City of Cornelia
Request for Qualifications
The City Commission of the City of Cornelia is requesting statement of qualification proposals
from qualified consultants to provide professional planning services associated with updating the
City’s zoning ordinance to create uses within its newly created Overlay Districts.
Firms interested in this project are advised to carefully review the information outlined in the
RFQ and respond accordingly. All submissions must be received no later than May 27, 2016 at
10:00 AM.
Background
The City of Cornelia is located in the Northeast quadrant of Georgia, nestled in the foothills of
the North Georgia Mountains. The City operates under the Commission-manager form of
government with a five-member Commission which includes a directly elected Mayor. City
Commission members are elected to four-year overlapping terms on Ward basis. The City
Commission is the legislative body responsible for overall policy development and direction of
the City. The Commission appoints the City Manager, who serves as the executive officer and is
responsible for the day to day operations of the City.
Cornelia provides an extensive array of services including Police, Fire, Public Works, Utilities,
Parks, Code Enforcement, Animal Control and Zoning. Several of these operations function as
enterprises within the City organization including water and wastewater systems. The City has a
current annual budget of almost $12 million and a regular staff of approximately 83 full time
employees.
The City’s current zoning ordinance was originally adopted in 2005 and has been amended
several times over the years. In 2015 the city established 3 Overlay Districts, 2 of which are
corridors leading into our historic downtown and the third is the Downtown Overlay District.
The purpose of these districts is to protect our downtown against “big box” construction while
creating uses that will help revitalize the area.
Project Goals
It is the intention of the City of Cornelia to procure the professional services of a qualified
consultant to update the City’s Zoning Ordinance in order to create desired uses in the 3 Overlay
Districts. This will involve working through a collaborative process that involves a variety of
stakeholders. The process will culminate in an updated Zoning Ordinance complete with
graphics.
Scope of Work
The professional consulting firm selected for this assignment will work closely with City Staff,
the Downtown Development Authority, city officials, and the City Attorney to update the zoning
ordinances in order to create acceptable uses within the 3 Overlay Districts. The City Manager
will serve as the point of contact for this project and will be responsible for coordinating and
implementing the proposed zoning updates.
Project Budget
The City of Cornelia is expecting project bids not to exceed $25,000. The city will provide
considerable staff support in order to make this project manageable within the specified budget.
Deliverables
The consultant will prepare the updated zoning ordinance in a format agreed upon by the City.
Throughout the course of updating the zoning ordinance the consultant shall provide draft
versions for review at various stages throughout the project. The specific deliverables will be
subject to further discussion with the selected consultant.
Submittal Guidelines
Prospective consultants are instructed to respond to the RFQ with information as outlined below.
Consultants are advised to be succinct in their responses and attach only relevant information.
Ten (10) hard copies of the material as well as a digital copy shall be submitted in a sealed
envelope bearing the caption: “City of Cornelia-Zoning Ordinance Update Project” and
addressed to:
City of Cornelia
Attn: Donald Anderson
P.O. Box 785
181 Larkin Street
Cornelia, GA. 30531
Submittals may be filed in person at the City Manager’s office or by mail, but must in any case
be received in the City Manager’s office by May 27, 2016 at 10:00 AM. Late submittals will not
be accepted. All submittals received will be confidential and will be retained by the City of
Cornelia.
The City Commission reserves the right to reject all submittals, to request additional information
concerning any proposals for the purposes of clarification, to accept or negotiate any
modification to any submittal following the deadline for receipt of all submittals, and to waive
any irregularities if such would serve the best interest of the City as determined by the City
Commission.
At a minimum, all submittals should include the following:
1. Company Information: Name, address, phone number, organizational structure, number
of professional staff and their specialties that will be assigned to work on this project.
Location of the firm’s offices where the various aspects of the work will be performed.
2. Availability: A brief statement as the availability of the key personnel of the firm
responsible for the project. Ability of the firm to complete the project within the
prescribed time frame.
3. Statement of Qualifications: Provide a summary of the firm’s background, capabilities,
experience, and qualifications. Include a synopsis of similar assignments and projects
completed by the firm in the last five years with specific emphasis in planning related
projects.
4. Understanding of the Project: An overview of the consultant’s understanding and
approach to the project, including coordination of various stakeholders to build
community consensus, projected time-line, and any critical issues/concerns in
successfully completing the project.
5. Examples of Work: Complete or partial samples of work involving similar types of
projects and assignments.
