RFP FOR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKER SERVICES

The Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage the services of a real estate firm specializing in commercial real estate to provide services for property currently owned by the Gary Community School Corporation. It is the intent of this RFP to have the successful broker/firm enter into a Professional Services Contract with the Gary Community School Corporation to supply real estate services as outlined herein. The initial list of property consists of properties found in Addenda A.

The City of Gary is optimistic about opportunities for rebirth as the Chicago-Gary Airport grows along with a new casino scheduled for construction in the coming months. A new mayor took office in January 2020 with encouraging plans for revitalization of the City of Gary, a great opportunity for real estate investment in the community with availability of large amounts of land for business development near major roads. The City of Gary, as a suburb of Chicago, has easy access to I-65 and I-80/94, I-90 toll road, and the reopening of the Cline Avenue Bridge to Chicago.

City of Gary Points of Interest Indiana University Northwest Ivy Tech College Marquette Park & Pavilion Jackson 5 Childhood Home USS Steel Yard, Southshore Railcats Baseball Team Lake Michigan Shoreline View of Chicago Gary Centennial Landmark Miller Beach Genesis Convention Center Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education/Miller Woods

The real estate firm is expected to meet the objectives of selling individual properties as outlined in this Proposal. Having a wide, global outreach to prospective businesses for development, redevelopment, or residential development is extremely important. The real estate broker is expected to aggressively market and sell available properties to entrepreneurs, businesses, or contractors seeking a presence in the City of Gary.

The real estate firm will be expected to work closely with Gary Schools Recovery LLC (GSR) (the contracted entity appointed by the State of Indiana to manage the Gary Community School Corporation). The firm will provide monthly reports to GSR regarding activities that may include inquiries, showings, questions, offers for purchase, etc.

The real estate firm shall inform GCSC of intended showings of closed school buildings so that security personnel may open the building and accompany the broker and interested purchaser to a site visit if requested.

Responses to proposals should be submitted to Gary Community School Corporation Properties Email (below) by email by 2:00pm August 14, 2020; subject line “Proposal – GCSC Real Estate Broker Services”. These will be posted on the GCSC website for public viewing by August 15, 2020. Selection will be made by August 17, 2020.

The Gary Community School Corporation reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or parts of proposals, when it is judged to be in the best interest of the school district. All questions prior to RFP opening should be addressed to: [email protected]

Question deadline will be August 11, 2020.

A. SCOPE OF SERVICES The successful firm shall agree to contract with the Gary Community School Corporation to provide the following services: • Follow all statutory regulations around the sale of school properties in Indiana, including the sale of properties by a Distressed Unit. • Coordinate real estate appraisals, if necessary • Develop marketing strategies for sale of properties • Coordinate showing of property with GCSC security personnel • Develop offer to purchase with potential buyer • Present offer to purchase to owner • Work with GCSC Corporation Counsel and/or GSR representatives to negotiate property sale(s) with potential buyers and prospects via counteroffer • Coordinate real estate transaction closings • Handle all other customary activities and services associated with real estate transactions. • Presentations at public meetings may be required. • Services may include consultation with GSR representatives and the Gary Community School Corporation Counsel relating to the sale of real estate.

B. REAL ESTATE FIRMS QUALIFICATIONS Respondents to this RFP shall have the following qualifications: • Must be licensed and in good standing with the State of Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and the Indiana Real Estate Commission. • Must have an excellent reputation in the real estate community. • Must be knowledgeable in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana local real estate market and have experience with sales of small and large commercial properties. • Must be knowledgeable in the use of all Lake County, Indiana public real estate transactions and records.

C. INSURANCE and LICENSING REQUIREMENTS Proposers must submit copies of certificates of insurance for general liability and workers compensation as well as evidence of current Indiana real estate brokers license.

D. FEE SCHEDULE The proposed fee schedule shall include the following items: • Fee or commission for the services associated with marketing and selling properties. • Additional costs, if any, associated with the marketing and sales of properties. • All fees must be disclosed in the proposal.

