REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) CITY-WIDE "FORM-BASED"

The City of Cambridge, Maryland is issuing a REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) for a team to draft a NEW, CITY-WIDE, TRANSECT-ORIENTED, FORM BASED, CAMBRIDGE DEVELOPMENT CODE. We are seeking an accomplished, professional planning firm to assist City Staff with the following tasks:

• The creation of a NEW FORM-BASED CODE to replace the CITY'S UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE. This existing code was adopted on DECEMBER 8, 2014, and utilized for the first time on JANUARY 1, 2015.
• The City will provide funding appropriate to the scope and needs of the project.
• Each team submitting a response to this RFQ shall convey a breakdown of their INDIVIDUAL COSTS, as well as their anticipated OVERALL COSTS for the project.

This new code is much needed and will promote the tenants of NEW URBANISM, a planning and development approach that uses many of the same components as conventional planning but assembles them in a more integrated fashion to ensure walkable blocks and streets, mixed-use housing, shopping in close proximity, and accessible public spaces; the way that communities have been built for centuries around the world.

This new code will implement the City's recently completed INSPIRE CAMBRIDGE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; which utilizes a new urbanist approach to issues. The Comprehensive Plan's Future Land Use Map establishes seven districts: (1) Downtown, (2) Traditional Neighborhood, (3) Suburban Neighborhood, (4) Highway, (5) Industrial, (6) Natural, and (7) Special Overlay. The Downtown, Traditional Neighborhood, and Special Overlay districts promote walkable urbanism, while the others are more auto-centric in nature. Two mixed-use nodes of varying intensity and scale are found within these districts. Known as NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS & NEIGHBORHOOD CROSSROADS, these areas promote mixed-use, walkable urbanism.

This overarching template will serve as a guide for the new form-based zoning code. The code shall utilize zoning districts, known as TRANSECT ZONES or T zones.

The new Cambridge Development Code shall be a form-based code that is integrated into the City's existing regulatory framework.

City staff will work with the Consultant to format a strategy for ADVERTISING that promotes community engagement and consistent branding for all signage, emails and the website.

The consultant will:

1. Organize and lead the Workshop / Charrette in order to obtain citizen input.
2. Engage the community and gather ideas.
3. Reaffirm goals.
4. Formulate implementation strategies that are ideal for the new CDC.

Plans, renderings, and initial coding ideas that reflect concepts articulated at the event will be further vetted and compiled, ultimately resulting in a draft version of the new Cambridge Development Code.

Submission requirements

All submittals must be typed and presented in an organized fashion. Emphasis should be placed on completeness and clarity. The PRIMARY CONSULTING FIRMS NAME shall appear on each page of the submittal. Submittals shall not be limited to a specific page count.

Planning Department staff will establish a FIVE-MEMBER SELECTION COMMITTEE. Their primary responsibility shall be to review and score each application that is submitted in response to this RFQ.

Any proposal for this RFQ that is received after the time specified for receipt will not be accepted or considered.

Insurance

Before the City executes a contract, the selected firm shall furnish the City with (1) a tax compliance form, (2) a certificate evidencing Workmen's Compensation Insurance with limits no less than **$1,000,000** per accident or disease and (3) Comprehensive Public Liability Insurance or (4) General Liability Insurance with limits no less than **$1,000,000** per occurrence. The City shall be named as an additional insured.

Contract

Any contract resulting from this RFQ shall not be effective unless, and until, approved by the City Council. The selected firm will be required to enter into a Professional Services Contract for this project with the City.