Questions Submitted to the Community Foundation SWLA
Resilience Master Plan RFP

Last Updated: July 29, 2021

The Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana is pleased to announce the shortlisted teams for the Resilience Master Plan:

• UDA with Franklin Associates, Dr. Daniel Groft, James A Richardson, Stantec, and WHLC Architecture
  

• HRA & Waggoner&Ball (co-leads) with Water Institute, Aldayjover, Deltares, Empire of the Seed, ISEE Change, LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio, Meyer & Associates, SCAPE, and Sherwood Engineering
  

Revised Timeline for Master Plan Selection Process:

1. Wednesday, July 28: Selection Committee meeting to shortlist

2. Monday, August 16: Interviews of shortlisted firms and final selection

3. Contract Negotiations: Aug 17 – 25

Community Foundation SWLA was pleased to receive responses from the following teams in response to the Resilience Master Plan RFP:

• CSRS with Askura Robinson, ACSW, Centanni, Civix, Fenstermaker, McKinsey & Company, and Resilient Cities Catalyst

• DBC & HGA (co-leads) with A+ Consulting, Accelerate H20, ISRC, KSA Engineers, McNeese State University: H.C. Drew Center for Business & Economic Analysis, Resilience Innovation Hub

• Fourth Economy with Biohabitats, Coleman Partners, Perkins & Will, and Volkert

• HRA & Waggoner&Ball (co-leads) with Water Institute, Aldayjover, Deltares, Empire of the Seed, ISEE Change, LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio, Meyer & Associates, SCAPE, and Sherwood Engineering

• UDA with Franklin Associates, Dr. Daniel Groft, James A Richardson, Stantec, and WHLC Architecture

Stay tuned for the next steps!

QUESTION: Does the Foundation have a specific format that it would like respondents to use for the pricing proposal?

1. For instance, is the selection committee just looking for just a total amount or do they want it detailed by activity?

2. Do they want hourly rates in addition to totals?

ANSWER: Thank you for your question. It would be helpful and desirable for the timeline and cost proposal required in section 4.2 vii to detail the anticipated costs associated with various tasks and activities proposed. We recommend providing as much information possible about the structure of the budget you are proposing including hourly rates if applicable.

QUESTION: Does the Foundation have a budget or total cost that it would like to stay under for the delivery of the Resilience Master Plan?

1. If so, will this budget be made available to the proposers before the responses are due?

ANSWER: As indicated in the RFP, the cost proposal should consider that this planning effort is supported by grant funding, a portion of which the Foundation expects to also use in supporting the plan’s implementation. The Foundation is not imposing a cap on proposed costs but will use cost as one of the key criteria to evaluate and compare submitted proposals.

QUESTION: For vendors interested in partnering with other firms in delivering the requirements outlined within the RFP, would CFSWLA be able to provide a list of vendors interested in teaming?

ANSWER: The opportunity to respond to the RFP is available to any vendor or team of vendors that meets the qualifications and can perform the work outlined in the RFP scope of work. CFSWLA will not facilitate teaming agreements between vendors.

QUESTION: Given that some vendors have considerable experience and are able to perform some components of the scope (e.g. economic development, resiliency strategy, etc.) but not do so in other components of required scope, would CFSWLA consider a multi-vendor award where proposers denote which areas of scope they are capable of completing? 

ANSWER: CFSWLA prefers to hire one consultant team that may be composed of multiple vendors that offer specific expertise to fulfill the scope components. CFSWLA reserves the right to contract services with multiple vendors to address a defined need but anticipates awarding only one contract as a result of this RFP.

QUESTION: Section 4.2 Proposal Format, vii. Cost Proposal and Timeline, states that the cost proposal should consider that this planning effort is supported by grant funding.  What is the source of the grant funding? Are there any specific restrictions or considerations that vendors will need to plan for in their cost proposal responses?

The source of funds for this scope of work is a private donor who intended that their funds be used by CFSWLA to develop a master plan for Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes and build a more resilient region in Southwest Louisiana. There are no other stipulations or restrictions assigned to these funds.