Evaluation Criteria/Selection Process
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Qualifications of the consultant/project manager
Individual and professional staff to be assigned to the project
Demonstrated experience in updating zoning ordinances
Clear understanding of the objectives of project
Ability of the consultant to communicate effectively with the client, identified
stakeholder, and the ability to garner community support
Estimated range of fees to provide the professional services to successfully complete the
project
A selection committee comprised of representatives of city staff, the Downtown Development
Authority, and the City Commission will review responses received from interested consultants.
From this internal review, a number of firms will be chosen for interviews by the selection
committee.
Selection of the firm that the city intends to employ for this project will be based on the above
criteria and interview results. The city and selected consultant will work collectively to define
the specific scope of services to be provided and negotiate a contract for the services. If a
contract cannot be successfully negotiated with the selected firm, discussions will be terminated
and a contract will be negotiated with another firm. Subject to appropriate approvals and
successful contract negotiation, the selection committee will recommend that the City
Commission authorize the execution of the contract at the next scheduled City Commission
Meeting.
Project Timeframe
The consultant selected for the project will be expected to successfully complete all project
elements and the scope of work outlined in the contractual agreement within a 6 month time
period.
Contact for Project
Donald Anderson, City Manager
PO Box 785
Cornelia, GA. 30531
706-894-3060
[email protected]
E-Verify Requirements
All Contractors and Sub-contractors doing business with the City must be in compliance with
O.C.G.A. 13-10-91 which states that the individual firm or corporation is participating in a
federal work authorization program. The attached affidavits must be completed by the contractor
and any sub-contractors.
Contractor Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91(b)(1)
By executing this affidavit, the undersigned contractor verifies its compliance with O.C.G.A. §
13-10-91, stating affirmatively that the individual, firm or corporation which is engaged in the
physical performance of services on behalf of The City of Cornelia has registered with, is
authorized to use and uses the federal work authorization program commonly known as EVerify, or any subsequent replacement program, in accordance with the applicable provisions
and deadlines established in O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91. Furthermore, the undersigned contractor
will continue to use the federal work authorization program throughout the contract period and
the undersigned contractor will contract for the physical performance of services in satisfaction
of such contract only with subcontractors who present an affidavit to the contractor with the
information required by O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91(b). Contractor hereby attests that its federal
work authorization user identification number and date of authorization are as follows:
_________________________________
Federal Work Authorization User Identification Number
_________________________________
Date of Authorization
_________________________________
Name of Contractor
_________________________________
Name of Project
_________________________________
Name of Public Employer
I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on _________________, ________, 201__ in ___________(city), ___(state).
_________________________________
Signature of Authorized Officer or Agent
_______________________________
Printed Name and Title of Authorized Officer or Agent
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN BEFORE ME
ON THIS THE ______ DAY OF ______________,201__.
_________________________________
NOTARY PUBLIC
My Commission Expires:
Sub-subcontractor Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91(b)(4)
By executing this affidavit, the undersigned sub-subcontractor verifies its compliance with
O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91, stating affirmatively that the individual, firm or corporation which is
engaged in the physical performance of services under a contract for
___________________________(name of subcontractor or sub-subcontractor with whom such
sub-subcontractor has privity of contract) and ____________________ (name of contractor) on
behalf of The City of Cornelia has registered with, is authorized to use and uses the federal
work authorization program commonly known as E-Verify, or any subsequent replacement
program, in accordance with the applicable provisions and deadlines established in O.C.G.A. §
13-10-91. Furthermore, the undersigned sub-subcontractor will continue to use the federal
work authorization program throughout the contract period and the undersigned subsubcontractor will contract for the physical performance of services in satisfaction of such
contract only with sub-subcontractors who present an affidavit to the sub-subcontractor with
the information required by O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91(b). The undersigned sub-subcontractor shall
submit, at the time of such contract, this affidavit to ____________________ (name of
subcontractor or sub-subcontractor with whom such sub-subcontractor has privity of contract).
Additionally, the undersigned sub-subcontractor will forward notice of the receipt of any
affidavit from a sub-subcontractor to ________________ (name of subcontractor or subsubcontractor with whom such sub-subcontractor has privity of contract). Sub-subcontractor
hereby attests that its federal work authorization user identification number and date of
authorization are as follows:
_________________________________
Federal Work Authorization User Identification Number
_________________________________
Date of Authorization
_________________________________
Name of Sub-subcontractor
_________________________________
Name of Project
_________________________________
Name of Public Employer
I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on ________________, ___, 201__ in ____________________(city), ______(state).
_________________________________
Signature of Authorized Officer or Agent
_______________________________
Printed Name and Title of Authorized Officer or Agent
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN BEFORE ME
ON THIS THE ______ DAY OF ______________,201__.
_________________________________
NOTARY PUBLIC
My Commission Expires: