original and two copies of the complete proposal must be received by 2:00 PM, Friday, December 11, 2009 at the Community and Economic Development Office, addressed to: Community & Economic Development Office Room 32 - City Hall 149 Church Street Burlington, VT ATTN: TIF District Application Proposal Proposers are solely responsible for ensuring that proposals arrive on time. Proposals received after the due date and time will be returned unopened. Faxed proposals will not be accepted. X. TIMELINE Event 1. RFP Distribution Date November 20, Questions from Vendors about scope or approach due December 4 3. Responses to Vendors about scope or approach due December 7 4. Proposal Due Date December Review of Proposals--Week of December Anticipated decision and selection of Vendor(s) December Firms not selected will be notified in writing January 1, Execution of contract with elected contractor January 1, Consultant work completed by April 2, 2010 Request for Proposals: Tax Increment Financing District Application Page 5

6 XI. LIMITS OF LIABILITY CEDO assumes no responsibility or liability for costs incurred by proposers in responding to the RFP. The city reserves the right, at its discretion and without explanation to prospective Vendors, to waive immaterial defects and minor irregularities in proposals submitted, and/or to discontinue this RFP without obligation to such prospective Vendors. XII. ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION OF PROPOSALS CEDO and the city reserve the right at its discretion and without explanation to prospective Vendors, to reject any and all Proposals at any time with no penalty. CEDO will not negotiate with potential Vendors between opening the proposals and award of the contract. XIII. APPEAL OF AN AGGRIEVED PROPOSER If a proposer is aggrieved by the award of the contract, the proposer may appeal in writing to: Larry Kupferman, Director, Community and Economic Development Office, 149 Church Street, Burlington, VT The appeal must be postmarked within fourteen (14) calendar days following the date of the written notice to award the contract. After the decision of the Director, if the proposer is unsatisfied they can appeal to the city s Board of Finance, c/o Mayor s Office,149 Church Street, Burlington, VT The appeal must be postmarked within fourteen (14) calendar days following the date of the written notice of the Director s decision. The Board of Finance decision is final. Request for Proposals: Tax Increment Financing District Application Page 6