Request For Proposal –Scope Of Work

Architectural Services

Vergennes Train Depot

The City of Vergennes, Town of Ferrisburgh and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) are requesting proposals from qualified architects to develop project plans for the relocation and rehabilitation of the Vergennes Train Depot for future use as a Travel Information Facility and planned future reuse as a train depot. The Depot is presently located off VT Route 22A on the western side of the Vermont Railway (VTR) tracks in the City of Vergennes, Vermont. The Depotis owned by the State of Vermont, Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and is included in the rail line lease to Vermont Railway (VTR). The Depot is to be moved approximately fifteen hundred feet north along the VTR tracks to a site in the Town of Ferrisburgh at the VTrans Park-and-Ride Facility on the eastern side of the VTR tracks. The project calls for a new foundation at the new location, site work, utilities, moving the depot, rehabilitating the depot and adapting it for use as a travel information center as well as a train depot.

The Vergennes Train Depot is a State-owned building and rehabilitation will need to be in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

See the Vergennes Railroad Station Assessment, dated October 25, 2000, by Keefe & Wesner Architects, P.C. included as Attachment “A”.

Architect Scope of Services

We are seeking an architectural firm, which has the experience and staff to perform a comprehensive scope of services to assist the parties involved with this project.Specifically, the design firm should have experience in:

  • rehabilitation
  • working with non-profits and other interested parties
  • adaptive reuse of historic buildings
  • application of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation
  • oversight of construction work

An important part of this project will be the involved collaboration with a designated Design Committee to comprise of individuals from each of the following: City of Vergennes, Town of Ferrisburgh, Addison County Regional Marketing/Chamber of Commerce and VTrans. In addition, the candidate will be responsible for participating in any public presentations or meetings relating to the project. The successful design firm should be prepared to begin work immediately in order to have the station moved and stabilized on the permanent site prior to July 1, 2010.

The architect's contract will reflect three phases of work. The phases are:

Phase 1 - Preliminary Design, Utilities and Foundation

  1. Meeting with the Design Committee to decide key design parameters.
  2. Site investigation and preparation of preliminary building plans.
  3. Final sewer design and permitting with the City of Vergennes
  4. Foundation design
  5. Final Site Plan Approval from the Town of Ferrisburgh
  6. Preparation of plans, specifications,estimate and bidding documents for foundation, utilities and site work.
  7. Participate in the bid and award process.
  8. Oversee construction of the foundation, utility connections and site work.

Phase 2 -Depot Move and Setting

  1. Preparation of plans specifications, estimate and bidding documents for building move and setting.
  2. Participate in the bid and award process.
  3. Oversee construction of the Depot move and setting.

Phase 3 – Final Plans and Rehabilitation of the Depot

  1. Develop detailed final plans, estimate, bid documents and specifications for the rehabilitation work to be performed in accordance with all applicable codes and requirements - and suitable for bidding and negotiating construction contracts.
  2. Obtain necessary code approvals.
  3. Participate in the bid and award process.
  4. Oversee rehabilitation of the Depot

This project is completely funded by a grant through the VTrans Enhancement Program, with 80% of the funds from Federal Highway Administration and 20% from VTrans. The selected Architect shall be familiarized with the VTrans Local Transportation 2008 Transportation Enhancements Program Operations Manual. The City of Vergennes has the role of project sponsor. See Attachment “B” for role agreement between the City of Vergennes and VTrans.

Key factors in Selection Process

All responses to this RFP/SOW will be evaluated and selection made by the Design Committee. The contract will be between the successful bidder and the City of Vergennes. All respondents will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or age. Minority and/or women owned businesses are encouraged to apply.

Evaluation criteria used in the selection process are based on the needs of the project and Qualifications Based Selection (QBS). The architect's proposal should therefore address these criteria. Important aspects of the proposal are:

Familiarity with Applicable State and Federal Regulations:

Summarize your experience working on Federal and State funded projects. Knowledge of the procedures and requirements of project development of Federal and State funded projects is very helpful.

Successful Experience with Similar Projects:

Summarize your experience with this type of project. Include information on level of experience dealing with codes, and the Secretary's Standards. Summarize experience dealing with local design groups. Describe any similar projects you have recently completed and supply reference contacts for each.

Project Staff:

Describe and give relevant information on the experience of staff people who will actually be performing the work on this project. Include information on the people you intend to use for architectural services, cost estimating, engineering, and historic preservation.

Time Availability:

Describe your firm’s ability to quickly perform the work specified. Project work would begin immediately upon selection of the architect and execution of this contract

Cost:

Cost proposals should be submitted with the project proposal in a separate sealed envelope clearly marked with proposer’s name. Supply an hourly cost and a total cost for the three Phases.Itemize and estimate any costs for reimbursable including cost for phone, fax, document reproduction, and mileage, which are not included in the basic fee.

The original of the proposal is due at the offices of the City of Vergennes, P. O. Box 35, Vergennes, Vermont 05491-0035 no later than 4:30 PM on Friday, November 13, 2009. Proposals will be accepted if postmarked overnight mail on Thursday, November 12, 2009 A tour of the building and the relocation site is scheduled for Wednesday, November 04, 2009 at12:00 PM (noon). Tour will begin at the Ferrisburgh-Vergennes Park-and-Ride Facility located on VT Route 22A in Ferrisburgh. Call Wayne L. Davis, VT Agency of Transportation at (802) 828-5609 to arrange a different date and time if this is not convenient. All responding firms must supply all required information. Thank you for your interest in this project. We look forward to hearing from you.

Additional Points of Interest:

FerrisburghCMGPARK(15)

The VTrans Park-and-Ride Facility project was determined substantial complete on June 30, 2007. Construction plans and As-built plans are available for information and use. Both 3-Phase electrical service and water have been installed with the Park-and-Ride project.

ACT 250 Land Use Permit: #9A0227-2 with Amendment #9A0227-2A extending project to October 15, 2010.

There are draft sewer connection plans, dated November 2006, by Dufresne-Henry, now Stantec available for information and use.

Additional Reference Materials of interest:

Historic Structures Report – Vergennes Passenger Station, Vergennes, Vermont (unpublished)

M. Nadine Miller, May 3, 1990. University of Vermont

Archaeological Resources Assessment – Vergennes Passenger Depot, Vergennes, Addison County, Vermont. Report No. 481

Kathleen Kenny & John G. Croak, PhD., April 1, 2007. University of Vermont

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