RFP Questions

Questions about the RFP? Use the form below to submit questions by July 20 August 1. Answers will be published here no later than July 25  ASAP. Please be sure to read the previously submitted questions and their answers before submitting.

Tour Question Regarding Zoning Changes
Zoning changes are needed for both RLI and Windsor Meadows State Park project areas and we have had good conversations with both the City of Hartford and Town of Windsor. The Master plan will drive the future applications for zoning change.

Tour Question Regarding Flood Control System
If there are no changes made to Meadow Brook, the selected team can expect that we will only need to present the plan for the park to local regulators.  If we are fortunate enough receive funding for the design and permitting of an expanded wetland that is connected hydrologically to Meadow Brook, the team should expect a much more involved process that will include working with local, state, and federal regulators on permit applications.

 

Tour Questions Regarding Events
Hosting large scale community events and daily programs are important ways Riverfront Recapture fulfills our mission to connect people with the Connecticut River and earn income to support our parks, trails, and organization. Its critical the new park be designed to support, extend, and expand our events and daily programs offerings.

Can a LGBT certified Business Enterprise be included as part of the SBE and D/M/V/WBE goals? 
We are awaiting guidance from Federal HUD regarding the specific regulations that will be in place. 

If possible, can you please advise us of any logs for the on-site testing wells you’ve received that define the quality of the groundwater on site? 
The water sampling logs and results are in the Phase II and III Environmental Investigation reports for both RLI and WMSP

For the proposal due August 9, is there a specific format requested for the fee proposal? For example, can we provide lump sum fees per each firm within the consultant team per phase? Or does RR require us to express hours per person per firm per phase? 
No, there is not a specific format for the fee proposal. We anticipate some amount of discussion and negotiation of fees will occur during the final interviews and contractual process where specific details related to fees and payments will be agreed upon.

Is the design and engineering of the cove included in this scope of work? Or are you building what is shown in the permit drawings?
We are building what is shown in the permit drawing as part of the physical remediation of the property. Excavation of the cove is a key aspect of the remediation as it will yield the soil needed to cap areas of concern and raise the grade of the commercial pad above the 100-year flood plain. The final shape of the cove can be revised. There will be environmental land use restrictions that will need to be considered.

Can you please clarify if 25% of the total fee goes to a 75%SBE / 25%WMBE split, or if we’re being asked to assign 50% of the total fee to SBE/WMBE subs, with a 50/50 split between SBE and WMBE
As an example, a $500,000.00 consultant contract would have a goal of 25% or $125,000.00 of work be provided by a small business enterprise.  25% of the small business enterprise goal ($31,250.00) would go to a Disadvantage / Minority / Veteran or Women owned business enterprise.  Please note a Disadvantaged, Minority, Veteran and Women-Owned business enterprise may also qualify as a small business.

Can you provide any additional expectations and deliverables surrounding the scope described as “preliminary design including utility services”?
Consultants would be expected to investigate and confirm what utilities currently exist in the project area and what additional capacity they have to serve the park and future commercial development.  Consultants would also be asked to produce a map of Meadow Rd will all of the existing utilities located with specific information about size and capacity.   If there was insufficient capacity for any utility, what is the likely or best means for addressing the utility shortfall.

Can you please clarify expectation surrounding “Preliminary Park Development Vision” as part of the “RFP Submission Requirements”? Are you looking for a Vision as part of the team’s RFP submission? Or, are you looking for an approach; an explanation of how our team’s process would take shape surrounding visioning and planning
We are interested in your initial vision of what could happen on the site.

Is Riverfront Recapture Inc. willing to accept suggestions on the proposed insurance requirements and contract?
Yes

For the Small Business Enterprise goal, would a current Federal WSOB (Women-Owned Small Business) certification be sufficient for this requirement?
Yes

For the SBE and D/M/V/WBE certifications, is any state acceptable or must registration be with CT specifically?
Any state is acceptable.

Could you please clarify the deadline for Questions? The question portal says to submit questions by July 20, but the RFP states, “Questions related to RFP may be submitted in writing via Riverfront Recapture’s website portal by August 1, 2023 (page 8).”
Good catch – that’s an error on our side.  Since it is in the RFP, we are changing the timeline to reflect the submission date for questions is August 1 and will work to get them posted as quickly as possible after that date.

Is there any additional information you can provide on the second multimodal trail project coordinated by the City of Hartford and Riverfront Recapture that is also in development; the two (2) plus mile trail will cross Meadow Brook with a bridge and extend south to Riverside Park and the Riverfront Boathouse? We would appreciate any insight pertaining to the overall design of the multi-modal trail, the connections it makes, general alignment, and dimensions.

1. Owner: The City of Hartford owns the land where the 2 plus mile Riverwalk will be constructed.

2. Project Management: The City of Hartford Planning staff currently oversees the project with assistance as needed from Riverfront Recapture.

3. Design Team Lead: The City of Hartford has engaged Fuss & O’Neill to design and permit the Riverwalk project.

4. General Information: The Marfuggi Riverwalk is a 12’ wide paved multi-modal trail that starts in Riverside Park adjacent to the boat launch and boathouse where the current Hartford Riverwalk now ends. The Riverwalk will extend 13,000’ north through the floodplain forest on what is currently dirt trails or existing levee maintenance roads. The Riverwalk will pass below a railroad bridge owned by the Genesee and Wyoming Railroad and there will be 5 scenic overlooks at the river’s edge. The scenic overlooks will connect the main paved Riverwalk to an existing single-track trail running along the top of the riverbank. There will also be 6 galleries that will tell the Connecticut River valley history through signage, maps, and models. At the far northern end, a precast concrete bridge will be constructed over Meadow Brook to make the connection to the proposed RLI Park and Riverwalk extension into Windsor.

5. Current Status: =The project is approximately 70% designed and will soon be submitted to the various regulatory agencies for review and permitting. The project permitting is the most challenging part of the project development with need to address a number of threatened or endangered plants and animals, consideration of impacts on river flow and flood storage capacity, and proximity to flood control structures. Once submitted, it could take as long as 1 year to receive all of the approvals needed for the construction.

6. Funding and Cost: The Riverwalk project is funded through construction via the following resources; 80% of the design, permitting, and construction is through the Connecticut Department of Transportation using Federal Highway Transportation Alternative Program funds. The City of Hartford is responsible for the 20% local match. Riverfront Recapture is providing $1 million plus of private funding for amenities to be built along the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk, not counting amenities, is estimated to cost $4 million.