**For the full RFP, to submit questions, or to submit an offer, please visit www.getall.com. Registration is free.**

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

York County continues to experience rapid growth, as with many metro areas in the Carolinas. It is situated  at  the  northern  extent  of  the  South  Carolina  Piedmont  region,  with  a  land  area  of approximately 695 square miles and an estimated 2026 population of more than 311,000, making it the 7th  largest  of  the state’s  46  counties.  York  County  adopted  its  last full  10-year  Comprehensive Plan in 2016, and a mid-plan update in 2023.

The  Comprehensive  Plan  will  establish  the  County’s  policy  direction  for  growth  through  2050, supported by clear goals and implementation strategies. The consultant will work closely with County leadership and staff to build upon existing long-range plans and area studies to ensure alignment and continuity.

The final document must include an analysis of all the elements required by the South Carolina Local Government  Planning  Enabling  Act,  which  include  land  use,  transportation, economic development, housing,  population,  natural  resources,  cultural  resources,  community  facilities,  and resiliency. It will also include analysis as required by the Priority Investment Act, as well as a clear action plan to implement the plan’s goals.

Additionally, this RFP seeks an add-alternative to include delivery of a small area and corridor plan in advance of, and as a component of, the fuller Comprehensive Plan. The  unincorporated  Newport  area located  between  the  City  of  Rock  Hill  to  the  southeast,  a portion  of  unincorporated  Lake  Wylie extending  north,  and  to  the  west  toward  the  City  of  York  is currently  experiencing  rapid  growth pressure.  This  growing  pressure  necessitates  a  specific  small area  and  corridor  plan  to  address land  use,  transportation,  community  facilities  and  infrastructure decisions,  and  functions  to implement  the  county’s  Strategic  Plan  and  goals  of  existing Comprehensive  Plan.  Results  from  the  small  area  and  corridor  plan  will  then  inform  the  larger Comprehensive Plan update.

SCOPE AND DELIVABLES FRAMEWORK

The selected consultant shall utilize best planning practices, GIS-based analysis,  innovative  public engagement, and  implementation-oriented  recommendations  to  produce an  actionable  planning document  that  will  guide  County  policy  and  investment  over  the  planning horizon. York County favors a deliverable-based framework to streamline project management and ensure clear milestones. The specific task-oriented work packages below are subject to negotiation with the selected Consultant to align with their project approach.

The Consultant will be responsible for completing the following tasks and deliverable(s) related to the Comprehensive Plan, with administrative staff oversight:

A.  Project Management

1.  Direct all project work including staff assignments, progress tracking, budget management, and quality control.

2.  Prepare for and facilitate project team meetings to report on project status, resolve issues, and identify additional needs.

3.  Coordinate  and  share  updates  and  information  with  other  consultant  teams  engaged  on interrelated plans or studies.

4.  Develop project branding to include plan name, logo, and color scheme.

B.  Existing Conditions

1.  Baseline  analysis  of  data  and  context  covering  the  mandatory  comprehensive  planning elements since the 2023 Update.

2.  Review data, maps, and other planning related documents

a.  to establish a baseline of the local geography,

b.  to understand the development patterns since the previous plan’s adoption, and

c.  to recognize the policy goals of adopted plans, such as the York County Strategic Plan.

C. Public Engagement and Communication

1.  Develop a customized, robust, multi-platform public engagement plan that:

a.  meets people where they are,

b.  provides  an  opportunity  to  connect  with  all  points  of  our  geography  and demographics,

c.  gathers not only our residents’ issues, concerns, and desires, but that captures and understands their “why”.

2.  Establish and maintain a project website.

3.  Utilize  surveys,  online  mapping  tools,  and  social  media  to  gather  information  and disseminate project updates.

D. Partnership Meetings

1.  Facilitate monthly steering committee meetings.

2.  Facilitate meetings with key stakeholders, subject matter experts, and county department heads  to  understand  issues,  receive  information  on  relevant  current  and  future  projects, and to promote the Comprehensive Plan as a tool to help achieve their goals.

3.  Attend  three  County  Council  workshops  to  capture  their  vision  of  a  successful comprehensive plan, to provide a mid-project update, and to review a draft document prior to commencing the adoption phase.

E. Implementation Action Plan

1.  Develop vision, goals and strategies for achieving identified vision.

2.  Provide a clear project-oriented action plan and a five-year schedule that will facilitate the first half of plan’s implementation horizon, with an anticipated mid-Plan update to produce another five-year schedule for the second half of the implementation horizon. 

3.  Include  estimated  costs,  potential  funding  sources  aligned  with  priority  investments, necessary  regulatory  and  policy  changes,  and  establish  benchmarks  for  success  and annual review procedures.