E. TERM OF CONTRACT The contract period for the successful broker/firm will be from date of award for a period of six (6) months unless either party choose to discontinue the contract. The contract may be terminated by either party with 30 (thirty) days prior notice.

F. EVALUATION AND AWARD PROCESS Issuance of this RFP and receipt of proposals does not commit Gary Community School Corporation to award a contract. The GCSC reserves the right to postpone receipt date, accepting or rejecting any or all proposals received in response to this RFP, or to negotiate with any of the brokers/firms submitting an RFP, or to cancel all or part of this RFP.

G. ORAL PRESENTATION/INTERVIEWS Firms submitting a proposal in response to this RFP may be required to give an oral presentation of their proposal. Additional technical and/or cost information may be requested for clarification purposes, but in no way will change the original proposal submitted. Interviews are optional and may or may not be conducted.

H. SELECTION CRITERIA • Completeness of response to RFP as outlined in this solicitation. • Demonstrated knowledge of local real estate market, City of Gary, and the Gary Community School Corporation. • Global reach for marketing the property. • Commercial real estate experience, qualifications and references. • Proven commercial real estate track record. • Various industry sector knowledge (business, industrial, commercial, residential). • Ability of the contractor(s) to meet or exceed the requirements defined in the RFP. • Local reputation • Fee schedule

I. RFP SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS By submitting a proposal, you represent that you have: (1) thoroughly examined and have become familiar with the scope of services outlined in this RFP and (2) are capable of performing quality work to achieve the school district's objectives.

THE FOLLOWING PROVIDED INFORMATION WILL ASSIST WITH AWARDING CONTRACT TO MOST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER

• Description of the firm including location, size of firm (number of agents), name of owner, principal, managing broker, number of years in business, dollars of real estate sold in previous year and year to date, broker who will be assigned to Gary Community School Corporation account; brief resume of key person(s) assigned to account, hours of operation. • Contact information including office and cell phone, email address, web address • Insurance information • Indiana Real Estate Brokers license • Description of experience with marketing distressed properties, vacant land for redevelopment. • Description of HOW you will market GCSC properties. • Description of experience selling commercial real estate, and experience with selling distressed properties. • Description of experience working with and for government entities. • Describe most successful marketing and sales of properties for redevelopment. • List of at least three (3) references where your firm provided similar services including name, address, contact information (phone number, email address) for each reference. • Describe value added services offered through your firm- why you are better than a competitor. • Fee schedule- Indicate your requested fee for services, flat rate, commission for listing and selling of properties • Statement of any other costs GCSC may anticipate relating to the real estate services. • Disclosure of any litigation, outstanding judgments and liens, issues with Indiana Department of Professional Regulation or Indiana Board of Realtors.

ADDENDA A

Properties Available for Sale by the Gary Community School Corporation

Ambridge 4th Marshall Street Bernard Watson from Drew 2065 Mississippi St Clark School Razed Clark & Industrial Blvd Dunbar Part of Dunbar Pulaski 17th & Rhode Island Dunbar-Pulaski 920 E. 19th Ave Froebel School Razed 420 W. 15th Ave Lew Wallace Order of Demolition 415 W. 45th Ave Melton 4581 Fillmore St Norton Order of Demolition 1356 Harrison St Pittman School Razed 4948 Delaware St Parcel # 45-09-06-403- 5601-53 E 6TH AVE GARY, IN Undeveloped 002.000-004 46403 Webster 3720 Pierce St

Properties with buildings on them are the priority for sale by GCSC. A number of properties not listed above without a building footprint are also owned by GCSC. GCSC will consult with the selected firm about the timing of sale for properties not listed herein. SIGNATURE PAGE

I have read the Gary Community School Corporation Request for Proposal (RFP) for real estate services and submit documents as requested for consideration for a Contract for Professional Services.

Name of Real Estate Firm

Managing Broker or Owner

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Hours of Operation Website