Current Opportunities:

Requests for Proposals

• • WestCOG requests proposals for an evaluation of the impacts of county equivalency for the Councils of Governments (COGs) in Connecticut, and a roadmap to federal opportunities under county equivalency. Applications are due Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 11:59 PM. Please note the telephone number for the pre-bid call has changed to 605-313-5107, access code 500386#.
    
  • WestCOG requests proposals for a feasibility study for the sharing/consolidation of selected public safety facilities and/or services. Applications are due Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 11:59 PM. Please note the pre-bid telephone number for the pre-bid call has changed to 605-313-5107, access code 500386#. Questions and answers have been posted here.
  • WestCOG is seeking an evaluation and development of a regional health insurance collaborative for municipal employees in participating groups in the Western Connecticut Planning Region. Applications are due Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET.

Requests for Qualifications

• • Funding has been received from the Federal Highway Administration and Connecticut Department of Transportation to prepare a corridor study of a section of Route 37 between the City of Danbury and the Town of New Fairfield. WestCOG invites Statements of Qualification from consultants and/or firms with experience in transportation planning, transportation engineering, transit, land use and public involvement.  Deadline for submission is 3PM ET on February 8th, 2019. Questions and answers have been posted. Last updated 1/28/19.
    

Currently Seeking Proposals

Federal Grants for Counties and County Equivalents

Download this RFP here.

Conflict of interest statement can be found here.

Announcement

The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (“WestCOG”) seeks proposals from consultants to quantify the impacts of a criteria change that would result in Connecticut’s Councils of Governments being treated as county equivalents by the federal government, enabling them to act at the federal level in the same capacity as counties (including accessing federal grants, funding, and other opportunities that are available to the governments of counties and of county equivalents).

Background

Regional Councils of Governments (COGs) are the authorities serving first-level political subdivisions (Planning Regions, or region) in the State of Connecticut. (County government was abolished in 1960; counties exist only for historic purposes.) COGs, which are established pursuant to state law, are endowed with (although do not necessarily exercise) authority equivalent to those of county governments and county equivalents in other states. Per state law (CGS §8-31b et seq.):

• COGs are to be treated as counties by government for programmatic and funding purposes.
  “A regional council of governments may accept or participate in any grant, donation or program available to any political subdivision of the state and may also accept or participate in any grant, donation or program made available to counties by any other governmental or private entity.”
• COGs may provide any services a local government may. These include, but are not limited to: “(1) Engineering; (2) inspectional and planning; (3) economic development; (4) public safety; (5) emergency management; (6) animal control; (7) land use management; (8) tourism promotion; (9) social; (10) health; (11) education; (12) data management; (13) regional sewerage; (14) housing; (15) computerized mapping; (16) household hazardous waste collection; (17) recycling; (18) public facility siting; (19) coordination of master planning; (20) vocational training and development; (21) solid waste disposal; (22) fire protection; (23) regional resource protection; (24) regional impact studies; and (25) transportation.”
• COGs are governed by a board (Council) of directly-elected officials from each region.

COGs also have limited taxing authority. (CGS §12-62v et seq.) and often serve as the host agencies for other entities, including Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Economic Development Districts.

Councils of Governments in Connecticut are dissimilar to entities with the same name in other states, which are often voluntary associations or nonprofits, and should not be confused with them.

Problem Statement

Counties are a common unit of government and building block in the federal system. A consequence of this primacy is access to federal funding; counties are eligible for 80% of federal grant opportunities (according to grants.gov). However, in recognition that county governments do not exist in all places, the federal government treats non-county regional governments in six states as equivalent to counties for federal purposes. This treatment enables organized boroughs (Alaska), parishes (Louisiana), and independent cities (Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia) to act vis-à-vis the federal government as if they were and on the same footing with county governments. This notably includes directly applying to federal grants.

Connecticut is one of two states without county government or county equivalents; it is the only state without county government whose regional governments (COGs) are not treated as county equivalents. This may put Connecticut at a disadvantage in governmental relations, including accessing federal funds. Federal transfers to counties and county equivalents average approximately $45 per capita annually nationwide; multiplying that by Connecticut’s population would yield a figure of $162 million annually. (Federal transfers to counties and county equivalents may be uncorrelated with federal transfers to state and local governments, so one does not necessarily come at the expense of another.)

Efforts are being made to address this situation; the state’s COGs are working formally to request that the federal government extend the same treatment to COGs (as they are established in Connecticut) as has been extended to county equivalents in other states. Documentation of the estimated impacts of such a change would be beneficial in advancing these efforts.

WestCOG is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to help us navigate these opportunities, quantifying the impacts of county equivalency and identifying federal opportunities that COGs in Connecticut will have access to with county equivalency. Given limited resources, it is essential that grant applications to and investment of resources in federal opportunities be targeted to those with the highest probability of success and greatest viability.

Opportunities should be positive-sum within the State of Connecticut. It is intended that opportunities that Connecticut’s COGs pursue as a consequence of this project should be new funds to Connecticut, i.e. in addition to those successfully being accessed by State and local governments in Connecticut.

