Please clarify the scope of the Phases I, II and III Site Investigation work.
Phase I, II, and III environmental site investigations have been completed. 

Aside from the removal of the three buildings, has there been any remedial action on the site for contaminated materials and if so, what have those actions been?
Planning and permitting of the remediation of the park, construction of the Riverwalk, and excavation of the cove is currently underway. That phase of remediation/construction will go out to bid later this year and is fully funded through construction.

Is there a page count for the RFQ response? If yes, does this count CVs, Covers, and Dividers?
The submission requirement specified in the RFQ document is “Submit a PDF proposal, not to exceed 50 MB, by 5:00 PM EST, May 8, 2023”.  The website has been updated to include that information.  Otherwise, there is no page count limitation.

What specific consultants are you looking for with the new team? Are you looking to build an entire new team?
Riverfront Recapture is soliciting proposals from qualified teams experienced in waterfront park design to provide Master Planning, Landscape, Architectural Design, & Engineering Services for a new riverfront park, regional trail extension, and a contemplated commercial development for our new park on the Hartford-Windsor line.  Through this RFQ process, we will be looking for applicants to identify the team they would put together to carry out those services and the qualifications of that team.

Does it make sense, since so much work has been done by the existing team, to use existing team members? If so, which ones are to stay on the project and which new team members are desired?
Riverfront Recapture is seeking a team that will design an innovative and engaging public space on the banks of the Connecticut River that builds upon the initial work that will be completed, such as the construction of the Riverwalk across the property, excavation of the cove, and creation of the commercial pad.  This is a competitive process and all firms are encouraged to apply.

Please provide a program for the paddle sport and outdoor center? How big are these buildings to be? What level of design will you be looking for in the architecture of these structures? Through CD’s?
Program development with a focus on community & stakeholder input is part of the scope of this process.

Have partner organizations already been selected for the waterfront recreation program spots?
Riverfront Recapture will manage the waterfront recreation programs. We are proud to be home to New England’s second-largest community rowing program.

Will this park be included within the Greater Hartford Mobility Study, or other transportation master plan?
Numerous regional and statewide multimodal transportation plans include the development and expansion of the Riverfront trail network.  Riverfront Recapture is a participant in the Greater Hartford Mobility Study.

Can more information about Riverfront Recapture’s green building practices and sustainability standards be shared? Are there sustainability certifications that Riverfront Recapture intends to achieve?
Riverfront Recapture has always considered sustainability a priority when developing projects, including green infrastructure, both water and energy efficiency, recycling, and ecofriendly building practices, but has not pursued actual certification for past projects.

RFQ states that preliminary site design and conceptual building façade elevations have been completed for the commercial development. Please clarify what scope includes related to design for the “contemplated commercial development”? What is the expected deliverable within this scope for the upland 10-acre development?
The commercial development will be designed by the developer to meet our requirements, but our expectation is that it will complement the park.  The scope of services related to the commercial development within this phase is an investigation of existing utility infrastructure that could support both the park and commercial development.  The park should be designed with future connectivity to the commercial development in mind. If the program development driven by the community engagement process includes a park-related structure to be designed and built within the commercial area, then those services would also fall within this scope of work.   

Has the impact of the cove inlet design been analyzed with respect to CT River?
Yes

Please confirm whether the streams and/or the banks of the streams to the north and south of the site are part of the scope of work.
Both Meadow and Decker’s Brooks could be a part of this scope of work.   If the community engagement process and resulting site program include connections to either or both brooks, then those improvements would be a part of the park planning effort.

What would the scope be for this project relative to the development parcels?
The scope of services related to the commercial development within this phase is investigation of existing utility infrastructure that could support both the park and commercial development.  If the program development driven by the community engagement process includes a park-related structure to be designed and built within the commercial area, then those services would also fall within this scope of work

Is the architectural scope more related to the development parcel or the park?
This RFQ is for the park. 

What consultants / disciplines, if any, will Riverfront Recapture continue to retain separately from the design team during the master plan process?
The physical remediation of the property, which includes the excavation of the cove and construction of the Riverwalk, will likely be underway during the park planning process.  

Can we include additional materials within the submission, such as an Appendix which includes additional projects beyond the 3-5 required?
The requirement for the RFQ is 3-5 examples of the team’s work. It is optional to provide information beyond that. Additional projects worth noting can be simply referenced in the response. Additional information will not count for or against a team.

Is the intent that the commercial development be planned to a master plan level and then sold to a private developer to execute?
No

Has Riverfront Recapture developed an overall target construction budget for the 76 acres (excluding the commercial site development)? If so, can that information be shared?
The budget for the park will be discussed with firms invited to move on to the next round and submit a proposal.

Please define the level of community engagement that you’re expecting for the initial concept design and master planning effort.
Robust. We are seeking a team to lead an inclusive and accessible process that utilizes a range of engagement tools and includes multiple community meetings/forums/interviews to reach a wide range of stakeholders such as community members, business owners, property owners, government, nonprofit & community leaders/advocate, realtors, etc. 

Does the Riverfront Recapture have an estimated timeline for the work?
We do not have a specific timeline identified. We would like to take the time to do what is best for the project and not what is best for the schedule.

How tied to the proposed plan/design is the Riverfront Recapture Group?
The core elements of the park (cove, Riverwalk and commercial development pad) will be constructed during the physical remediation of the property.  Otherwise, the property is a blank slate.

Is there an estimated budget for the construction of the project?
The budget for the park will be discussed with firms invited to move on to the next round and submit a proposal.

Given the work to date outlined under the heading Current Project Status, which includes a preliminary site plan, building design, and regulatory permitting, how flexible is the plan to change through the services requested by the forthcoming RFP?
The preliminary site plan and regulatory permitting that have been completed are related to the remediation of the property and design for proposed cove, Riverwalk and commercial development pad.  Conceptual plans for the commercial development have been completed to use as a tool to talk to developers, but no building have been designed. Other than the core elements (Riverwalk, area excavated for the cove, and the commercial development pad) the park is a blank slate.  

Are there geotechnical studies or data available?
Yes. That information will be provided to firms that move forward to the RFP round.

Does Riverfront Recapture have relationships and contacts with local community groups and stakeholders that the design team can rely on during the outreach process?
Yes

We see that no more than five projects may be submitted in the Relevant Project Experience section. Could you verify whether all five of these example projects should come from the Prime Consultant’s portfolio? Would we be able to add additional projects reflecting relevant experience of our subconsultants? The requirement for the RFQ is 3-5 examples of the team’s work. It is optional to provide information beyond that. Additional projects worth noting can be simply referenced in the response. Additional information will not count for or against a team.