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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND QUALIFICATIONS (RFP/Q)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND HOUSING FINANCE
CITY OF BOZEMAN
Bozeman, MT
City of Bozeman
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
March 2021
NOTICE IS HEREBY given that the City of Bozeman (City) is seeking proposals from firms to provide
professional services in support of Economic Development and Housing Finance.
Copies of the Request for Proposals are available on the City’s website at
https://www.bozeman.net/government/city-clerk/bids-rfps-rfqs.
All proposals must be provided as a single, searchable PDF document file and be submitted
digitally as an email attachment to the RFP Recipient email address below. Respondents are
advised that Recipient’s email attachment size limit is 25MB and that only one PDF file will be
allowed per response. The subject line of the transmittal email shall clearly identify the RFP title,
company name and due date/time. File sizes greater than 25MB in size may be uploaded to
bzncloud.bozeman.net upon special arrangement of the Recipient; however, it is the
respondent’s sole responsibility to ensure the file upload is completed, and that the Recipient is
separately notified via email of same, prior to the given deadline.
Deliver RFPs via email to the City Clerk by Monday April 5, 2021 at 2 pm MST. It is the sole
responsibility of the proposing party to ensure that proposals are received prior to the closing
time as late submittals will not be accepted and will be returned unopened.
The email address for submission is: agenda@bozeman.net
NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL PAY
The City of Bozeman is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Discrimination in the performance of any agreement awarded under this RFQ on the basis of race,
color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, or actual or perceived sexual
orientation, gender identity or disability is prohibited. This prohibition shall apply to the hiring
and treatment of the awarded entity’s employees and to all subcontracts.
As such, each entity submitting under this notice shall include a provision wherein the submitting
entity, or entities, affirms in writing it will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion,
creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, or because of actual or perceived sexual
orientation, gender identity or disability and which also recognizes the eventual contract will
contain a provision prohibiting discrimination as described above and that this prohibition on
discrimination shall apply to the hiring and treatment of the submitting entity’s employees and
to all subcontracts.
In addition, pursuant to City Commission Resolution 5169, the entity awarded a contract under
this RFQ and any subcontractors must abide by the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Section 39-3-104,
MCA (the Montana Equal Pay Act), and affirm it will abide by the above and that it has visited the
State of Montana Equal Pay for Equal Work “best practices” website,
https://equalpay.mt.gov/BestPractices/Employers, or equivalent “best practices publication and
has read the material.
Any administrative questions regarding proposal procedures should be directed to: Mike Maas,
City Clerk (406) 582-2321, agenda@bozeman.net.
Questions relating to the RFP should be directed to: David Fine, Urban Renewal Program Manager
(406) 551-0209, dfine@bozeman.net.
DATED at Bozeman, Montana, this March 14, 2021.
Mike Maas
City Clerk
City of Bozeman
For publication on:
Sunday, March 14
Sunday, March 28
I. INTRODUCTION
The City of Bozeman (Owner), is seeking proposals from firms or teams to undertake Economic
Development, Tax Increment Finance Projects and Development Planning projects initiated by the
Economic Development Department, Community Development Department, or Downtown Bozeman
Partnership.
The Owner intends to enter into a contract with the selected firm or team that will include
Housing and Economic Development Project Financial Analysis, Housing and Economic
Development Financial Planning and Capital Budgeting.
This RFP/Q shall not commit the Owner to enter into an agreement, to pay any expenses incurred
in preparation of any response to this request, or to procure or contract for any supplies, goods
or services. The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject all responses received as a result of
this RFP/Q if it is in the Owner’s best interest to do so.
This procurement is governed by the laws of the State of Montana and venue for all legal
proceedings shall be in the 18th Judicial District Court, Gallatin County. By offering to perform
services under this RFP/Q, all Submitters agree to be bound by the laws of the State of Montana
and of the Owner, including, but not limited to, applicable wage rates, payments, gross receipts
taxes, building codes, equal opportunity employment practices, safety, non-discrimination, etc.
II. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION
The City of Bozeman is seeking economic development, housing, and public finance consultants to provide
technical expertise for facilitating projects initiated by the City of Bozeman. Using tax increment financing,
public infrastructure, other sources of public funds, and creative incentives as tools, the consultants must
demonstrate experience facilitating significant successful projects. The successful firm(s) will demonstrate
experience in performing financial analysis and advisory services to guide public participation in economic
development and housing projects, drafting and analyzing financial pro formas for development,
providing incentive analysis, negotiating development agreements and facilitating public-private
partnerships. The team will provide strategic advice, as needed, to maximize the impact of public
resources through careful financial and capital planning and budgeting.
The selected firms will be retained for a contract term of one (1) year, which may be extended annually,
at the sole discretion of the City of Bozeman, for up to five (5) years. The contract may allow the
consultants to perform any tasks from a general scope of work. The suggested preliminary scope of work,
as well as the general scope of work, may be directed by written task order, at the sole discretion of the
City of Bozeman during the contract term.
III. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The selected consultant may assist the City on any task defined by the general scope of services as
directed by written task order. The successful Proposer will be expected to provide:
Housing and Economic Development Project Financial Analysis and Related Services:
1. Assist in economic development and housing project development and financing:
a. Analyze developers project pro forma representations and evaluate the need for
public participation;
b. Analyze the development experience and financial capacities to deliver the
proposed project;
c. Identify both private and public financing options for project;
d. Identify and analyzing risks in public sector participation;
e. Negotiate reasonable rates of return for private and public participants; and
f. Prepare financing plan.
2. Assist in the implementation and management of new and existing tax increment
financing district(s):
a. Developing or revising policies for the use of TIF and other economic
development tools;
b. Developing management controls on the monitoring of TIF districts;
c. Analyzing the financial components to determine the type of TIF district for a
given project and the associated financial considerations
d. Preparing document preparation and the process of district establishment; and
e. Meeting compliance requirements.
3. Assist in identifying and developing alternative financial resources.
4. Assist in development agreement negotiations and implementation of redevelopment
plans
a. Assist in evaluating and negotiating financial, security, timing and default
provisions;
b. Assist in integrating development agreement into overall plan and documents;
and
c. If needed, project management on selected portions of redevelopment plans.
5. Related Administrative and Reporting Services:
a. Review of City documentation for each district that may include original and
modified TIF Plans, prior years’ financial reports, financial statements and other
related documentation
b. Analysis of the reported historical expenditures and verification of revenues,
expenditures and transfers
c. Perform various testing of compliance with laws, regulations and governing
documents for all expenditures
d. Written summary regarding each district, including recommendations, as
necessary
e. Prepare memorandum regarding overall TIF operations for permanent file
records
f. Recommendation of options for use of future fund balances, as available,
subject to City policies regarding outstanding obligations, use of available
revenues, timing for closing districts, and other options that maximize potential
opportunities for use of revenues within the City’s TIF districts
g. Provide an overview financial report and action plan for each TIF district
h. Provide a summary working reference document for ‘quick’ access on day-to-day
items and overall plan
Housing and Economic Development Financial Planning and Capital Budgeting
1. Assist and advise with the development and implementation of a long-range economic
development strategic financial plan. Services may include:
a. Identify and evaluate objectives and performance against objectives;
b. Review and analyze cost effective alternatives for financing approaches and
tools;
c. Estimate revenue and financing requirements.
2. Assist and advise the City with the implementation of multi-year economic development
capital budget. Services may include:
a. Review of current and potential future revenue sources and determination of
funding capacities;
b. Assist in scheduling sources with uses which optimize the City’s overall financial
capacities.
c. Examination of related fiscal and credit rating impacts.
3. Assist and advise on independent and community comparisons on different economic
development incentives and outcomes. Service may include:
a. Within Montana and in other comparable jurisdictional markets obtain
samplings of the uses of local, state, and federal incentives and their
applications.
b. Provide other sample materials on economic development policies, applications,
fee levels and related administrative and market information.
4. Assist and advise the application and management of short- and long-term debt
programs. Services may include:
a. Assist and advise on outstanding economic development debt issues for
compliance requirements, estimating financial capacities, refunding
opportunities and any related administrative items.
b. Provide public and private market perspectives relating to the marketability and
levels of economic development revenue bonds.
c. Advise on the credit quality and marketability of potential debt issuances.
IV. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Firms interested in providing the services described above are requested to submit the following
information. Responses to each item should appear in the same order as in this RFP and should
identify the item to which the responses applies.
• Executive Summary
• Firm Profile
• Qualifications
1. The Proposer must describe its qualifications and experience in providing the
work described in this RFP/Q. Experience should include examples of performing
similar or related plans/studies; this also should include details as to the type of
projects, approximate date of service delivery.
The Proposer shall provide a team organization chart, which lists the names of
key personnel that will be assigned to this project along with a brief resume for
each individual that describes their education and relevant professional work
experience. A description of the work expected to be performed by each
individual including an estimate of the amount of time each will be assigned to
work on the project should also be provided. Any subcontractors anticipated to
be utilized to perform work on this project, should be identified and brief
resumes submitted.
• Related Experience with Projects Similar to the Scope of Services
1. To demonstrate relevant experience related to Scope of Services, provide 4 case
studies demonstrating relevant experience in each of the two subareas: Project
Financial Analysis and Financial Planning and Capital Budgeting
• Experience with Economic Development, Housing, and Tax Increment Finance Projects
in Montana
• References
1. The Proposer must submit three (3) references of similar engagements during
the last three (3) years, including state of Montana experience. The references
must have had experience with the Firm similar in scope to those described in
the RFQ. The Proposer must name a contact person and contact information for
whomever is responsible for the review at each provided reference.