Project Description

WestCOG does not prescribe a specific framework for this project; proposers should propose project structure, order, and content. The project must produce a document that is sufficiently detailed for the state government and its COGs to act on, with the expectation of clearly and simply documenting the impacts of county equivalency, and achieving a maximum return on investment, and maximum benefits to the region.

Successful proposals should include, at a minimum:

• Regional inventory of:
  • Demographic, socioeconomic, and other characteristics that are relevant to successful applications to federal opportunities
  • Services provided by local governments in the region, with state or local funds, that are candidates for federal support
  • Spending by local governments in the region, with state and/or local funds, that could be counted as a match to federal funds with no/minimal programmatic change
• Evaluation of:
  • Impact of county equivalency. Both financial (estimated impact on revenue streams) and non-financial impacts (increased authority due to federal recognition, e.g., the ability to make disaster declarations) should
  • Formula funds that the region is entitled do but does not access
  • ‘Ask and you shall receive’ funds that the region would almost certainly be able to access if it applied for them based on factors identified in the regional inventory or comparisons with/experiences in similar regions
  • Existing federal support to local governments in the region that would be expected to increase or otherwise improve from a regional approach by WestCOG
  • Opportunities for which there would be a high likelihood of success in applications from the region based on predictive factors, such as the results of the regional inventory or patterns/experiences in similar counties and county equivalents in other states
  • Opportunities for which the investment is low (e.g., trivial grant application) or the return on investment is high (e.g., apply once, participate for years)
  • Programmatic or financial changes to existing municipal services or spending that could be expected to, with a high level of confidence, increase the likelihood of receiving federal support
  • Any potential conflicts with existing federal opportunities (e.g., current grants)
• Implementation plan:
  • Priorities for future action, including identification of specific opportunities and prerequisites (financial, programmatic, executive, etc.) for successful application
  • Sequence of activities, given expected available resources and lead time necessary to address prerequisites
  • Financial strategy for the use and expansion of federal opportunities in the region, including practices to maximize number and value of successful application
  • Impact of each prioritized opportunity on the tax burden, including local property tax and, as applicable, on public services and relevant socioeconomic conditions

Note that the members the Council also serve on the board of the WestCOG Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization that supports many of the same objectives as WestCOG, and that may also serve as a vehicle to receive funds and execute projects.

Application process

Format

Each application should include the following components:

1. Cover page with project title; proposing firm; and name, telephone number, and e‑mail address for the project manager.
2. Scope of work, timeline, and fee schedule. An outline of the project by task should be given. These tasks should correspond to the Project description. Timing, duration, and cost should be specified for each task.
3. This should explain the proposer’s concept of each task and plan to discharge them. Methodology, including approach, inputs, methods, and outputs should be described in sufficient detail. Changes to the framework given in this RFP should be noted.
4. Work history. Examples of similar or relevant work conducted by proposer in the past, with information on project outcomes and client references. Name, title, employer, relationship to the project, telephone number, and e-mail address should be given for each reference. Successful proposers should have demonstrated expertise in relevant areas, including evaluation of the benefits, costs, opportunities, risks, and challenges of the methods proposed, and in the execution of recommendations made.
5. Statement of qualifications. Directory of, task assignments, and resumes for key staff on project. Professional licenses and certifications should be included. The total hours each staff person is expected to spend on each task should be documented.
6. Corporate background. Include the history, location(s), length of time in existence, and structure of the firm; documentation of relevant insurance coverage; and demonstration of the capacity of the firm to carry out the project.
7. Signature of a representative of the firm having legal authority to contract on behalf of the firm.
8. A completed Organizational Conflict of Interest Statement that either warrants that there are no relevant facts or circumstances that could give rise to organizational conflicts of interest, and/or, as applicable, gives a full, written disclosure of any organizational conflicts of interests, including description of the action(s) the proposer has taken or will take to avoid or mitigate such conflict.

The Narrative may not exceed 5,000 words. Other components have no word limit.

Material submitted in response to this RFP and received by WestCOG may be subject to the provisions of the Connecticut Freedom of Information law (CGS §1-200 et seq.)

How to apply

Proposals are due by the end of the application period, July 3, 2019 at 11:59 PM. Submissions should be directed to: Mr. Francis R. Pickering, Executive Director at countyequivalency@westcog.org.

Submissions should be provided in PDF format, as a single file. The file may be attached to the e-mail, or, in case of a large submission (larger than 10 megabytes), linked in the e-mail. Recipients should enable delivery and read receipts in their e-mail client. No other confirmation will be given.

Review and contracting

WestCOG will evaluate proposals received after close of the application period. At this point, WestCOG may invite additional information from selected proposers, including but not necessarily limited to, samples of other work or an in-person interview.

Should WestCOG determine to proceed with a proposal, WestCOG will begin contract negotiations, including on scope and fee, with the respective proposer. Should WestCOG and the selected proposer be unable to come to an agreement, WestCOG may terminate negotiations with that firm and revisit other proposal submitted.

