HANCOCK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, HANCOCK COUNTY, OHIO
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
Ohio Department of Development Brownfield Remediation Program
Grant Implementation Assistance – LAI Property/RA-NIK PROPERTY
RFQ Release Date: May 16, 2022 Qualifications Due Date: June 1, 2022
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 Purpose of this Request for Proposals
The Hancock County Commissioner’s Office, through this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), is seeking a qualified environmental consulting firm to provide assistance with implementation of environmental assessments and other environmental or planning components of grant(s) for which funding is secured.
This solicitation is being issued in part to comply with State of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 153 requirements to hire a consulting firm to assist communities with grants awarded by Ohio Department of Development, and/or the State of Ohio.
1.2 Background Information
The purpose of the RFQ is to select a consultant with experience in brownfield assessment/remediation, especially as it pertains to publicly-funded projects, and remediation planning. The successful consultant will bring experience and insight to a relationship with the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office to implement an Ohio Department of Development grant as well as explore other grants and brownfields initiatives as funds become available.
1.3 Type of Contract and Contract Term
The Hancock County Commissioner’s Office prefers to award a contract to one full-service firm to serve as a consultant in successfully implementing Ohio Department of Development grant-funded environmental assessment/remediation projects. The contract period will begin with the start of grant application activities and continue through the completion of the grant agreement. The contract period may be extended at the option of the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office.
1.4 Payment Procedures
Payments for services will not be made more often than monthly, for work specified and completed and in accordance with the budget developed for and approved by the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office.
2. QUALIFICATIONS OUTLINE
2.1 General Expectations
Consultants are asked to submit qualifications describing their capacity and success within the Ohio Brownfield Grant Programs as well as their ability to manage and implement these types of grant-funded projects. Any clarification or questions regarding this proposal shall be submitted in writing via email to the below contact person, clarification will be provided within 3 business days, phone calls or in person visits will not be accepted.
LIZZY ESSINGER, GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR
HANCOCK REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
(419) 424 - 7094
Proposals should be prepared on standard size paper and limited to ten single sided (10) pages, exclusive of a maximum of five (5) resumes, limited to 2 pages each. Standard advertising brochures should not be included in the proposal. The proposal shall include the following information in the order presented below:
Business Organization: name, areas of expertise, a brief history of the firm, size, office locations, and business addresses. The name, address, and telephone number of a contact person and/or prospective project manager dedicated to the project shall be included. In addition, the name of the Certified Professional and the office location in which the Certified Professional dedicated to the project resides shall be included in the RFQ.
Management Outline and Project Approach: A description of how the consulting firm will work with the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office in implementing the Ohio Department of Development grant-funded project.
Experience and Capabilities: The relevant management and technical experience and capabilities of the consulting firm shall be defined with respect to the following activities related to implementation of the grant(s):
A. Project Experience of Key Personnel:
1. Experience of the Project Manager and/or Certified Professional in implementing successful publicly-funded environmental assessment and/or remediation projects.
2. Experience of the Project Manager and/or Certified Professional in conducting environmental investigations and cleanups under the Ohio Voluntary Action Program.
3. Experience of the Project Manager and/or Certified Professional with assessment and/or remediation planning on similar properties.
B. Regulatory and Scientific/Technical Knowledge:
1. Project Manager and/or Certified Professional knowledge and expertise pertaining to federal and state environmental grant programs and track record preparing successful grant applications.
2. Project Manager and/or Certified Professional knowledge and expertise working with Ohio EPA.
3. Individual staff knowledge and technical experience relative to ESAs, brownfield projects and contaminated site remediation.
C. Project Understanding and Project Approach
1. Include an understanding of the environmental history of the property.
2. Provide an approach for proceeding with assessment of the property, culminating in preparation of a Remedial Action Plan.
2.2 General Process
The Hancock County Commissioner’s Office will review and evaluate the qualifications with the following criteria in mind: expertise related to relevant project components; firm and staff experience related to brownfields assessment, familiarity with the local community; demonstrated ability to provide comprehensive and innovative environmental services. The Hancock County Commissioner’s Office reserves the right to accept or reject qualifications on any basis it deems appropriate.
2.3 Terms and Conditions
The Hancock County Commissioner’s Office reserves the right to accept or reject any and all qualifications without stated cause. The Hancock County Commissioner’s Office reserves the right to re-issue any RFQ or cancel the RFQ if none of the qualifications are deemed satisfactory to the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office.
If the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office, for any reason, is unable to reach a final agreement with the firm determined to be the most qualified based on the parameters of this RFQ; the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office then reserves the right to reject such finalist and negotiate a final agreement with another finalist who is determined as the next most qualified. The Hancock County Commissioner’s Office may also elect to reject all qualifications and re-issue a new RFQ.
