CITY OF KENT PUBLIC NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS FOR

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

The City of Kent is requesting statement of qualifications (SOQ) to assist with an update to its Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP). The project will augment the 2022 City of Kent LRSP, expanding on its analysis and project prioritization, to improve safe outcomes for all transportation modes. The project will support staff in developing the 2024 LRSP.

Project Description

The LRSP lays out an evidenced-based analysis of crashes, with recommendations for spot improvements at top crash locations and is updated every two years. The project will expand on the LRSP and enable the City to qualify for potential Federal Safe Streets and Roads For All implementation funding.

Kent is a diverse community, requiring broad efforts for an inclusive planning process. An explicit tenet of the City’s Transportation Master Plan is to promote safety and make people feel safer through an equity lens. The project will include engagement with public and private stakeholders, with education and outreach on Safe Systems Approach that focuses on reducing serious and fatal crashes. This will include an equity impact analysis of proposed strategies and improvements with a robust, multilingual outreach and education element.

Identifying and prioritizing pedestrian facilities, including crossing enhancements, is an ongoing need. The consultant’s proposal should present options for prioritizing sidewalk and enhanced pedestrian crossings using GIS data along with robust community engagement.

Much of the data regarding existing transportation infrastructure was collected when the City updated its Transportation Master Plan (TMP) in 2021. The City is currently collecting traffic data for key roadway segments and intersections, so additional volume data should not be included in the consultant’s SOQ.

Project Budget: $280,000

Qualifications   
The successful consultant firm must have extensive experience in transportation planning and demonstrate similar work for similar communities. A knowledge of Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) Safe Systems Approach, Federal Safe Streets and Roads For All program, and diverse community outreach on transportation safety is required. 

Consultants must demonstrate their data-based safety and sidewalk project prioritization experience over the past 5 years where they were the prime consultant for that work.

Submittal

Four (4) copies of the SOQ signed by the consultant’s contractually binding authority. The material shall cover the above qualifications, with the following format and information:

1) Provide a cover letter with brief overview, highlighting key aspects of the firm.

2) Proposed consultant team - The consultant should include all team members who will work on the project, with one-page resumes of the personnel.

4) Provided description on strategy for the LRSP update to better develop, prioritize, or deliver safety projects. 

5) Consultant’s ability to complete the LRSP update.

6) References of clients from similar work projects from the last 3 years. References should include the name, phone number and email address of the contact person, and include a brief description of the project, the project cost and results achieved to-date. References from projects in-process are allowed.

The SOQ must be no more than 10 pages in length excluding the cover, index, resumes, and references.

Please submit copies of your Statement of Qualifications to: City of Kent City Clerk’s office; 220 Fourth Ave. S., Kent, WA 98032-5895 no later than 3:00 p.m. on June 2, 2023. Submittals will not be accepted after that time and date. The City will evaluate firms based on SOQ and reserves the right to shortlist with consultant selection following interviews to be scheduled in June. 

Please send written questions to David Paine, City Transportation Planner, via email to dpaine@KentWa.gov. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information

The City of Kent in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), commits to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability, in all of its programs and activities. This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing City of Kent Public Works Engineering at publicworks@kentwa.gov or by calling 253-856-5500.

Title VI Statement

The City of Kent, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.