It is expected that proposers will be notified of decisions on their submission by August 31, 2019. WestCOG may award the project in part or in full to one or more proposers, and to cancel or to reissue this RFP. Any award will not be final until a contract has been negotiated and executed.

Communications

Location of posting

This RFP may be found online at: https://westcog.org/about/rfps-grant-opportunities/ until August 31, 2019. It is the responsibility of interested parties to retrieve and store a copy of the RFP beyond this date.

Pre-bid meeting

A pre-bid meeting will be held Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 3 PM ET at the WestCOG offices and by phone at 605-313-5107 (note new number), access code 500386#. Attendance, by phone or in person, is optional and is not required in order to respond to this RFP.

Inquiries

Proposers may submit questions on this RFP by Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET. Questions should be directed to Mr. Francis R. Pickering, Executive Director at countyequivalency@westcog.org. Answers will be posted online where WestCOG posted this RFP on a rolling basis until the close of business on Friday, June 28, 2019.

No questions will be accepted by other forms of communication.

Information about WestCOG can be found at http://westcog.org.

Addenda and supplements

Should WestCOG amend or adjust this RFP, such changes will be posted online where WestCOG posted this RFP. It is the responsibility of proposers to check for changes to the RFP.

Conditions

Legal requirements

Contracts awarded as a result of this RFP are subject to all applicable federal and state laws, including those concerning civil rights, nondiscrimination, and equal opportunity. Any responses to this RFP, as well as any work resulting from it, are subject to freedom of information.

Insurance requirements

To be considered, proposers must maintain insurance coverage as required by federal and state law.

Consortia, joint ventures, and teams

Proposals from consortia, joint ventures, and teams (“groups”) will be accepted. In such cases, a lead firm must be identified for contracting purposes. A work history and statement of qualifications (as described under Application Format, #4 and #5) must be provided for each member of the group.

In designating a lead firm, groups should consider the following:

1. The lead firm should have sufficient experience and expertise to perform or supervise all facets of the project, and must have sufficient resources to carry out the contractual responsibilities of the group.
2. The lead firm will be legally responsible to WestCOG for the performance of, and must perform at least 51% of, the total work awarded under any contract issued as a result of this RFP.
3. Firms that are subsidiaries may not rely on the experience, expertise, or resources of its parent firm to meet these requirements.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE)

DBE firms are encouraged to respond to this RFP.

If a DBE firm is proposed, the proposal must clearly identify the DBE firm, the role the DBE will play in the project, and the tasks assigned to the DBE. Proof of Connecticut DBE certification must be submitted with the proposal. Responses that fail to give proof of DBE certification and description of project involvement will not be identified as including DBE participation.

Nonreimbursement of proposal costs

Costs associated with responses to this RFP, including proposal development and participation in a selection process, are the sole responsibility of the respondent firms. WestCOG will not reimburse firms for such costs, nor will any selected firms be permitted to negotiate such costs as part of a contract with WestCOG.

Conflicts of interest

All relationships that may pose a conflict of interest, and actions that shall be taken to avoid or mitigate these conflicts, shall be disclosed as part of the response to this RFP.

Disclaimer

WestCOG assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this RFP or related documents. The information contained in RFP and related document is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.

Public Safety Consolidation

Download this RFP here.

Conflict of interest statement is here.

Questions (and answers) can be found here.

Announcement

The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (“WestCOG”), an association of 18 cities and towns in Western Connecticut, seeks proposals for a feasibility study of the sharing or consolidation of selected public safety facilities and/or services in and among up to five of the following municipalities.

Project description

The towns of New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, and Wilton, Connecticut (the ‘participants’) are interested in evaluating the potential for cost savings and service improvements through the sharing or consolidation of certain public safety facilities and/or services. The purpose of the project will be to provide the participants with high-quality financial estimates under various scenarios that preserve and/or improve service levels, to enable informed decision-making about if, when, and how to consolidate/share public safety services.

The facilities and/or services of interest at present to the participants include police:

• Public safety answering point (PSAP)
• Dispatch
• Data management
• Evidence storage
• Processing/intake
• Detention/lockup
• Training rooms
• Firing range/facility
• Gym facilities

Merger of police departments is not envisioned at the current time, nor is integration of fire or emergency medical services (EMS), with the exception of fire/EMS dispatch.

Please note that:

• It is not a requirement that all five participants will ultimately share the same facilities/services, share facilities/services to the same extent, or share/consolidate at the same pace.
• Facility/service sharing may phase in over time, with different timetables for participant, for each facility/service in question.
• Decisions to share/consolidate facilities/services have not been made and, in part, may depend on the outcome of any study initiated as a result of this RFP.
• WestCOG may adjust or amend the project at its own discretion for any reason.
• No assumptions should be made about funding levels for this project. (Amounts are to be determined.)

