REQUEST for PROPOSALS Comprehensive Economic
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Comprehensive Economic Development Plan RFP 209-007 ISSUED BY: City of San Marcos - Purchasing Department 630 E. Hopkins San Marcos, Texas 78666 RFP 209-007 December 7, 2008 Dear Proponent: The City of San Marcos invites you to submit proposals for a Comprehensive Economic Development Plan. The City of San Marcos appreciates your time and effort in preparing this proposal. Please note that all proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “DO NOT OPEN – PROPOSAL - Comprehensive Economic Development Plan” and received by the Office of the Purchasing Manager, Municipal Building – 1st Floor, San Marcos, Texas 78666, no later than December 30, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Proposals will be publicly acknowledged in the Human Resources Conference Room, Municipal Building – 1st Floor, at 2:00 p.m. on December 30, 2008. All addendums and tabulations can only be viewed at www.govbids.com and clicking on the Texas E- Purchasing Group link. Award of the contract for this proposal will be made in the Council Chambers, City Hall, at the 7:00 p.m. meeting of the City of San Marcos City Council on January 20, 2009 or any subsequent date. IT IS UNDERSTOOD that the City of San Marcos reserves the right to reject any and/or all proposals as it shall deem to be in the best interest of the City. Thank You, Cheryl Pantermuehl, CPPO, CPPB Purchasing Manager 1 RFP 209-007 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION TITLE ____ __ PAGE 1. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS LETTER. 1 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS . .2 3. COST PROPOSAL . 3-4 4. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS . 5-9 5. SPECIAL PROVISIONS . 10-11 6. RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS . 11-12 7. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL . 12 8. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS . 12-13 9. AWARD OF CONTRACT . .14 10. EXHIBIT “A” . 15-19 2 RFP 209-007 3. COST PROPOSAL PROPOSAL NAME: COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN DUE DATE: DECEMBER 30, 2008 AT 2:00 P.M. CST Item Description Total # Cost 1 Community Assessment $___________ 2 Workforce and Educational Institution Analysis $___________ 3 Cluster, Location Quotient, and Target Industry Analysis $___________ 4 Incentive Program $___________ 5 Business and Industrial Park Strategies $___________ 6 Existing Business Development $___________ 7 Tourism Strategies $___________ 8 Marketing Strategies $___________ 9 Operational Strategy $___________ 10 Implementation Plan $___________ 11 Community Involvement $___________ 12 Meetings $___________ 13 Document Costs $___________ 14 Reimbursables $___________ 15 Per diem cost to undertake any additional work $___________ TOTAL COST $___________ The cost proposal submitted on the enclosed form will constitute an official offer to undertake the proposed work at the proposed prices. Each proponent agrees that its price will remain firm and subject to acceptance by the City for a period of 120 calendar days from the proposal opening date. THE UNDERSIGNED AFFIRMS THAT IT IS DULY AUTHORIZED TO SUBMIT THIS PROPOSAL, THAT THIS PROPOSAL HAS NOT BEEN PREPARED IN COLLUSION WITH ANY OTHER PROPONENT, AND THAT THE CONTENT OF THIS PROPOSAL HAS NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED TO ANY OTHER PROPONENT PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THIS PROPOSAL. A CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 RFP 209-007 THE RESPONSIBLE PROPONENT WHOSE PROPOSAL IS MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY. THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL PROPOSALS. PROPONENT NAME: _________________________________________________ AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME: _______________________________ REPRESENTATIVE'S TITLE: ___________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS: __________________________________________________ PHONE NUMBER: __________________________________________________ FAX NUMBER: ______________________________________________________ EMAIL ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________ AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE:____________________________________________ 4 RFP 209-007 4. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS A. INTRODUCTION: The City of San Marcos, Texas (the “City”), in coordination with the Economic Development San Marcos Board (“EDSM”), is requesting proposals from potential proponents for a Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (the “Plan”). The City welcomes the use of partnerships and subcontracting for this project. The City requires assistance in drafting and formulating a modern Plan to guide the City in attracting business and industry and to helping to guide growth that will enhance the quality of life in San Marcos. The effort includes, but is not limited to: 1. Conduct meetings and community events with various officials and citizens, to include any necessary presentations; 2. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges regarding economic development; 3. Identify target industries and potential development areas; 4. Review existing research, city and stakeholder master plans, regional strategic plans, and existing relevant programs; 5. Prepare and present a final report to the EDSM and City Council including recommendations to attract target industries through collaboration and marketing; and 6. Identify the best method for organizing, funding, and operating a superior city- wide economic development program. B. BACKGROUND: San Marcos is centrally located between Austin and San Antonio on Interstate 35 in Hays County, Texas. The city of San Marcos is the oldest continuously inhabited area in the United States due in part; to its natural resource the spring fed San Marcos River. San Marcos is both the county seat and the largest city in the county with 29 square miles in the city, and 160 miles in an Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (“ETJ”) that extends into three additional counties: Caldwell, Comal, and Guadalupe. San Marcos is home to over 50,000 residents or 35 percent of the county’s total population. Due to the city’s location between two major metropolitan areas, all references to “Regional” denote both Austin and San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The San Marcos 50-mile metro area expands workforce opportunities to over 3 million people. The San Marcos aggregate unemployment rate for 2007 was 3.4 percent, indicating strong job growth from existing and expanding private and public entities. Regionally, San Marcos companies employ nearly 100 percent of the turbine and power transmission equipment manufacturing, two-thirds of the aerospace product and parts manufacturing, and more than one third of the warehousing and storage industry. Emerging industries in San Marcos include logistics and information technology, both of which grew by over 60 percent between the years 2002 and 2007. The largest employer, Texas State University-San Marcos (“TxSU-SM”), is the sixth largest public 5 RFP 209-007 university in the state and offers 114 undergraduate programs, 81 master’s programs, and 5 doctoral programs. TxSU-SM graduates nearly 5,000 students annually, including more than 400 graduates in the combined fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. TxSU-SM research in advanced manufacturing, life sciences and information technology resulted in 57 patents registered with the federal government since 1996. Tourism and retail growth are major components of the local economy. In 2007, total gross sales in the retail industry in San Marcos exceeded $1.2 billion. San Marcos is home to 462 retail businesses that employ approximately 4,500 who serve the 11+ million tourists that shop at the San Marcos Outlet Malls. With over 1.5 million square feet of retail space, the outlet malls are the largest in the country, and the third most visited tourist destination in Texas. In October 2008, the City opened a new 77,300 square foot conference center, flanked by a 281-unit Embassy Suites Hotel. San Marcos has 11,091 acres of parkland, giving it the distinction of the most parkland per capita in the region thus offering abundant eco-tourism opportunities. Spring Lake Preserve, a collaborative purchase by the City, Hays County, TxSU-SM, and the Nature Conservancy set aside 251 acres above Spring Lake for green space and wildlife habitat. Rio Vista Falls, a newly renovated 100-year-old dam at Rio Vista Park, offers tubing and kayaking. Aquarena Center showcases unique plant and animal species, historical sites, and wetland walkways that are visited by regularly by residents and tourists. C. SCOPE OF SERVICE: The Proponent will provide a Plan that will meet or exceed the minimum standards for an Economic Development Administration (“EDA”) Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (“CEDS”). The City expects the Plan to include, at a minimum, all the items listed below, along with accompanying data, maps, drawings, materials or other useful supplemental documentation in the format the City requires. 1. Community Assessment: Analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and constraints of the local and regional economy. The review will include social, demographic, economic and physical factors, including, but not limited to, the following: a) Existing and planned infrastructure; b) Residential housing growth and development; c) Existing economic base and competitive advantages; d) Local land and building availability; e) Locations for commercial and industrial growth; f) Regional competition and competitive assets; g) Special initiatives for economic growth; and 6 RFP 209-007 h) Comparative analysis of benchmark communities. 2. Workforce and Educational Institution Analysis: The Proponent will provide a workforce and educational institution analysis to include: a) Evaluation of local and regional labor characteristics, market trends, employment