Request for Proposals (RFP) Black Horse Pike (N.J. Route 168) Collaboration Planning Initiative Camden County,

A. Background and Purpose of the Study

The Black Horse Pike (S.R. 168) originates in the City of Camden and ultimately connects to Atlantic City. It is a major north-south corridor running through Camden County. Traversing urban neighborhoods and older suburban boroughs and townships, the character and aesthetic condition of land uses along the Black Horse Pike reflects different community character and design choices.

The Black Horse Pike serves both the local communities and the region. For residents of Gloucester County, the Black Horse Pike provides a direct route to Washington Township enabling drivers to bypass the congested Route 42 corridor. For the local communities in Camden County, the Black Horse Pike provides retail and commercial establishments that include service–oriented types of use, restaurants, and bigger manufacturing uses. At the northern end of the Black Horse Pike, there is access to the PATCO Ferry Avenue Station as well as a direct connection to via the Walt Whitman Bridge. Because of the increase in traffic along the Black Horse Pike, the commercial and retail uses have become auto-oriented and there is a lack of pedestrian access from the surrounding neighborhoods.

Over the past few years, DVRPC has begun working with many municipalities in Camden County to help identify challenges and opportunities for change. Our initial efforts began on the White Horse Pike working with eight municipalities and the White Horse Pike Task Force to begin to create a common vision for the future development of the corridor. Some of the same municipalities have expressed the same concerns with the Black Horse Pike, as they share many of the same issues and opportunities.

With similar conditions and common interest among the participating communities, the municipalities along the Black Horse Pike have a unique opportunity to work with each other and join their vision and efforts for the future of this corridor. The intent of this study is to identify and recommend those actions that each of the municipalities along the corridor can implement individually but also to place those actions into a larger context of a larger need for the entire corridor.

B. Study Area

The Black Horse Pike Collaboration planning initiative will examine the potential for redevelopment and revitalization opportunities in the neighborhoods of Camden City and surrounding suburban communities. The study area municipalities will include:

Audubon Borough Audubon Park Borough City of Camden (Neighborhoods of: Whitman Park, Centerville, Morgan Village, Fairview) Collingswood Borough Haddon Township (Neighborhood of West Collingswood) Mt. Ephraim Borough Oaklyn Borough Woodlynne Borough

The study area along the Black Horse Pike is bordered to the north by the intersection of Newtown Avenue and Haddon Avenue in Camden City and to the south by Kings Highway in Mt. Ephraim. It will include the neighborhoods of Whitman Park, Centerville, Morgan Village and Fairview in Camden, the Borough of Woodlynne in its entirety, the Borough of Audubon Park in its entirety, portions of Audubon Borough, the West Collingswood Section of Haddon Township, and Mt. Ephraim (up to Kings Highway).

The purpose of this collaborative planning initiative is to provide strategic revitalization and a uniform design element for the entire study area identifying how these communities can work together to address

1 common issues and opportunities, while maintaining their individual character and uniqueness. The plans will include goals and objectives; a future vision statement; target forecasts; design recommendations and inter-municipal and municipal recommendations for the success of each municipality.

C. Scope of Work

1. Background Analysis

Conduct an audit of all municipal master plans and land use ordinance for consistency and compatibility with adjacent towns. An analysis of the State Redevelopment and Development Plan Objectives will also be conducted, particularly for all PA1 and PA2 designated areas and objectives.

An inter-municipal and inter-agency steering committee will be established that will have representatives from each of the communities involved as well as the Camden County Improvement Authority (CCIA), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), and any other stakeholders or political figures that may be deemed necessary.

An issues profile will be conducted for each of the municipalities and neighborhoods within the study area. Elements that will be studied include, but are not limited to:

• Land Use/Zoning • Housing • Economic Development • Transportation • Natural Resources • Recreation and Open Space • Historic Resources • Public facilities • Intergovernmental coordination and services

With the help of the steering committee, a vacant, deteriorated, and underutilized properties inventory will be undertaken throughout the study area. The inventory will include an exterior assessment of property/building conditions, current zoning, ownership, and current market value, conditions and value of neighboring properties. In order not to duplicate previous work completed, this study will incorporate the redevelopment plans already in place. This information will be used to identify existing and potential “areas in need of redevelopment and/or rehabilitation” along the entire corridor with special attention given to brownfields and greyfields. The study will also build upon work previously done by both DVRPC and the individual municipalities and incorporate recommendations from DVRPC’s NJ 168 Corridor Study (September 2004). All other work completed along the Route 168 corridor or within the individual municipalities will be provided to the consultant by the steering committee.