F. Final Report and Adoption

1.  Prepare  the  final  planning  document  with  specific  outputs  for  each  mandatory  planning element with the implementation action plan.

2.  Present the completed plan to the Planning Commission and County Council.

3.  Provide related electronic files to the County.

CONTRACT TERM

The contract term shall be negotiated through a project schedule as mutually agreed to by both parties.  However,  the  County  requests  that  the  selected  consultant  ensure  they  have  available capacity to complete the Comprehensive Plan by June 30, 2028 and the Newport Small Area plan by November 30, 2027.

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL 

The Technical Proposal shall include the following with tabs to identify each section.  Failure to adhere  to  this  format  or  to  address  all  items  specified  may  disqualify  an  Offeror  from  further consideration.  Offerors  may  include  any  additional  information  for  consideration  in  a  separate  Tab identified as an appendix.

Submit Technical Proposals in the following format:

SIGNATORY  PAGE:  Included  in  the  front  of  the  proposal  should  be  a  copy  of  the  RFP’s signature  sheet  (attached  herein)  properly  signed  to  include  the  manual  signature  of  an authorized representative of the firm and all appropriate address and contact information as listed on this form.

TITLE PAGE: Title page must show the RFP’s subject.

TAB 1: TABLE OF CONTENTS: 

TAB  2: TRANSMITTAL  LETTER:  Proposal  must  include a  signed  letter  of  transmittal  briefly stating the Offeror’s understanding of the work to be undertaken, the commitment to perform the work within the time period, a statement why the Offeror believes its firm to be the best qualified to perform the work and a statement that the proposal is a firm and irrevocable offer for ninety (90) days after the date of public opening of Proposals. The letter shall also identify a contact  person  for  questions  during  the RFP  process,  including  contact  information  (i.e., telephone number, fax, email, and postal address).

TAB  3:    DETAILED  PROPOSAL:  The  purpose  of  the  detailed  proposal  is  for  the  Offeror  to demonstrate  their  qualifications,  competence,  project  approach  and  methodology,  proposed project schedule, and capacity to provide consulting services based on the Scope of Work as presented  in  this RFP.  Proposals  should  emphasize  the  Offeror’s  proven  ability  to  leverage cutting-edge comprehensive  planning  practices,  creative  engagement  strategies,  and methodology that may be uniquely successful in York County over formulaic comprehensive planning  with  repeatable  results. Prose  and  style  should  be  straight-forward  and  not superfluous.  Details  are  limited  to  a  maximum twenty-five  (25)  page  (single-side  if  printed) abstract that includes:

a)  A brief description of firm’s specific abilities and expertise related to this type of project.

b)  A statement showing the interest in and understanding of the project; indicate any concerns regarding items in the scope.

c)  Description of the likely approach to the project.  Your approach may or may not differ from the proposed scope, but should be relevant to the spirit or intent of the project.  It could be a reflection of a similar project approach you have used before.

d)  The roles and responsibilities and background of project personnel and any sub- consultants.

e)  A statement on how client communications will be handled.

f)  A statement referencing techniques or methods of quality control the firm will apply to the management of the project.

g)  A statement disclosing any pending legal or ethical charges against the firm.

h)  Description of the current workload for the firm personnel dedicated to this project and how this project will be incorporated into their schedule.

i)  Using or modifying the proposed scope and deliverables framework, provide a project schedule and explain the sequence of tasks your firm will take to complete this project and accomplish the deliverables – a Gantt or PERT chart format is preferred.  

j)  Provide client reference information for relevant projects (name, address, telephone number, e-mail, etc.).

TAB 4:  APPENDIX: The Appendix shall be limited to ten (10) pages (single-side if printed) for the sole purpose of providing product data, collateral sheets or other information relevant to the proposal.

COST PROPOSAL

Offeror shall provide a detailed cost proposal to include all costs, professional services, expenses, etc.  needed  to  complete  the  work  outlined  in  this  RFP.  Offerors  are  encouraged  to  provide  any additional  information  and/or  pricing  (including  discounts  or  incentives)  that  will  address  the  best value  of  offerings  presented  in  their  technical  proposal.  Cost  Proposals  must  include  the  Newport Small Area Plan add alternative as its own line-item cost. The Cost Proposal will be evaluated on the rates  that  will  be  billed  to  the  County  with  any  additional  overhead,  administrative  costs,  or  price increases applied.  Pricing must include all applicable taxes. Refer to solicitation documents for Cost Proposal Form.

**For the full RFP, to submit questions, or to submit an offer, please visit www.getall.com. Registration is free.**