Professional Consultant Services

Background and Description

Buckeye Hills Regional Council (BHRC) is seeking proposals to establish a roster of qualified consultants to provide assistance to the council.  Established in 1968, BHRC serves as a Local Development District for the Appalachian Regional Commission, an Economic Development District for the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, and a Regional Transportation Planning Organization for the Ohio Department of Transportation. The Buckeye Hills region encompasses eight counties in Southeast Ohio, including Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Monroe, Noble, Perry, and Washington. The region is populated by approximately 244,000 residents and spans 3,697 square miles. There are 121 townships, 53 villages, 5 cities, and 22 census-designated places (CDPs).

Project Scope

BHRC will use consultants to perform specific task orders reflecting the transportation planning needs of BHRC and our member agencies.  Such orders may include:

• Safety Studies
• Economic Feasibility Studies
• Complete Street Planning
• Traffic Counts
• Traffic Forecasting
• Transit Plans/Studies
• Active Transportation Plans/Studies

It is expected that BHRC will enter into contracts with one or more consultants.  BHRC intends to release Requests for Qualifications in three-year intervals to establish a roster of consulting firms from which it may select to perform said consultant services.  All assignments shall be on an as-needed basis.

Form of Proposal

1. Letter of proposal indicating the consultant’s interest;
2. Respondents shall specify which categories of services they are able to offer;
3. Brief description of the firm’s qualifications, principals, and areas of particular expertise;
4. A list of clients and relevant projects;
5. Conflicts of Interest – List any current (or potential) clients or projects which may be (or cause) a conflict of interest in working for the BHRC and describe the possible extent of the conflict.

Consultant Selection

BHRC Staff will review consultant proposals and may conduct interviews with one or more respondents.  The BHRC Executive Committee will authorize BHRC to enter into contracts with one or more consulting firms.  All respondents will be notified of the selection as soon as possible after the decision has been made.

Special Conditions

• The selection of a consultant shall not guarantee any minimum amount of services under the contract;
• BHRC reserves the right to reject any or all proposals; to negotiate any elements of a proposal; to conduct interviews at its sole discretion, and to solicit and/or select contractors outside of the scope of this RFQ;
• BHRC assumes no responsibility or liability for costs incurred by respondents to this RFQ, including any requests for additional information, interviews, or negotiations, and
• All applicable State and Federal Rules and regulations must be adhered to by the consultant, including stipulations on equal opportunity employment, affirmative action, nondiscrimination, civil rights, Americans with disabilities, and record keeping.
• BHRC anticipates that this RFQ will meet its needs for consultants to complete the aforementioned professional services and is conducting this process in accordance with the procurement rules and procedures established and known at the time of the release of this RFQ.
• The BHRC operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.  Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with BHRC.  For more information on these policies, please contact BHRC.
• The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal will be 14% for all contracts resulting from this RFQ.

Evaluation Criteria

BHRC shall, at its sole discretion, choose the most qualified firm(s) based on the best evaluation of the following criteria:

• Relevance of previous experience;
• Prior experience in the BHRC region;
• Prior experience working with State and Federal agencies, especially the Ohio Department of Transportation;
• Demonstrated capacity to complete assignments and manage complex projects;
• Minority and/or women-owned business enterprise or service-disabled veteran business certification.

Release Date

August 4, 2023

Deadline for Submission

Proposals are due no later than 3:00 p.m. on September 6, 2023, and shall be directed to Melissa Zoller, Planning Director, Buckeye Hills Regional Council, 1400 Pike Street Marietta, OH  45750. Inquiries may be addressed to mzoller@buckeyehills.org, 740-336-2059.