Design Services Contract Up for Approval on May 27
Imagine you need to hire someone to design your new home. You wouldn't just pick the first person you see, right? You want to talk to a few different designers to get a feel for who is the best fit and most highly qualified. That's kind of what a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process is like, but for community investments our city needs. This is how the RFQ process for Malvern Hills Park shaped up:
Post a "Help Wanted" Sign (Post the RFQ): The city put out a public announcement for design services on February 28 – like a "Help Wanted" sign, but called a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). This document let companies know what kind of project our community needed help with (building a new pool and renovating buildings) and asked interested companies to submit their experience, qualifications, and how they might approach the project.
Read Applications (Evaluate Responses): In early April, the evaluation team carefully read through all responses after the RFQ closing date, looking at things like how much experience each company had designing pools and renovating buildings, if they've done similar projects before, and if they seemed to understand what our community needs.
Pick the Best Candidate (Choose the Best Response): Based on qualifications and experience, the City of Asheville narrowed the list to the most qualified design company after meetings and discussions. It's similar to picking the most promising candidate for a job.
Discuss Details (Negotiate a Contract): City staff met with the top design firm to talk about specific details of the project. Negotiation of items such as which elements of the design process will be used, design and construction timeline, and how much design will cost continues throughout April. This is like negotiating salary and job responsibilities with a job candidate. The goal was to come to a mutual agreement on all the details, which are written into a contract.
Get the Final Okay (Go to City Council for Approval): The design contract is scheduled for a May 27 vote by City Council! Council will review a staff report that is published the week before the meeting to make sure everything looks good for our community and that taxpayer money is being used appropriately. If they agree with the staff report, a resolution is signed, allowing the contract to move forward to obtain required signatures. Finally, the team can officially start work on design for the project.
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