• Price Proposal
1. Provide hourly rates for the 4 team members who will be expected to be
principally responsible for interaction with the client and delivery of projects
under the scope of services.
• Affirmation of Nondiscrimination (see Appendix A)
Non-completion of the Affirmation of Nondiscrimination is cause for disqualification of
firms.
V. TIMELINES, DELIVERY DEADLINE, AND INSTRUCTIONS
EVENT DATE/TIME
Publication dates of RFP Sunday, March 14
Sunday, March 28
Deadline for Emailed Expression of Interest
and Questions
Monday, March 29
Deadline for receipt of proposals Monday, April 5
Evaluation of proposals TBD
Interviews (if necessary) and Selection of
consultants
TBD
With the exception of the advertising dates and advertised due date, the City reserves the right
to modify the above timeline.
Deliver RFPs via email to the City Clerk (agenda@bozeman.net) by April 5, 2021 at 2 pm MST. It
is the sole responsibility of the proposing party to ensure that proposals are received prior to
the closing time as late submittals will not be accepted and will be returned unopened. All
proposals must be provided as a single, searchable PDF document file and be submitted
digitally as an email attachment to the RFP Recipient email address agenda@bozeman.net.
Respondents are advised that Recipient’s email attachment size limit is 25MB and that only one
PDF file will be allowed per response. The subject line of the transmittal email shall clearly
identify the RFP title, company name and due date/time. File sizes greater than 25MB in size
may be uploaded to bzncloud.bozeman.net upon special arrangement of the Recipient;
however, it is the respondent’s sole responsibility to ensure the file upload is completed, and
that the Recipient is separately notified via email of same, prior to the given deadline.
VI. AMENDMENTS TO SOLICITATION
Any interpretation or correction of this request will be published on the City’s webpage. The
deadline for an Emailed Expression of Interest and questions related to this document is 9:00
am MST on Monday, March 29, 2021.
VII. CONTACT INFORMATION
Any administrative questions regarding proposal procedures should be directed to: Mike Maas,
City Clerk, (406) 582-2321, agenda@bozeman.net
Questions relating to scope of services should be directed to: David Fine, Urban Renewal
Program Manager, dfine@bozeman.net, 406.551.0209
VIII. SELECTION PROCEDURE
A review committee will evaluate all responses to the RFP that meet the submittal requirements
and deadline. Submittals that do not meet the requirement or deadline will not be considered.
The review committee will rank the proposals and may arrange interviews with the finalist(s) prior
to selection. Selection may be made directly based on the written RFP submission.
If interviews occur, the selection of finalists to be interviewed will be made by a selection
committee representing the City of Bozeman. The selection of interview candidates will be based
on an evaluation of the written responses to the RFPs.
All submitted proposals must be complete and contain the information required as stated in the
"Request for Proposals.”
IX. SELECTION CRITERIA
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
• [5 points] Executive Summary and Firm Team Profile
• [70 points] Qualifications of the Firm for Scope of Services; Cost (Value:Cost)
• [35 points] Related Experience with Similar Projects
• [10 points] Experience with Economic Development and Tax Increment Finance
Projects in Montana
• References
X. FORM OF AGREEMENT
The Contractor will be required to enter into a contract with the City in substantially the same
form as the professional services agreement attached as Attachment B.
XI. CITY RESERVATION OF RIGHTS / LIABILITY WAIVER
All proposals submitted in response to this RFP become the property of the City and public
records and, as such, may be subject to public review.
A SUBMISSION IN RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS CONFERS NO RIGHTS
UPON ANY RESPONDENTS AND SHALL NOT OBLIGATE THE CITY IN ANY MANNER
WHATSOEVER. THE CITY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE NO AWARD AND TO SOLICIT
ADDITIONAL REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AT A LATER DATE.
A. This RFP may be canceled or any or all responses may be rejected in whole or in part, as
specified herein, when it is in the best interests of the City. If the City cancels or revises
this RFP, all Respondents who submitted will be notified using email.
B. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals; to add or delete
items and/or quantities; to amend the RFP; to waive any minor irregularities,
informalities, or failure to conform to the RFP; to extend the deadline for submitting
proposals; to postpone award for up to 60 days; to award one or more contracts, by
item or task, or groups of items or tasks, if so provided in the RFP and if multiple awards
or phases are determined by the City to be in the public interest.
C. The City of Bozeman reserves the right to reject the proposal of any person/firm who
previously failed to perform properly to the satisfaction of the City of Bozeman, or
complete on time agreements of similar nature, or to reject the proposal of any
person/firm who is not in a position to perform such an agreement satisfactorily as
determined by the City of Bozeman.