2. Trends Analysis

A trend analysis of future (10 and 20 year) population, housing, and employment levels given current conditions and redevelopment properties previously identified per existing zoning and development trends will be prepared. This will help to identify market segments for development areas along the Black Horse Pike and throughout the study area municipalities. The market analysis will include retail, commercial, industrial, office space, residential, and entertainment sectors. In addition, each community’s individual identity should be preserved by providing an analysis of “niche” markets that can be employed by individual communities.

2 3. Vision Statement

Based on all of the information and analyses collected and conducted, a collective vision for the future of the corridor will be formed. This task may include an overarching vision statement for the corridor as a whole, with more specific municipality-driven goals and targets for defined segments, based on different opportunities and conditions. The future vision for the Black Horse Pike should be on a municipal scale as well as identifying this corridor’s role for Camden County.

4. Implementation Strategies

Based on the vision statement and information collected through public meetings and stakeholders, specific recommendations and implementation strategies should be developed. Recommendations and implementation strategies should include short-term (1-5 years) as well as long-term (7-12 years) and should include specific lot and block improvements as well as improvements for the entire corridor. Resources for future funding for capital improvements, if needed, should be identified.

5. Design Guidelines and Development Standards Design guidelines and development standards are needed for the corridor as a whole, to create a consistent and cohesive character, and to ensure that new development and redevelopment is compatible with the collective vision of the corridor and the individual revitalization/redevelopment area plans of each municipality. The design of current development often bears no relationship to the surrounding community. Improving the design of the corridor through the application of consistent design guidelines and development standards will serve to create the unified character and identity of the study corridor. While each municipality will adopt and enforce the guidelines within their individual ordinances, they should be consistent and complementary across municipal boundaries.

The design guidelines and development standards should address such issues as: • Building heights and mass • Setbacks and site coverage • Relationships to sidewalk and street, including building orientation and facades • Relationships between buildings and other uses • Buffers between residential and other uses • Parking and loading requirements, particularly location and access • Transit and bicycle circulation and access • General architectural guidelines, including building mass, facades and entrances and exterior materials and treatments • Signage • Landscaping/streetscaping • Historic preservation

In order to unify the corridor in terms of aesthetics, a conceptual streetscape plan should be developed that will incorporate the new design guidelines as well as provide for each municipalities individual character.

6. Public Participation

An integral part of collaboration is including the public in the process of the revitalization of this corridor. The public participation element of this study will ensure comments from residents, business owners, and various institutions during the process. The following should be used a basis for soliciting participation from the public.

• Convening the steering committee at least 6 times during the study. • Conducting stakeholder interviews and 2 public outreach forums to review background findings. • Developing the future vision statement and goals and objectives through an open charette format. • Presenting draft and preliminary documents to the steering committee and various agencies.

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D. Contents of Proposal

1. Summary Statement

The Proposal shall contain an opening statement (no more than two pages) summarizing how the Project Team will accomplish the purposes of the project and should also summarize the roles and qualifications of the Project Team.

2. Statement of Project Team Qualifications and Project Administration

The Proposal shall identify the firms, organizations, and individuals within each firm or organization participating in the Project Team. General qualifications and experience relevant to this project shall be described for each firm or organization, and specific qualifications and experience shall be described for each individual assigned to the project (not including individuals serving in administrative or technical support roles). Exhibits of prior relevant projects may be included in print or digital formats. Contact information is to be provided for three (3) references associated with prior relevant work by the Project Team or its lead members.

A Table of Organization should be included to describe the reporting and review relationships among the members of the Project Team. Contact information, including name, title, street and mailing addresses, telephone, fax, and email and website addresses shall be provided for the lead members of the Project Team in each firm or organization. This section should also identify a Project Team Manager/Principal Contact in order to provide a single, authoritative point of contact between the Project Team and the Project Managers.

3. Scope of Work

The Proposal shall include a Scope of Work and project timeline detailing how, at a minimum, the tasks as described in Section C above are to be accomplished for the study area.

4. Proposed Schedule of Deliverables

The Proposal shall include a table or chart defining and describing one or more deliverables (work products) associated with each Task and subtask, the anticipated date of submission of each deliverable in terms of weeks from project initiation, and the format(s) of each deliverable. Deliverables may include presentations and associated materials such as text documents, Powerpoint files, web sites, display boards, and handouts. Each deliverable is subject to a 5 business day period for review and approval by the Project Managers prior to broader distribution. Draft deliverables are encouraged and should be submitted as one printed, reproducible (unbound) original and one set as digital files on CD-ROM or, if possible, via e-mail. A minimum of ten printed copies and three sets of digital files on CD-ROM are to be provided of each final deliverable. Digital files are to be provided in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, ESRI ArcGIS files, or other common formats subject to approval by the Project Managers. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the William Penn Foundation and the participating Camden County municipalities shall be authorized to distribute copies of all deliverables and to post all digital deliverables on their web sites without limitation. All final deliverables shall be submitted no later than September 30, 2006.