At a minimum, the study should conduct a comprehensive inventory of resources and costs, including:

1. Current facilities and services
2. Planned future facilities and services
3. Current and expected future needs
4. Costs, current and future estimates. All costs should include confidence intervals, including identification of factors that may materially influence them. Estimates should be specific for each participant; distinguish one-time costs (e.g., capital or transition) from operating costs; cover a reasonable timeframe (e.g., 20 years); identify expenses, savings, and payback periods; should be developed for a range of scenarios. The latter should include:
   1. No change
   2. Planned municipal upgrades without any sharing/consolidation
   3. Sharing/consolidation

Scenarios should be sufficiently individualized to each participant to reflect that participants may not share/consolidate the same facilities/services and/or do so on the same schedule.

Scenarios need not capture situations, aside from no change and planned municipal upgrades, which are unrealistic or uneconomic. For instance, should it be determined that sharing/consolidation of a specific facility/service is infeasible by one or more participants, that facility/service by those participants may be noted as such and consequently excluded from further analysis.

Synergies among facilities/services should be determined. For instance, where greater cost savings or service improvements may obtained through sharing/consolidation of related services, among more participants, or through timetable coordination, such should be noted. Where savings or improvements are significantly diminished or nonexistent without sharing/consolidation of related services, without a critical mass of municipalities, or without timetable coordination, such should be noted and may be consequently excluded from further analysis.

WestCOG does not prescribe a specific approach; however, any responses to this RFP should provide for and describe in their respective scopes, at a minimum:

• Data collection, including process and sources
• Analysis, including inputs, method, and outputs
• Work products, including reports and presentations
• Proposed guidance structures, such as a steering committee or stakeholder group
• Meetings with stakeholders, including municipal Chief Elected Officials, public safety leaders, and other regional and local staff as applicable or needed
• Pathway to implementation of findings

Application process

Format

Each application should include the following components:

1. Cover page with project title; proposing firm; and name, telephone number, and e‑mail address for the project manager.
2. Scope of work, timeline, and fee schedule. An outline of the project by task should be given. These tasks should correspond to the Project description. Timing, duration, and cost should be specified for each task.
3. This should explain the proposer’s concept of each task and plan to discharge them. Methodology, including approach, inputs, methods, and outputs should be described in sufficient detail. Changes to the framework given in this RFP should be noted.
4. Work history. Examples of similar or relevant work conducted by proposer in the past, with information on project outcomes and client references. Name, title, employer, relationship to the project, telephone number, and e-mail address should be given for each reference. Successful proposers should have demonstrated expertise in relevant areas, including evaluation of the benefits, costs, opportunities, risks, and challenges of the methods proposed, and in the development and execution of implementation plans for said methods.
5. Statement of qualifications. Directory of, task assignments, and resumes for key staff on project. Professional licenses and certifications should be included. The total hours each staff person is expected to spend on each task should be documented.
6. Corporate background. Include the history, location(s), length of time in existence, and structure of the firm; documentation of relevant insurance coverage; and demonstration of the capacity of the firm to carry out the project.
7. Signature of a representative of the firm having legal authority to contract on behalf of the firm.
8. A completed Organizational Conflict of Interest Statement that either warrants that there are no relevant facts or circumstances that could give rise to organizational conflicts of interest, and/or, as applicable, gives a full, written disclosure of any organizational conflicts of interests, including description of the action(s) the proposer has taken or will take to avoid or mitigate such conflict.

The Narrative may not exceed 5,000 words. Other components have no word limit.

Material submitted in response to this RFP and received by WestCOG may be subject to the provisions of the Connecticut Freedom of Information law (CGS §1-200 et seq.)

How to apply

Proposals are due by the end of the application period, Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 11:59 PM. Submissions should be directed to: Mr. Francis R. Pickering, Executive Director at publicsafety@westcog.org.

Submissions should be provided in PDF format, as a single file. The file may be attached to the e-mail, or, in case of a large submission (larger than 10 megabytes), linked in the e-mail. Recipients should enable delivery and read receipts in their e-mail client. No other confirmation will be given.

Review and contracting

WestCOG will evaluate proposals received after close of the application period. At this point, WestCOG may invite additional information from selected proposers, including but not necessarily limited to, samples of other work or an in-person interview.

Should WestCOG determine to proceed with a proposal, WestCOG will begin contract negotiations, including on scope and fee, with the respective proposer. Should WestCOG and the selected proposer be unable to come to an agreement, WestCOG may terminate negotiations with that firm and revisit other proposal submitted.

It is expected that proposers will be notified of decisions on their submission by August 31, 2019. WestCOG may award the project in part or in full to one or more proposers, and to cancel or to reissue this RFP. Any award will not be final until a contract has been negotiated and executed.

Communications

Location of posting

This RFP may be found online at https://westcog.org/about/rfps-grant-opportunities/ until August 31, 2019. It is the responsibility of interested parties to retrieve and store a copy of the RFP beyond this date.

Pre-bid meeting

A pre-bid meeting will be held Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at noon ET at the WestCOG offices and by phone at 605-313-5107 (note new number), access code 500386#. Attendance, by phone or in person, is optional and is not required in order to respond to this RFP.

