Question and Answer - RFP for Architects

Architect RFP - Question Submission

Architect RFP - Questions and Answers

Scope of Service Question

Question Regarding the Scope of Services: The Scope of Services provided in the RFP for Architects on your website does not seem to provide sufficient information about the Architects’ expected role in dealing with The Town of Canton’s Planning & Zoning (P&Z) requirements nor with the Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Agency (IWWA) application / review process, and/or other regulatory processes. These processes can be complicated, and may require highly skilled specialists.  Can you be clearer about what you want the Architect to do in this arena?

General Answer Regarding the Scope of Services:  The RFP is an invitation to bid.  Favarh is asking architects to send us a proposal telling us what you think we need to do in order to develop our site and build our proposed buildings.  It is an invitation and it is competitive (other architects want the job, too).  Please: 

• tell us what you think we will need to get the job done;  
• tell us how you would do it (and with whom you would sub-contract to provide actual specific technical services not done in-house); and 
• tell us how much you propose to charge for the full package of services.   

If we understand and appreciate your proposed scope of services, and the price is right (vis-à-vis other proposals, and our resources), then we may be able to come to an understanding … a contract that is mutually beneficial. 

The onus of responsibility for assembling this “site team” is on the Architect firm that is submitting the Proposal. Please demonstrate your intent and your capacity to provide a full package of architecture-related services, including those specified on page two of the RFP”  … namely … “assistance when necessary / requested with government approval processes.” The fees of the professionals whom you have identified should be considered for budgeting purposes as … contingent fees for services, if required / requested.  They should be specified by type-of-service and fee per hour.

Slightly More Technical Response to the Question: 

There are several pieces of information that help clarify the Favarh’s needs and expectations.   

1. In April 2016 Favarh secured a site study of the development property by a certified professional wetland scientist who indicated (we paraphrase) … any significant site development will require a permit for disturbances … and that a flagged and surveyed wetland line bill be required as part of a permit application. 
2. Favarh may well be required to apply for a Wetlands permit from IWWA, in which case we may need the services of a licensed soil scientist (working under contract to the Architect Firm) to field locate the boundaries of wetland soils on our site … which would then be plotted on our site plan by a land surveyor of engineer.   
3. Favarh has not yet had any “formal” conversations with either P&Z or IWWA regarding the development of the site.  We will shortly
4. Favarh will not put out a separate RFP to retain any specialist in this field.
5. We look to the Architect to build its working team.

Question - Has a schedule been developed for the project?

Yes.  A “rough” schedule has been developed for the project.  Our current estimate is 24-months from the initiation of the RFP process to select and engage an Architect, through the permit/approvals stage, and the construction phase to … occupancy.  Two years.

Question - Will Favarh provide an on-site owner's rep during construction?

Yes.  Favarh’s Owner’s Representative is Bill McDonough.  bmcdonough@favarh.org

Question - Is there a preliminary budget for the project? If so, can this number shared?

Of course we have a budget … in our minds … but it has not yet been cast in stone.  We are basically using standard construction cost assumptions.   Then we begin a “refining” process.

Step One:  We retain an Architect, and have some serious conversation about our needs / requirements, the site, the approvals processes / requirements, the basic construction design, plans and specs … then we will ask the Architect to prepare a fairly detailed cost estimate. 

Step Two:  We’ll see (through a bidding process) what the General Contractors think our budget … should be. 

Step Three:  Negotiations with the GC … and then we will have a budget. 

It’s far too early to project a magic number … that is beneficial to anyone.

Would the Wetlands Scientist's Report be available prior to the RFP submittal?

Yes, of course.  The concise set of "findings" about the proposed site for Favarh's LEC development were provided by Michael Klein, Registered Soil Scientist and Certified Professional Wetland Scientist. 

Please click below to download the PDF