Construction Contractors (various trades)

The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (“URA”) requests qualifications from firms to provide various construction, residential and commercial façade improvement, and/or heavy highway-related services to both the URA, on its portfolio of real property and development projects through its Engineering and Construction Department, as well as individuals using URA lending products through the URA’s Housing Department or Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (“CIE”).

The URA plans to select one or more respondents to be a part of an approved list of contractors to provide construction services on an as-needed basis. The firms selected for this list will be eligible to provide bids to the URA as work opportunities arise. Upon request, the URA will make this list of contractors available to individuals borrowing monies from the URA that need to engage these services. Once firms are approved by the URA Board of Directors, they will remain on the list through December 31, 2021.

The URA seeks to expand its pool of qualified, eligible contractors to provide as-needed construction services. This will enable the URA to support a greater range of businesses as well as respond more quickly to situations where repairs are needed.

To effectively accomplish its objective, the URA is soliciting information from qualified firms with experience in a variety of construction-related industries.

The URA is the City of Pittsburgh’s (“the City”) economic development agency, committed to creating jobs, expanding the City’s tax base, and improving the vitality of businesses and neighborhoods. The URA was established in 1946 under the Pennsylvania Urban Redevelopment Law, 35 P.S. §§ 1701, et seq. The URA acquires and clears blighted property; initiates rebuilding with the private sector; negotiates with federal, state, county, and local governments for public funds and facilities; and works to maintain and improve Pittsburgh neighborhood and business districts through business loan programs, multi- and single-family loan programs, and home improvement loan programs.

Due to the URA’s mandate and a citywide push to expand economic opportunity throughout the City, the URA is expanding its work with small- and medium-sized businesses to provide opportunities to as many firms as possible.

The URA is a legal entity separate and distinct from the City and works closely with the City in fulfilling its redevelopment mission.

Scope of Services Respondents may choose one or more of the categories listed below to include in their submission:

• Alarm, Monitoring & Security Systems
• Basement Sealing
• Bituminous Paving
• Chimney Repair & Construction
• Clean-Out/Debris Removal
• Commercial Façade
• Demolition
• Disaster Recovery (Flood/Fire)
• Environmental Waste Remediation
• Excavation
• Exterior Steps
• Fencing
• Land Surveying
• Landscaping
• Paving
• Pre-Cast
• Residential Façade
• Retaining Walls
• River Salvage
• Sidewalk Repair
• Streetface
• Tree Removal
• Towing
• Utility Installation  
• Other: ___________
• Specializations: __________
  (French drains, historic renovation, green infrastructure, solar paneling, e.g.)

Healthy Home Systems:

• Radon System
• Mold Removal & Remediation
• Asbestos Removal
• Lead Abatement
• Energy Audit / Home Performance  

General Building Trades:

• Carpentry
• Electrical
• Flooring
• General Labor
• Drywall
• Roofing
• Masonry
• Siding
• Doors & Windows
• Painting

A pre-proposal meeting for all contractors who wish to submit qualifications for consideration will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018 at 11 a.m. ET at the URA, 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 in the 11th floor conference room.  

RSVP your attendance to Lisa Moses at lmoses@ura.org. No phone calls please.

All questions regarding this RFQ should be submitted, and will be answered, through the Public Purchase platform. Both the question and corresponding answer will be visible and available to anyone registered on the site who reviews this opportunity.

See instructions on registering for and accessing this opportunity on Public Purchase in Addendum A.

Inquiries related to MWBE participation should be directed, by email, to:
Diamonte Walker, MWBE Program Officer, at dwalker@ura.org.

Submission Requirements:

Due Date:  Tuesday, May 1, 2018 by 12Noon ET

Deliverables: One (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy via email

Lisa Moses, MWBE Program Specialist  
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh                       
200 Ross Street, 12th Floor                       
Pittsburgh, PA 15219                       
lmoses@ura.org

Each submission should include the following:

1. Title Page – include the contractor’s name, contact person and contact information
2. Table of Contents
3. Qualifications - Provide a brief narrative that explains why your firm is well qualified to perform this work, including prior relevant experience
   a. References – Provide three (3) references from other entities or clients that you have performed similar work for. Include the reference’s name, title, direct telephone number, and email address.
4. Firm Profile - Provide a brief profile of your firm 
5. MWBE Narrative – State as succinctly as possible how your firm will incorporate Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise participation on the contract. MWBE participation can be satisfied by:
   a) Ownership/partnership of firm
   b) Use of minorities and/or women as part of consultant tea
   c) Focus on MWBE clients or businesses
6. Pricing Methodology - Describe your preferred fee structure and current rates
7. Other Information – Please provide any other information which you believe is pertinent to the URA’s consideration of your firm. Please limit your response to this question to no more than one (1) page.
8. Application for Contractor Registration (See Addendum B)
9. Respondent must complete a W-9 (See Addendum C)

Contact person for all responses:

Lisa Moses, MWBE Program Specialist                       

Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh                       

200 Ross Street, 12th Floor                       

Pittsburgh, PA 15219                       

lmoses@ura.org

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications will be evaluated using the criteria below:

1. Mandatory Elements
   a.    The respondent, including any and all team members, must have no conflict of interest with regards to any other work performed for the URA or related entity.
   b.    The respondent must adhere to the instructions contained in this RFQ in preparing the submitted proposal.
2. Technical Qualifications
   a.    Experience and Expertise                                          
           i.    The firm’s past experience on comparable issues                        ii.    The qualifications of the firm’s professional personnel to be assigned to engage with the URA                                        
           iii.    Fee information
   b.    Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) participation

Final Selection:

The URA Board of Directors will select firm(s) after reviewing the recommendations of the URA’s staff. The URA reserves the right to reject any or all qualifications submitted. The URA reserves the right to reject any proposal for failure to comply with the requirements of this RFQ. The URA further reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive any such defect(s) or failure(s). Submission of a response indicates acceptance by the firm of the conditions contained in this RFQ, unless clearly and specifically noted in the response submitted and confirmed in the contract between the URA and the firm selected. The URA will not reimburse firms for any expenses incurred in preparing responses to this RFQ.

Consideration is expected, but not guaranteed, to be given to the criteria listed in this RFQ. The URA reserves the right to reject any and all responses, to waive any and all informalities outlined in the RFQ and in the selection process, and generally to make the award that, in its judgment, will best meet the objectives stated in this RFQ.

Expenses incurred by a respondent in replying to the RFQ is at the respondent’s own expense and risk.