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2 <br />At the March 13, 2007 BOCC meeting, the Board received a presentation that included a <br />Request for Qualifications (RFQ, Attachment 2) for a consultant to "synthesize" the existing <br />county reports and studies that have been completed by various County departments, advisory <br />boards, and in some cases consultants; to identify.any missing components typically included in <br />a Comprehensive Plan; and repackage into a Draft Comprehensive Plan. <br />RFQ Schedule and Process <br />Following is a summary of the schedule and process for the procurement of consulting services: <br />a) April 9, 2007 -Issued request for qualifications. <br />b) May 7t" -Consultant questions due. <br />c) May 11t" -Consultant Qualifications due. <br />d) May 22~d -Interviews conducted and preferred consultant identified.. <br />e) May 29t"-June ~11t" -Contract negotiated between staff and Clarion Associates. <br />e) June 26t" - BOCC considers contract authorization. <br />Advertisement <br />The RFQ was advertised on the NC Chapter of the American Planning Association (NCAPA), <br />Carolina Chapter of the Society .for Technical Communication, and Orange County's websites. <br />In addition, staff sent hardcopies of the RFQ to 17 North Carolina based consulting firms. <br />RFQ Responses <br />Four firms responded by submitting qualifications: <br />Center for Urban and Regional Studies, UNC Chapel Hill; <br />Clarion Associates, Chapel Hill; <br />Clark Patterson Associates, Charlotte; and <br />TimelyText, Raleigh.. <br />Interviews <br />Three qualified firms were interviewed by the Project Management Team (Laura Blackmon, <br />County Manager; Jay Bryan, Planning Board Chair; Craig Benedict, Planning Director; and Tom <br />Altieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor): <br />Center for Urban and Regional Studies, UNC Chapel Hill; <br />Clarion Associates, Chapel Hill; and <br />Clark Patterson Associates, Charlotte <br />Rating Criteria <br />Firms were rated on the following criteria: <br />Project interest and understanding; <br />Firm's history; <br />Firm's ability and expertise; <br />Assigned personnel; and <br />Related project experience. <br />Preferred Consulting Firm <br />Based on the interview process and rating criteria, the Project Management Team recommends <br />Clarion Associates as the preferred consultant and is asking the BOCC to authorize the <br />attached contract that has been negotiated between staff and Clarion. Clarion has experience <br />with similar projects in North Carolina; offices in Chapel Hill; extensive local knowledge; and <br />knowledge of Orange County Government, including the County's advisory board structure and <br />