REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

City of Spanish Fort Comprehensive Plan

2025

QUALIFICATION PROPOSAL DUE FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2025, AT 3:30 P.M.

PROJECT INFORMATION

RFQ Release Date: June 12, 2025

Project Title: City of Spanish Fort, Alabama, Comprehensive Plan 2025

Questions Due: Friday, July 11, 2025, 12:00 P.M.

Qualifications Due: Friday, July 18, 2025, 3:30 P.M.

Finalist Selected: Early August

Council Approval: Late August/Early September

Project Timeline: 12-18 months following approval.

Contact:

Casey Rains
Planning & Zoning Official
City of Spanish Fort, Alabama
251-410-6511
crains@spanishfortal.gov

INTRODUCTION

The City of Spanish Fort ("City") is seeking proposals from qualified firms or teams ("consultant") to develop a new Comprehensive Plan. The consultant must have extensive experience in community engagement, land use planning, and master plan development. The selected consultant will collaborate with the City to establish the scope of work, project timeline, public involvement strategies, and deliverables. Joint ventures are welcome.

BACKGROUND

Sitting on high bluffs overlooking Mobile Bay, Spanish Fort is a place of rolling hills, standing guard over the 260,000 acres of the Mobile River Delta. Spanish Fort has a rich history dating back to the Revolutionary War. It later became the site of one of the last battles of the Civil War and, at one time, served as a gathering place for Native American traders. Today, it is a vibrant city known for its strong community spirit, excellent schools, and diverse recreational offerings.

Spanish Fort is a small, yet rapidly growing city of just over 10,000 people and boasts a higher median income as compared to surrounding communities. There are numerous churches, service clubs, an art guild, a writer's group and some of the best schools in Baldwin County. Visitors can also find abundant shopping within the city, along with many popular restaurants serving the renowned seafood this region is famous for.

One of the most defining features of the city is the Mobile Bay Causeway, also known as Battleship Parkway, which traverses roughly 7 miles over the confluence of the five rivers that come together to form Mobile Bay and is home to numerous local businesses, restaurants, parks (state parks and soon to be municipal parks) and residential areas. This area along the causeway is currently the westernmost edge of Baldwin County and provides the first access (gateway) into Baldwin County from Mobile.

The City hosts numerous community events, including free concerts, art shows, and the Delta Woods & Water Expo, celebrating the region's unique ecology and outdoor activities. Rapid growth has led to new developments, including park expansions, two new fire stations, and recreational facilities. Given these changes, the City aims to update its 2010 Comprehensive Plan to guide future growth and development.

Current Comprehensive Plan (2010):

https://www.cityofspanishfort.com/_files/ugd/2ceb9e_a9922242beef404e8d9d45337170b68c.pdf

SCOPE OF WORK

The new Comprehensive Plan will align with evolving community needs while preserving the City's character. The selected consultant will work with the City to define the plan's specific elements and recommend updates and/or revisions to current ordinances and regulations that align with the proposed Comprehensive Plan and the City's goals for growth and development.

The anticipated focus areas include:

New Comprehensive Plan

• Future Land Use & Development
• Transportation & Infrastructure
• Parks, Recreation & Cultural Elements
• Environmental Sustainability
• Economic Development & Housing
• Public Engagement & Community Visioning

Municipal Code & Ordinance Review and Update

• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing City ordinances and regulations to identify inconsistencies, outdated provisions, and areas requiring alignment with the updated Comprehensive Plan.
• Recommend updates and improvements to ensure ordinances and regulations reflect modern planning best practices and legal standards.
• Propose a streamlined approach to integrating new zoning, land use, and development regulations with the Comprehensive Plan's vision.
• Develop a framework for ordinance modernization, ensuring clear, enforceable policies that align with Spanish Fort's growth and priorities.
• Facilitate public meetings and stakeholder engagement to gather input on regulatory changes.