2.4 Public Information
Information supplied by the Respondent to the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office are subject to the Ohio Public Records Law. Such information shall become public unless it falls within one of the exceptions in the statute, such as security information, trade secret information, or labor relations information. If the Respondent believes any information which is not public will be supplied in response to this RFQ, the vendor shall take reasonable steps to identify for the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office what data, if any, it believes falls within the exceptions. If the qualifications data is not marked in such a way as to identify non-public data, the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office will treat the information as public and release it upon request. In addition, the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office reserves the right to make the final determination of whether data identified by the Respondent as not public falls within the exceptions of the statute.
2.5 Time Schedule
The timeline for completion of this request for qualifications is outlined below.
May 16, 2022: Formal announcement date for RFQ
June 1, 2022: Deadline for submittal of qualifications
June 6, 2022: Qualifications evaluation is completed (anticipated)
June 16, 2022: Agreement date (anticipated actual date may depend on approval by the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office)
2.6 Notification of Award
The Hancock County Commissioner’s Office plans to select one (1) or two (2) consultants by approximately June 16 of 2022. Should either party fail to execute a contract within 30 days of notification of award, the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office reserves the right to rescind the award and select services from another interested firm.
2.7 Number of Qualifications to Submit; Deadline, Mail, and Hand Delivery Addresses
One (1) original or One (1) email copy of the qualifications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. EST on June 1, 2022.
The mailing address is:
Attn: LIZZY ESSINGER
HANCOCK REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
318 Dorney Plaza, Room 304
Findlay, OH 45840
EMAIL: LESSINGER@FINDLAYOHIO.COM
PHONE: (419) 424 - 7094
2.8 Late Submittal
Qualifications received after the deadline will not be considered.
3. SERVICE PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS
The Respondent agrees to comply with all federal, state, and local laws, resolutions, ordinances, rules, regulations, and executive orders pertaining to unlawful discrimination on account of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual preference, disability, or age. When required by law or requested by the Hancock County Commissioner’s Office, the Respondent shall furnish a written affirmative action plan.
Published 5/16/2022
NOTICE OF FIRST PUBLIC HEARING Published: 5/5/2022
FY2020 OHIO DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAMS
The City of Findlay and Hancock County intend to make application to the State of Ohio Department of Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Cities Program, a federally-funded program administered by the State. The Community is eligible to apply for approximately $1,000,000 each for funding through the ODOD, (including CDBG and other programs) providing they both meet applicable program requirements. The City of Findlay and Hancock County may additionally apply for funding under the following programs:
Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP), $23,500,000.00*
HOME Investment Partnerships Program, $24,793, 348.00*
Emergency Shelter Grant Program, $$5,320,000.00*
Formula Allocation Program, $150,000.00 (minimum)
Neighborhood Revitalization Program, $750,000.00
Water and Sewer Competitive Program, $750,000.00
Economic Development Program, $10,000,000.00*
CDBG Discretionary Funds, $200,000.00
Microenterprise Business Development Fund, $500,000.00
Critical Infrastructure, $500,000.00
Downtown Revitalization Competitive Program, $250,000.00
New Horizons Fair Housing Program, $50,000.00
Interim Use of CDBG Funds for Economic Development, $10,000,000.00*
Other ED, Infrastructure, or Job Creation Programs, $33,400,000.00*
And any other Programs Announced Under the CDBG Program.
*Total Funds Available Statewide
The first of the required two public hearings for these comprehensive grant programs will be convened in the office of the Hancock Regional Planning Commission, located at 318 Dorney Plaza, Room 304, Findlay, Ohio. The City of Findlay hearing shall commence at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday May 17, 2022 and Hancock County shall commence at 11:20 a.m. on the same day, to provide citizens with pertinent information about the CDBG and other programs, including an explanation of eligible activities and program requirements.
The CDBG program can fund a broad range of activities, including but not limited to: economic development projects; planning activities; street improvements; demolition of unsafe structures; rehabilitation of housing and neighborhood facilities. The activities must be designed to primarily benefit low and moderate income persons or aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight or meet an urgent need of the community.
Citizens are encouraged to attend these public hearings to provide their input on their communities CDBG program. Should any participant require auxiliary aids due to disability, please contact the office at least one week prior to the hearing date to ensure needs will be accommodated.
Commissioner Michael Pepple, Hancock County Commissioners
Mayor Christina Muryn, City of Findlay
Matt Cordonnier, HRPC
This Public Notice is published on www.hancockrpc.org in compliance with Section 307.87 of the Ohio Revised Code. This Notice can also be found posted in the office of Hancock Regional Planning Commission, 318 Dorney Plaza, Findlay OH 45840.
Publish Date: Thursday May 5th, 2022