Inquiries

Proposers may submit questions on this RFP by Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET. Questions should be directed to Mr. Francis R. Pickering, Executive Director at publicsafety@westcog.org. Answers will be posted online where WestCOG posted this RFP on a rolling basis until the close of business on Friday, June 28, 2019.

No questions will be accepted by other forms of communication.

Information about WestCOG can be found at http://westcog.org.

Addenda and supplements

Should WestCOG amend or adjust this RFP, such changes will be posted online where WestCOG posted this RFP. It is the responsibility of proposers to check for changes to the RFP.

Conditions

Legal requirements

Contracts awarded as a result of this RFP are subject to all applicable federal and state laws, including those concerning civil rights, nondiscrimination, and equal opportunity. Any responses to this RFP, as well as any work resulting from it, are subject to freedom of information.

Insurance requirements

To be considered, proposers must maintain insurance coverage as required by federal and state law.

Consortia, joint ventures, and teams

Proposals from consortia, joint ventures, and teams (“groups”) will be accepted. In such cases, a lead firm must be identified for contracting purposes. A work history and statement of qualifications (as described under Application format, #4 and #5) must be provided for each member of the group.

In designating a lead firm, groups should consider the following:

1. The lead firm should have sufficient experience and expertise to perform or supervise all facets of the project, and must have sufficient resources to carry out the contractual responsibilities of the group.
2. The lead firm will be legally responsible to WestCOG for the performance of, and must perform at least 51% of, the total work awarded under any contract issued as a result of this RFP.
3. Firms that are subsidiaries may not rely on the experience, expertise, or resources of its parent firm to meet these requirements.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE)

DBE firms are encouraged to respond to this RFP.

If a DBE firm is proposed, the proposal must clearly identify the DBE firm, the role the DBE will play in the project, and the tasks assigned to the DBE. Proof of Connecticut DBE certification must be submitted with the proposal. Responses that fail to give proof of DBE certification and description of project involvement will not be identified as including DBE participation.

Nonreimbursement of proposal costs

Costs associated with responses to this RFP, including proposal development and participation in a selection process, are the sole responsibility of the respondent firms. WestCOG will not reimburse firms for such costs, nor will any selected firms be permitted to negotiate such costs as part of a contract with WestCOG.

Conflicts of interest

All relationships that may pose a conflict of interest, and actions that shall be taken to avoid or mitigate these conflicts, shall be disclosed as part of the response to this RFP.

Disclaimer

WestCOG assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this RFP or related documents. The information contained in RFP and related document is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.

Regional Health Insurance Collaborative

Conflict of interest statement

Download this RFP

Questions and answers

Announcement 

The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (“WestCOG”), an association of 18 cities and towns in Western Connecticut (the “Western Connecticut Planning Region”) is interested in evaluating the potential for cost savings through the creation of a regional/interlocal health insurance collaborative (the “Collaborative”), as enabled by Connecticut Public Act 10-174, which allows municipalities and boards of education to join together to purchase employee health insurance. 

WestCOG is seeking proposals from qualified, licensed Insurance Brokerages and/or Agents (hereafter “Proposer”) for the purpose of providing professional insurance, brokerage, and consulting services for an employee benefits plan. The Proposer must have a strong knowledge base and experience with health insurance collaborations and/or associations. A proven track record with at least 3-5 years of successful experience within health insurance collaborations and/or associations will be required. Please include references. The Proposer will be responsible for the outlined “Project description” below for each employer group alongside a potential future Plan Administrator. 

Scope of services 

At minimum, the selected Proposer will be expected to provide the services enumerated below. Proposers may propose and explain modifications to the structure, order, or content of the scope of services, provided justification is given. However, WestCOG is not bound to accept any such changes. Furthermore, WestCOG may adjust or amend the project at its own discretion for any reason. 

• Identify groups interested in participating in a Collaborative, collect relevant information on existing insurance arrangements. These include but may not be limited to past, present, and expected future data on benefits, costs, membership, service levels, and contractual obligations. 
• Propose, review, analyze, and evaluate models for a Collaborative. These should include consideration of successful and, as applicable, unsuccessful models in use in Connecticut (e.g., ECHIP, CREC, The Connecticut Partnership Plan) as well as models, practices, and options from other, comparable locations. 
• The review, analysis, and evaluation should be comprehensive and should provide all necessary information to enable fully informed decisions on the part of interested groups about the viability and value proposition of establishing a Collaborative and, furthermore, about the benefits, costs, opportunities, risks, and prognosis to them individually and jointly for joining and participating in a Collaborative.  
• Work with interested groups to establish governance for a Collaborative, including development, execution, and management of the processes to establish the Collaborative and for it to begin operations, enroll members, and become self-sustaining.  