The City welcomes additional recommendations from consultants to enhance the plan's effectiveness. The final scope, timeline, deliverables, and budget will be determined during contract negotiations.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submissions must be organized, clearly labeled, separated by tabs and presented professionally in the following order:

Tab 1 – Cover Letter

• Express interest in the project and summarize qualifications.
• Identify key personnel, including a primary contact with phone/email.
• Limit to two pages.

Tab 2 – Firm/Team Background

• Company name, office locations, and years in business.
• Ownership structure and leadership team.
• Organizational chart showing project manager and key personnel.

Tab 3 – Qualifications

• Description of relevant experience with comprehensive plans and municipal code updates.
• Experience working with Spanish Fort or similar communities in the Southeast.
• Resumes of key personnel, including those specializing in zoning, land use law, and municipal regulations.

Tab 4 – References

• Examples of similar projects completed in the past five years.
• Client references with contact details.

Tab 5 – Client Support

• Availability of team members for meetings, site visits, and collaboration.

Tab 6 – Additional Information (Optional)

• Up to five pages of supplemental information that may support your proposal.

Submission Format:

• Five (5) printed copies (bound) and one (1) USB flash drive containing a digital copy of submitted materials in PDF format.
• Pages are to be standard letter size. A limited number of larger pages (i.e., 8.5x14 or 11x17) folded to fit letter size is acceptable.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Consultants will be evaluated based on the following weighted criteria:

1. Professional and Technical Expertise (30%) – Experience in producing high-quality, user-friendly comprehensive plans.
2. Community Engagement (20%) – Demonstrated success in facilitating public involvement.
3. Visual & Graphic Quality (20%) – Ability to create well-designed, informative reports and maps.
4. Regulatory & Legal Expertise (15%) – Experience in municipal code updates and regulatory compliance, ensuring ordinances align with planning best practices and legal standards.
5. Project Timeline & Availability (10%) – Capacity to complete the plan in a timely manner.
6. References & Past Work (5%) – Quality and relevance of past projects.

The City may conduct interviews with shortlisted firms before final selection. If negotiations with the top-ranked firm are unsuccessful, the City will proceed with the next most qualified firm.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

• Any existing or potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed.
• The City is not responsible for costs associated with preparing responses to this RFQ.
• This RFQ does not constitute a commitment to award a contract.
• All materials, once submitted, are considered public record and property of the City.
• The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.
• The City does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

CONDITIONS OF RFQ

No prior, current or post award verbal agreement(s) with any officer, agent or employees of the City shall affect or modify any terms or modifications of this RFQ or any contract or option resulting from this process.

The City reserves the right to waive any minor irregularities, informalities, or oversights at its sole discretion. The term "minor" as used herein means any proposer or City irregularities or oversight that does not materially affect or alter the intent and purpose of this RFQ and is not in violation of any State of Alabama or Federal Government rules, laws and regulations that may apply to this request.

Any questions regarding RFQ must be submitted via email no later than 12:00pm on July 11,2025 and will be posted online as an addendum to this RFQ no later than Monday, July 14, 2025.

Submit questions to:

Casey Rains
Planning & Zoning Official
crains@spanishfortal.gov

FINAL SUBMISSION

Submissions must be formatted as outlined above and arrive prior to the deadline in a sealed package clearly marked "RFQ-City of Spanish Fort Comprehensive Plan 2025." Submissions must be received on or before 3:30 pm on Friday, July 18, 2025.

Submitted to:

City of Spanish Fort Planning & Zoning Department
Attn: Casey Rains, Planning & Zoning Official
7361 Spanish Fort Blvd.
Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527

Names of responding firms will be publicly read on Monday, July 21, 2025, during the regular meeting of the Spanish Fort City Council, beginning at 6:00 P.M. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Spanish Fort Community Center, located at 7361 Spanish Fort Boulevard, Spanish Fort, AL 36527.

CONCLUSION

The City of Spanish Fort looks forward to engaging a qualified consultant to create a forward-thinking Comprehensive Plan that will guide the City's future growth. We appreciate your interest and look forward to reviewing your submission.