D. The City of Bozeman reserves the right to determine the best qualified Contractor and
negotiate a final scope of service and cost, negotiate a contract with another Contractor
if an agreement cannot be reached with the first selected Contractor, or reject all
proposals.
E. The professional services contract between the City of Bozeman and the successful
Contractor will incorporate the Contractor's scope of service and work schedule as part
of the agreement (see Appendix B for form of professional services agreement. The
professional services agreement presented to the Contractor may differ from this form
as appropriate for the scope of services).
F. This RFP does not commit the City to award a contract. The City assumes no liability or
responsibility for costs incurred by firms in responding to this request for proposals or
request for interviews, additional data, or other information with respect to the
selection process, prior to the issuance of an agreement, contract or purchase order.
The Contractor, by submitting a response to this RFP, waives all right to protest or
seek any legal remedies whatsoever regarding any aspect of this RFP.
G. The City reserves the right to cancel, in part or in its entirety, this RFP including, but not
limited to: selection procedures, submittal date, and submittal requirements. If the City
cancels or revises this RFP, all Contractors who submitted proposals will be notified
using email.
H. Projects under any contract are subject to the availability of funds.
XII. NONDISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL PAY POLICY
The City of Bozeman requires each entity submitting under this notice shall affirm, on a
separate form provided, that it will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed,
sex, age, marital status, national origin, or because of actual or perceived sexual orientation,
sexual preference, gender identity, or disability in fulfillment of a contract entered into for the
services identified herein and that this prohibition on discrimination shall apply to the hiring
and treatment of the submitting entity’s employees and to all subcontracts it enters into in
the fulfillment of the services identified herein. Failure to comply with this requirement shall
be cause for the submittal to be deemed nonresponsive.
The City also requires each entity submitting under this notice shall affirm it will abide by the
Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Section 39-3-104, MCA (the Montana Equal Pay Act), and has visited
the State of Montana Equal Pay for Equal Work “best practices” website,
https://equalpay.mt.gov/BestPractices/Employers, or equivalent “best practices publication
and has read the material.
XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
A. No Oral Agreements. No conversations or oral agreements with any officer, employee, or
agent of the City shall affect or modify any term of this solicitation. Oral communications
or any written/email communication between any person and City officer, employee or
agent shall not be considered binding.
B. No Partnership/Business Organization. Nothing in this solicitation or in any subsequent
agreement, or any other contract entered into as a result of this solicitation, shall
constitute, create, give rise to or otherwise be recognized as a partnership or formal
business organization of any kind between or among the respondent and the City.
C. Employment Restriction and Indemnity. No person who is an owner, officer,
employee, contractor, or consultant of a respondent shall be an officer or employee of
the City. No rights of the City’s retirement or personnel rules accrue to a respondent,
its officers, employees, contractors, or consultants. Respondents shall have the
responsibility of all salaries, wages, bonuses, retirement, withholdings, worker’s
compensation and occupational disease compensation, insurance, unemployment
compensation other benefits and taxes and premiums appurtenant thereto concerning
its officers, employees, contractors, and consultants. Each Respondent shall save and
hold the City harmless with respect to any and all claims for payment, compensation,
salary, wages, bonuses, retirement, withholdings, worker’s compensation and
occupational disease compensation, insurance, unemployment compensation other
benefits and taxes and premiums in any way related to each respondent’s officers,
employees, contractors and consultants.
D. Accessibility. Upon reasonable notice, the City will provide assistance for those persons
with sensory impairments. For further information please contact the ADA Coordinator
Mike Gray at 406-582-3232 or the City’s TTY line at 406-582-2301.
E. Procurement. When discrepancies occur between words and figures in this solicitation,
the words shall govern. No responsibility shall attach to a City employee for the
premature opening of an RFP not properly addressed and identified in accordance with
these documents.
F. Governing Law. This solicitation and any disputes arising hereunder or under any future
agreement shall be governed and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the State of Montana, without reference to principles of choice or conflicts of laws.
XIV. ATTACHMENTS
The following exhibits are incorporated in this RFP:
Appendix A: Non-Discrimination Affirmation
Appendix B: Form of Professional Services Agreement
END OF RFP
Attachment A
NONDISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL PAY AFFIRMATION
____________________________________(name of entity submitting) hereby affirms it will
not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national
origin, or because of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or disability and
acknowledges and understands the eventual contract will contain a provision prohibiting
discrimination as described above and this prohibition on discrimination shall apply to the
hiring and treatments or proposer’s employees and to all subcontracts.
In addition, ____________________________________(name of entity submitting) hereby
affirms it will abide by the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Section 39-3-104, MCA (the Montana
Equal Pay Act), and has visited the State of Montana Equal Pay for Equal Work “best practices”
website, https://equalpay.mt.gov/BestPractices/Employers, or equivalent “best practices
publication and has read the material.
______________________________________
Name and title of person authorized to sign on behalf of submitter