Application process 

Format 

Each application should include the following components: 

1. Cover page with project title; proposing firm; and name, telephone number, and email address for the project manager. 
2. Approach. This should explain the proposer’s concept of and method for the scope of work (i.e., what steps will the proposer take to satisfy each task? How will the analysis be conducted, and how will success be measured?) Timing, duration, and cost should be specified for each task in the scope of work. 
3. Work history. Examples of similar or relevant work conducted by proposer in the past, with information on project outcomes and client references. Name, title, employer, relationship to the project, telephone number, and e-mail address should be given for each reference. 
4. Statement of qualifications. Directory of, task assignments, and resumes for key staff on project. Professional licenses and certifications should be included. The total hours each staff person is expected to spend on each task should be documented. 
5. Corporate background. Include the history, location(s), length of time in existence, and structure of the firm; documentation of relevant insurance coverage; and demonstration of the capacity of the firm to carry out the project. 
6. Signature of a representative of the firm having legal authority to contract on behalf of the firm. 
7. A listing of known complaints regarding the proposer from the last ten years that filed with the State Insurance Commissioner’s Office, including the nature of the complaint and disposition. 
8. A completed Organizational Conflict of Interest Statement that either warrants that there are no relevant facts or circumstances that could give rise to organizational conflicts of interest, and/or, as applicable, gives a full, written disclosure of any organizational conflicts of interests, including description of the action(s) the proposer has taken or will take to avoid or mitigate such conflict. 

The Narrative may not exceed 5,000 words. Other components have no word limit. 

Material submitted in response to this RFP and received by WestCOG may be subject to the provisions of the Connecticut Freedom of Information law (CGS §1-200 et seq.) 

How to apply 

Proposals are due by the end of the application period, Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET. Submissions should be directed to: Mr. Francis R. Pickering, Executive Director at insurance@westcog.org. 

Submissions should be provided in PDF format, as a single file. The file may be attached to the e-mail, or, in case of a large submission (larger than 10 megabytes), linked in the e-mail. Recipients should enable delivery and read receipts in their e-mail client. No other confirmation will be given. 

Review and contracting 

WestCOG will evaluate proposals received after close of the application period. At this point, WestCOG may invite additional information from selected proposers, including but not necessarily limited to, samples of other work or an in-person interview. 

Should WestCOG determine to proceed with a proposal, WestCOG will begin contract negotiations, including on scope and fee, with the respective proposer. Should WestCOG and the selected proposer be unable to come to an agreement, WestCOG may terminate negotiations with that firm and revisit other proposal submitted.  

It is expected that proposers will be notified of decisions on their submission by March 31, 2019. WestCOG may award the project in part or in full to one or more proposers, and to cancel or to reissue this RFP. Any award will not be final until a contract has been negotiated and executed. 

Communications 

Location of posting 

This RFP may be found online at https://westcog.org/about/rfps-grant-opportunities/ until March 31, 2019. It is the responsibility of interested parties to retrieve and store a copy of the RFP beyond this date. 

Pre-bid meeting 

A pre-bid meeting will be held Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at noon ET at the WestCOG offices and by phone at 712-432-0360, access code 500386#. Attendance, by phone or in person, is optional and is not required in order to respond to this RFP. 

Inquiries 

Proposers may submit questions on this RFP by Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET. Questions should be directed to Mr. Francis R. Pickering, Executive Director at insurance@westcog.org. Answers will be posted online where WestCOG posted this RFP on a rolling basis until the close of business on Friday, February 8, 2019. 

No questions will be accepted by other forms of communication. 

Information about WestCOG can be found at http://westcog.org. 

Addenda and supplements 

Should WestCOG amend or adjust this RFP, such changes will be posted online where WestCOG posted this RFP. It is the responsibility of proposers to check for changes to the RFP. 

Conditions 

Legal requirements 

Contracts awarded as a result of this RFP are subject to all applicable federal and state laws, including those concerning civil rights, nondiscrimination, and equal opportunity. Any responses to this RFP, as well as any work resulting from it, are subject to freedom of information. 

Insurance requirements 

To be considered, proposers must maintain insurance coverage as required by federal and state law. 

Consortia, joint ventures, and teams 

Proposals from consortia, joint ventures, and teams (“groups”) will be accepted. In such cases, a lead firm must be identified for contracting purposes. A work history and statement of qualifications (as described under FormatError! Reference source not found., #4 and #5) must be provided for each member of the group. 

In designating a lead firm, groups should consider the following: 

1. The lead firm should have sufficient experience and expertise to perform or supervise all facets of the project, and must have sufficient resources to carry out the contractual responsibilities of the group. 
2. The lead firm will be legally responsible to WestCOG for the performance of, and must perform at least 51% of, the total work awarded under any contract issued as a result of this RFP. 
3. Firms that are subsidiaries may not rely on the experience, expertise, or resources of its parent firm to meet these requirements. 

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) 

DBE firms are encouraged to respond to this RFP. 

If a DBE firm is proposed, the proposal must clearly identify the DBE firm, the role the DBE will play in the project, and the tasks assigned to the DBE. Proof of Connecticut DBE certification must be submitted with the proposal. Responses that fail to give proof of DBE certification and description of project involvement will not be identified as including DBE participation. 

Nonreimbursement of proposal costs 

Costs associated with responses to this RFP, including proposal development and participation in a selection process, are the sole responsibility of the respondent firms. WestCOG will not reimburse firms for such costs, nor will any selected firms be permitted to negotiate such costs as part of a contract with WestCOG. 

Conflicts of interest 

All relationships that may pose a conflict of interest, and actions that shall be taken to avoid or mitigate these conflicts, shall be disclosed as part of the response to this RFP. 

There are no other requests for proposals at this time. Please check back later for more RFP opportunities.

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Currently Seeking Statements of Qualification

Danbury and New Fairfield Corridor Study 

Questions and answers last updated 1/28/29

Q1: Does the study area extends from Main Street Route 53 in Danbury to Route 39 in New Fairfield?

A1: No, the study area extends from the north side of the intersection of Rte 37 with I-84 (exit 6) to the intersection of Rte 37 with Rte 39 in New Fairfield.

Q2: What is the required DBE set-aside for this project?

A2: We anticipate this project will have a DBE set-aside consistent with similar projects in the state. The requirement will be established by the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

This RFQ can be downloaded as a .pdf document here. A draft Scope of Work can be found as Attachment A at the end of the pdf.

The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) invites Statements of Qualification from consultants and/or firms with experience in transportation planning, transportation engineering, transit, land use and public involvement. 

WestCOG has received funding from the Federal Highway Administration and Connecticut Department of Transportation to prepare a corridor study of a section of Route 37 between the City of Danbury and the Town of New Fairfield.     

WestCOG will accept complete Statements of Qualification, by mail or in person, until 3:00 p.m. ET on Friday, February 8, 2019.   Respondents must submit one (1) original and four (4) hard copies and one (1) digital PDF copy on a flash drive or CD of their Statements of Qualification to: 

Victoria Ricks 

Office Manager 

Western Connecticut Council of Governments 

1 Riverside Road 

Sandy Hook, CT  06482 

Statements of Qualifications that are incomplete will not be considered. Applications will not be deemed complete until all copies are received. 

I.  GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS 

Inquiries 

Questions regarding this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) should be directed to Victoria Ricks at the address noted above or via e-mail at vricks@westcog.org by 11:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday, January 23, 2019. Questions will be posted on the WestCOG website on Friday, January 25, 2019 by 5:00 p.m. ET. Please note that it is WestCOG’s policy to respond only to technical questions that are received no later than one week prior to the deadline to submit statements of qualification in response to the RFQ. Under no circumstances will WestCOG provide interpretive guidance. 

CTDOT Prequalified Consultants for Year 2019 

Respondents must be prequalified by CTDOT for category 11: Modal Transportation Planning Studies (Highway, Transit, Rail, Ferries/Ports/Waterways, and Bicycle/Pedestrian). 

Freedom of Information 

Respondents are advised that any and all material submitted in response to this RFQ and received by WestCOG shall be subject to the applicable provisions of the Connecticut Freedom of Information law (Conn. Gen. Stat. §1-200 et seq.) 

Signature Requirements 

Statements of Qualifications must be signed by a representative of the firm having legal authority to contract on behalf of the firm.  Statements of Qualifications will be treated as bona fide offers and must remain open for a period of ninety (90) days from the closing date for submissions. 

Statements of Qualifications from Consortia, Joint Ventures and Teams 

Qualifications statements from consortia, joint ventures or teams will be accepted.  In such cases, a lead firm must be identified for contracting purposes.  A qualifications statement must be prepared for each member of the consortia, joint venture or team, and each qualifications statement should clearly identify the lead firm. 

In selecting a lead firm, consortia, joint ventures and teams should consider the following:  (1) the lead firm should have sufficient experience and expertise to perform or supervise all facets of the proposed project; (2) the lead firm will be legally responsible to WestCOG for performance of the total contract; (3) the lead firm must have sufficient resources to carry out the contractual responsibilities of the consortium, joint venture or team; and the lead firm must perform at least fifty one percent (51%) of the total work awarded under any contract issued as a result of this RFQ.  Please note that firms that are subsidiaries or affiliates of another may not rely on the experience, expertise or resources of its parent firm to meet these requirements. 

Submission of Qualifications Statements 

WestCOG will accept complete Statements of Qualification by mail or in person, until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8, 2019.  Qualifications statements submitted via email or facsimile will not be accepted. 

Please see the section entitled “Format for Statements of Qualification” for additional guidance. 

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Requirement 

DBE firms are strongly encouraged to respond to this RFQ.  WestCOG will make its best efforts to ensure that DBEs have the maximum practicable opportunity to compete for work on this project. It is anticipated that a DBE requirement will apply to any contract awarded as a result of this solicitation. Details on the required DBE set-aside will be posted no later than the 25th of January, 2019. 

The Statement of Qualifications must clearly identify the DBE firm(s), the role the DBE will play in the project and the tasks assigned to the DBE. Proof of Connecticut Department of Transportation DBE certification must be submitted with the DBE’s qualifications statement. Responses that fail to provide proof of DBE certification and description of project involvement will not be recognized as including DBE participation.  