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Administrative Requirements

1. Project Management

This project is to be managed by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, in partnership with the participating municipalities. Contract administration will be provided exclusively through the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. The contract will be cost reimbursable with a fixed-fee, not to exceed type.

The Project Managers are:

Barry Seymour Assistant Executive Director for Regional Planning Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission 190 North Independence Mall West Philadelphia, PA 19106 Telephone: 215-238-2831 Fax: 215-592-9125 Email: [email protected]

Karen Cilurso, AICP Regional Planner Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Telephone: 215-238-2813 Email: [email protected]

The Contract Manager is: Mr. John Griffies, Contract Manager Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission 190 North Independence Mall West Philadelphia, PA 19106 Telephone: 215-238-2925 Fax: 215-592-9125 Email: [email protected]

2. Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated and ranked based on the following criteria and weights:

1. The overall extent to which the methodology, deliverables, and resources committed pursuant to the Proposal will achieve the purposes of the project. (40 points) 2. The experience of the team and the extent to which the Project Team is qualified to successfully complete the tasks specified in the Proposal within the time and budget constraints of the project. (25 points) 3. The designated Project Manager’s experience with similar projects and working with study advisory committees. (15 points) 4. The extent to which the Schedule of Deliverables demonstrates acceptable rates of progress and provides opportunities for adequate input and review by the agencies involved. (10 points) 5. Innovations in methodology and/or analytical or technical approach proposed. (10 points)

5 Interviews with up to the three highest ranked firms or teams may be scheduled in the morning of Wednesday, August 31, 2005. Interviews will last approximately 60 minutes and will be scheduled consecutively. At least one member of each firm or organization participating in the Proposal should attend the interview. A presentation by the Project Team Manager is mandatory. To assist in the selection process, DVRPC reserves the right to request additional information to supplement the original proposal.

3. Submission Date:

5 printed copies and one digital copy of the proposal must be submitted by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 5, 2005. Proposals submitted after this date and time will not be considered.

To: Mr. John Griffies, Contracts Manager Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission 190 North Independence Mall West Philadelphia, PA 19106-2515.

4. Minority Business Enterprise

DVRPC complies with Title 49 CFR Part 26, "Participation of Minority Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Programs" and encourages minority businesses and women-owned businesses to submit proposals and further encourages non-minority business firms to contract with minority businesses where subcontracting opportunities exist. Disadvantaged and minority-owned business will be required to submit certification of eligibility ownership prior to execution of any agreements.

5. Cost Proposal

The Proposal shall include a Cost Proposal that is separate from the technical proposal and in a sealed envelope. A maximum of $60,000 is available to support this project. Funding support comes from the William Penn Foundation through the Strategies for Older Suburbs grant to DVRPC at $60,000.

The cost proposal shall contain the following information for the prime consultant and each subconsultant:

• Estimates of hours to be worked and hourly rates for each staff or classification of staff to be assigned to the project • Overhead Rate • Estimates of direct costs (mileage, printing, etc.) • Total all-inclusive maximum fee for the project, not to exceed $60,000 • Use of Contract Pricing Proposal Form 60, available at www.dvrpc.org/about/rfp.htm is recommended, but other formats will be accepted

Title 41 Code of Federal Regulation’s limit the amount of profit or fee to 10 percent of the direct labor cost, fringe benefits and indirect costs, and from 1 to 5 percent of other direct costs excluding subconsultant costs.

6. Certification Of Eligibility

A certificate is to be included in the proposal for each firm stating that: "The firm is not ineligible to receive award of a contract due to the firm's inclusion on any federal, Pennsylvania or New Jersey State lists of debarred contractors, or otherwise ineligible to be awarded a contract using federal or state funds."

This statement can be written on your firm’s letterhead and should be signed by an officer of the firm.

6 7. Checklist of Proposal Requirements To speed and simplify Proposal evaluation and to assure that each Proposal receives the same orderly review, all Proposals must follow the format described in this section. Respondents are encouraged to submit concise and clear responses to this RFP. DVRPC reserves the right to include the selected Proposal or any part thereof in the negotiated contract. Proposals shall not exceed 80 single-sided pages in length and all resumes, except for the designated Project Manager and any sub-consultant managers shall not exceed one page.

The following are to be included in the proposal, not necessarily in the order presented:

• Summary Statement • Statement of Team Qualifications and Project Administration • Scope of Work • Schedule of Deliverables • Cost Proposal in a separate and sealed envelope • Certificate of Eligibility

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