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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 10, 2024 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-h <br /> SUBJECT: Award of Professional Services Agreement for County Trails Plan <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR), <br /> Finance and Administrative <br /> Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Services Agreement Contract with David Stancil, 919-245-2510 <br /> Gensler (with Attachments) Jovana Amaro, 919-245-2651 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve and authorize the Manager to execute a services agreement with <br /> Gensler Architecture, Design and Planning, P.C. for the creation of a County Trails Plan. <br /> BACKGROUND: In 2023-24, the Board of Commissioners approved funding for the creation of <br /> a County Trails Plan to tie together different prior trails planning efforts, town trails and greenways, <br /> and connectivity possibilities into a comprehensive Orange County Trails Plan. Funding for this <br /> project was carried over from FY 2023-24 while the project concepts and preliminary discussions <br /> were finalized. The Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) will be part of the Trails Plan effort. <br /> The proposed services agreement envisions a Trails Plan, with a community engagement <br /> process, to occur during 2025 (as outlined in the project deliverables and proposal attachments). <br /> In September, a Request for Proposals (RFP #367-005434) was conveyed to firms to solicit <br /> interest. Four (4) firms responded with proposals, and a Project Review Team was convened to <br /> review and rank the proposals. The Project Review Team included DEAPR staff members David <br /> Stancil and Marabeth Carr; Transportation Director Nishith Trivedi; and, Senior Long-Range <br /> Planner Tom Altieri from the Planning and Inspections Department. Purchasing Agent Jovana <br /> Amaro advised the process and handled the RFP submittal and receipt of proposals. <br /> The four (4) firms that submitted proposals and evaluated were: <br /> • Gensler Architecture, Design and Planning, P.C. (selected firm); <br /> • Equinox and Clarion Associates, LLC; <br /> • Nature Trails NC, LLC; and <br /> • Seamon, Whiteside and Associates, Inc. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: The negotiated price of the services to be conducted for the County Trails <br /> Plan is $78,000. The funding for this contract is included in FY 2024-25 Budget Amendment #4 <br /> (Agenda Item 8-1 on this same December 10, 2024 Business meeting agenda). <br />