Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District (BID) Madison Square Park Conservancy REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Government Relations, Strategic Planning, and Capital Campaign Consulting December 22, 2014 INTRODUCTION The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District (Flatiron BID), and the Madison Square Park Conservancy (Conservancy), both not-for-profit corporations organized under the laws of the State of New York, are seeking proposals from qualified firms through this request for proposals (RFP) to perform consulting services related to an upcoming priority project: the permanent reconstruction of the Flatiron Public Plazas and the contiguous Worth Square Plaza, located at and near the intersection of Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street in Manhattan and stretching from 25th Street on the north to 21st Street on the south. The plazas were created as temporary pedestrian plazas in 2008 by the NYC Department of Transportation as part of a comprehensive traffic reconfiguration project, and the Flatiron BID manages and maintains them through a License Agreement with the City. Worth Square, located at the northern portion of the public plaza area between 24th and 25th Streets, is mapped parkland under the management of the Conservancy. The permanent reconstruction of Worth Square will be part of the larger public plaza reconstruction project. The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy will work in concert on this project, along with relevant New York City agencies, including, but not limited to, the NYC Department of Transportation, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. About the Flatiron BID The Flatiron BID, formed in 2006, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides a number of programs and services to the District, including supplemental sanitation and public safety, streetscape and beautification initiatives, marketing and promotion, and homeless outreach. The Flatiron BID is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, representing commercial property owners, commercial tenants, residents, public officials, and community boards/non-profits. The Flatiron BID has a staff of five full-time employees and one part-time employee. For more information on the Flatiron BID, please visit www.FlatironDistrict.nyc. About the Madison Square Park Conservancy The Conservancy is the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to keeping historic Madison Square Park a bright, beautiful and active public park. Madison Square Park, a seven-acre urban oasis, is located in the heart of Manhattan’s Flatiron District at East 23rd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues. The Conservancy raises funds that support lush and brilliant horticulture, park maintenance, park security and a variety of free cultural programs. See more at www.madisonsquarepark.org. SCOPE OF SERVICES The Consultant will work closely with the Flatiron BID and the Conservancy to represent their interests and advance this important capital project. This will include, but not be limited to, necessary strategic planning and lobbying of government officials with the primary goal of obtaining significant capital funding commitments and approvals for the project. In addition to public funds, the Consultant will provide strategic planning and guidance related to a capital campaign aimed at non-governmental funds. The Consultant will work with the Flatiron BID and the Conservancy to develop and frame a consistent, strong message as it relates to this important neighborhood improvement project. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Firm Experience The respondent shall be experienced in the following: • Government relations, lobbying, strategic planning and implementation related to capital projects. • Knowledge in identifying and aiding to secure government funding, including state, city, and federal sources and approvals for capital projects. 1 • Strong ties to the Mayor’s Office, NYC Department of Transportation, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, NYC Department of Design and Construction, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and local elected officials at the state, city, and federal level. • Experience advising on and structuring large-scale capital campaigns (targeting both governmental and non-governmental sources) and local development projects. • Knowledge of the Flatiron District, non-profit organizations (including business improvement districts and parks conservancies), and neighborhood development. Dates and Deadlines • RFP Release Date: December 22, 2014 • Question Submission Deadline: January 7, 2015 • Question Response Date: January 9, 2015 • Proposal Submission Closing Date: January 14, 2015 • Decision Notification Date: TBD (anticipated prior to January 31, 2015) Submission Format Three (3) copies of the written proposal must be received by the Flatiron BID by the Closing Date. Proposals received after the Closing Date may not be accepted and, if accepted, may not be considered in response to this RFP. Submissions shall be addressed as follows: Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership 27 West 24th Street, Suite 800B New York, NY 10010 Attention: Jennifer Brown, Executive Director The Flatiron BID will not accept oral proposals or proposals submitted solely by facsimile, electronic mail, etc. Proposals should be submitted electronically in addition to the hard copy proposals delivered to the address above. Electronic proposals can be submitted to Jennifer Brown at [email protected]. Questions & Answers Questions regarding the RFP must be in writing and should be directed to Jennifer Brown, Executive Director, via electronic mail ([email protected]). Questions should be submitted no later than January 7, 2015. All questions and responses will be shared with all proposers no later than January 9, 2015. Submission Content Each of the three copies of the submission shall contain the following information: o Background: description, history, philosophy, and key principals of the firm and an overview of its experience working on similar projects, including specific examples of success stories/project deliverables. o Project Overview: A brief overview of the proposer’s approach, outline of how the services will be successfully executed, and timeline for the project. o Budget: Estimated costs for the work as defined in the Scope of Services. o References: Provide the name, contact information, and brief description of services rendered for three professional references that the firm has worked with in the last three years. 2 Review of Submissions The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy will review all submissions for completeness and responsiveness to this RFP. The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy reserve the right to request additional materials, including those they may deem useful or appropriate to evaluate each respondent’s qualifications and past experience, or clarification or modification of any submitted proposal. The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy will permit the correction of deficient submissions that do not completely conform to this RFP on a case by case basis. Submission of a proposal shall constitute the respondent’s permission to the Flatiron BID and the Conservancy to make such inquiries concerning the respondent as we deem useful or appropriate. The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy are not obligated to make any such request or to accept any unsolicited additional materials, clarification, modification or background information. The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy may conduct discussions with some of the respondents submitting proposals and not others. The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy reserve the right, in its sole discretion, to reject at any time any or all proposals, and to withdraw this RFP without notice. SELECTION The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy will select the respondent that most successfully demonstrates the necessary qualities to undertake the project, offers the most cost effective proposal, and best meets the needs and goals of the Flatiron BID and the Conservancy. The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy reserve full right to reject all proposals. Under no circumstances will the Flatiron BID or the Conservancy pay any costs incurred by a respondent in responding to this RFP. The review or selection of a proposal submitted by a respondent will create no legal submission or equitable rights in favor of the respondent, including without limitation, rights of enforcement or reimbursement. Selection Criteria Criteria on which the Flatiron BID and the Conservancy will base the selection may include, without limitation, the following: • The respondent’s demonstration of experience in providing services similar to those required by the RFP. • The quality of the respondent’s management, reputation, and references. • The quality of the proposal and the degree to which it demonstrates the respondent’s full understanding of and the ability to perform the services required by the RFP. • Proposed pricing. Interviews Interviews may be held with any or all of the respondents after the receipt and review of the proposals. The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy reserve the right to select a winning proposer based solely on the proposal itself, without subsequent interviews. GENERAL TERMS PAYMENTS AND INVOICES: Upon receipt of monthly itemized invoices detailing services performed, Consultant will be paid within fifteen (15) days of receipt by the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership and the Madison Square Park Conservancy. The Flatiron BID and the Conservancy