Equal Employment and Nondiscrimination 

All contracts awarded by WestCOG as a result of this RFQ are subject to Section 4a-60 of the Connecticut General Statutes, “Nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions in contracts of the state and political sub-divisions other than municipalities.” Contracts also are subject to all other applicable state and federal laws concerning civil rights, nondiscrimination, and equal opportunities for employment. 

Insurance Requirements 

Successful firms are required to maintain insurance coverage as required by state and federal law. 

Addenda and Supplements 

In the event that revisions or additions to this RFQ are necessary, a copy of such revisions or additions will be posted online where WestCOG posted the RFQ.  It is the responsibility of the consultant to check for revisions or additions to this RFQ.  

Rejection Rights 

WestCOG reserves the right to reject any and all qualifications statements received in response to this RFQ.  WestCOG also reserves the right to cancel this RFQ at any time and to reissue this or a substitute RFQ at a later date. 

Multiple Awards 

WestCOG reserves the right to issue multiple awards.  WestCOG also reserves the right to retain portions of the work described in the attached scope of work for performance by its own staff, or to exclude portions of the work described in the attached scope of work from negotiated consultant agreements. 

Cost of Qualifications Statement Preparation 

All costs associated with any response to this RFQ, including the development of qualifications statements and participation in the selection process, are the sole responsibility of the respondent firms.  WestCOG will not reimburse firms for such costs nor will any selected firms be permitted to negotiate such costs as part of any contract or agreement with WestCOG. 

Interest of Members or Delegates to Congress 

No member of or delegate to the Congress of the United States shall be permitted to share or have interest in or benefit from, directly or indirectly, any contract or agreement resulting from this RFQ. 

Prohibited Interest 

No member, officer or employee of WestCOG, or member of a local public body having jurisdiction within WestCOG‘s service area, during his or her tenure or one year thereafter, shall be permitted to share in, have interest in or benefit from, directly or indirectly, any contract or agreement resulting from this RFQ. 

Other 

Any firm selected to perform any or all work associated with this RFQ may be required to execute an agreement with WestCOG and meet any conditions on the use of funds imposed by WestCOG,  Connecticut Department of Transportation, or United States Department of Transportation.  All fees will be negotiated and stated in any agreement.   

II.  REQUIRED FORMAT 

The qualifications statement must contain the following information: 

1.  Letter of interest; 
2. A concise statement identifying the point of contact for the statement of qualification, their contact information (mailing address, email, and phone number), and proposed project manager. 
3. General information (for example, brochures) on the consultant and any proposed sub-consultants including description of current workloads; 
4. Statement summarizing the experience of the consultant and any proposed sub-consultants, including at least five references and summaries of comparable projects (type, scale and scope) performed within the last five years that demonstrate knowledge and expertise in bicycle, pedestrian, and complete streets planning. 
5. Statement describing the organizational framework for this project, including clear identification of the lead consultant, project manager, and sub-consultants (if any), the roles and responsibilities of each sub-consultant (if any), identification of DBE contractor (if any), and a clear, concise statement disclosing whether or not there are any shared interests among the firm and proposed sub-consultants, e.g. parent-subsidiary, joint ventures, formal affiliations, etc. 
6. Narrative that describes the suggested project delivery approach and addresses the goals and objectives stated in the scope of work (Attachment A, please download the pdf here);   
7. Resumes of key personnel to be assigned to this project and the percentage of time they will devote to project activities;  
8. Proof of Connecticut DBE certification (if applicable); and 
9. Current Federal Form SF-330 Part II. 

III.  SELECTION PROCEDURES 

 Complete responses to this RFQ that meet all of the listed requirements will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria: 

1. Qualifications of the consultant; 
2. Qualifications of sub-consultants (if any); 
3. Qualifications of key personnel assigned to this project; 
4. Thoroughness, creativity, and clarity of suggested approach; 
5. Experience and proven record of success with comparable projects. 

A Consultant Selection Team will be convened to evaluate statements of qualification received by the closing date stated in this RFQ.  The highest scoring firms will be required to appear for an interview. WestCOG will notify firms, consortia, joint ventures and teams selected for interview with the Consultant Selection Team within 60 days of the closing date.  The Consultant Selection Team will rank the firms, consortia, joint ventures and teams according to the criteria identified in this RFQ and submit its recommendations to WestCOG.  Selection of any firm, consortium, joint venture or team for this project may be subject to the approval of Connecticut Department of Transportation. 

IV. AWARD

Following selection of the most qualified firm, consortium, joint venture, or team, WestCOG will commence scope and fee negotiations with that firm, consortium, joint venture, or team.  The lump sum fee for the project will be based on the scope of work, job titles, certified payroll records, burden, fringe, and overhead (BF&O) rates, and direct costs.  In the event that an agreement cannot be reached on scope of work and cost, WestCOG reserves the right to terminate negotiations with that firm, consortium, joint venture or team and commence negotiations with the next most qualified firm, consortium, joint venture or team. 

V. RESOURCES 

Firms seeking to learn more about WestCOG are encouraged to visit: www.westcog.org.    

Grant Opportunities

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