The County desires that the Housing Element should be developed through a consensus building process that is fully responsive to comments and concerns of the public and affected/interested agencies. The County wishes to solicit comments and reviews from the Housing Element Task Force and other sources to ensure that all segments of the public are involved, and to minimize potential challenges to the draft Housing Element submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Housing Element must be fully certified by HCD prior to the February 25, 2024 deadline, including compliance with California Environmental Quality Act requirements.

The range of work under the proposal shall include the necessary efforts of research, and to prepare and present all materials necessary to affect the submission of an updated Housing Element that is acceptable to the Board of Supervisors and certified by the HCD. This is envisioned as, but is not limited to, the items below.

All pages are to be numbered and shall include a table of contents. In addition to the original document, one digital version of the proposal and five (5) copies shall be submitted.

Proposals shall address all of the following items, in the order set forth:

1. Company Name.
2. Develop a thorough scope of work that meets all of the following objectives:
   • Understanding of (CEQA)
   • Review the existing housing element and perform an evaluation of its programs and policies. Incorporate evaluation into a background section for the new element.
   • Consider the range of potential policies and prepare a policy section for the new housing element.
   • Approach must include description of integration of requirements of the Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy in relation to SB 375.
   • Approach must include description of integration of requirements of all Assembly Bills and Senate Bills passed since the 5th Cycle Housing Element adoption to ensure Housing Element compliance.
   • Attend public workshops and present draft background and policy sections for public input and discussion.
   • Attend public hearings and study sessions of the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors and present the draft and final housing elements for consideration.
   • Process draft housing element through HCD, prepare responses to HCD comments, and process final housing element through HCD.
   • Preparation of all documents necessary for compliance with CEQA.
   • Preparation and production of administrative drafts of all documents prior to any public review, and production of public review drafts in accordance with the instructions below.
   • Familiarity of the project area and common environmental challenges to new development.
   • Understanding of the history of nearby projects, and their applicability to the project.
   • Ability to adequately assess the project's cumulative impacts.
3. Qualifications:
   1. Type of Organization, size, location, professional registrations and affiliations, number of years as a company.
   2. Names and qualifications of personnel assigned to the Project. Include project manager and all staff expected to take responsible roles.
   3. Outline and graphics of recent projects completed that are similar to this project.
   4. Client references from recent projects, including name, address, and telephone of individuals to contact.
4. Cost Summary:
   1. Present a breakdown of the total cost, estimated by person hours for each task. Include salaries and hourly rate, administrative and associated overhead expenses, and direct expenses for graphics, document reproduction, etc. Provide a separate per-meeting cost for attendance at additional meetings beyond those identified.
5. Schedule:
   1. Please provide a schedule reflecting how you would complete the Housing Element to the State by the February 15, 2024 deadline. Include time for incorporating the necessary staff and public review periods, CEQA compliance time lines, public meetings, hearings, etc.
6. Agreement for Services:
   1. The consultant will be expected to enter into an agreement for services with the County of Madera. The consultant will be required to provide insurance in accordance with the County of Madera's standard provisions. Insurance coverage for proposed services shall include general liability and automobile insurance in an amount to be determined by Madera County Risk Management. Professional Liability Insurance (E&O) coverage of $1,000,000 is also required. The contract will be developed as a "not to exceed" contract and compensation will be based on actual billable hours for the work performed.
   2. The successful firm shall comply in all aspects with the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. A firm with 15 or more employees shall be required to have an Affirmative Action Plan which declares that the contractor does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or age, and which specifies goals and target dates to assure the implementation of equal employment. A firm with fewer than 15 employees shall be required to have a written equal opportunity policy statement declaring that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or age. Findings of noncompliance with applicable State and Federal equal opportunity laws and regulations could be sufficient reason for revocation or cancellation of this contract.
   3. The awarded firm agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless, Madera County, as well as its officers, agents and employees from any and all claims and losses to the extent caused by the negligent act, error or omission of the awarded firm resulting from the performance of this contract, except to the extent caused by the negligent acts of Madera County or its officers, agents or employees.
7. Work Product:
   1. All work products included in this proposal shall be made available to the County in a camera-ready format, and electronic formats suitable to the County (MS Word, Excel, ArcGIS, etc.). All bids shall include the cost of a minimum of 5 copies of any and all administrative drafts, 50 copies of the draft housing element, 50 copies of the final housing element, and rates for additional copies.

   All documents must be received by the Planning Department on or before 5:00 PM on August 6, 2021. Postmarks will not be accepted. Late submittals will not be considered. Interviews of top candidates will be conducted as deemed necessary.

   2. All correspondences or inquiries should be directed to:

   COUNTY OF MADERA
   Community & Economic Development Department
   Planning Division|
   200 W. Fourth Street, Suite 3100
   Madera, California 93637
   Robert Mansfield, Senior Planner
   (559) 675-7821 x 3226
   Robert.mansfield@maderacounty.com