REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL/QUALIFICATION
2022-RFP/RFQ-036
CITY OF RICHMOND - REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS,
CANNABIS EQUITY PROGRAM
City of Richmond
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2022
RESPONSE DEADLINE: July 1, 2022, 9:47 am
RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/bids
City of Richmond
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL/QUALIFICATION
City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................
2. About the City ....................................................................................................
3. Scope of Services ................................................................................................
4. Qualifications/Experience: ................................................................................
5. Proposal Format Guidlines .................................................................................
6. Process for Submitting Proposals .......................................................................
7. Evaluation Criteria ..............................................................................................
8. Pre-Award Negotiations ...................................................................................
9. Vendor Questionnaire ........................................................................................
10. Pricing Proposal ..................................................................................................
Attachments:
A - City of Richmond - Cannabis Equity Assessment
B - City of Richmond - Cannabis Equity Program Manual
C - Service Contract
D - Insurance Requirements
E - Sanctuary City Contracting Ordinance 12-18NS_2018
F - Sanctuary City Compliance Statement
G - Limited Liability Company Disclosure Resolution No 86-21-LLC Compliance H - Limited Liability Company Disclosure Form
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Summary
The City of Richmond requests proposals from qualified firms to The City of Richmond is seeking the services of a highly qualified consulting firm(s) to assist the City in implementing the City of Richmond's Cannabis Equity program and supporting Cannabis Equity Applicants to start and grow their businesses. . The City reserves the right to make one award or multiple awards under this RFQ, whichever is deemed to be in its best interest. The City also reserves the right to make partial or full award of the services described below. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) describes the project, the required scope of services, the consultant selection process, and the minimum information that must be included in the proposal. Failure to submit information in accordance with the RFQ requirements and procedures may be cause for disqualification. The anticipated term of this contract will be for a period of 18 year and an option to renew for Months years by means of a mutual agreement of both parties.
The City of Richmond currently has a cap of three retail licenses and one non-store front commercial license and no cap on other types of cannabis businesses, including cultivation, manufacturing, testing, etc. City staff anticipates increasing the number of retail licenses available in Richmond once the program's infrastructure has been established and implemented. In preparation for the City's increase in retail and other licenses, the City is seeking the services of a technical assistance provider to support the expansion of the cannabis ecosystem in Richmond.
Vendors are required to read and understand all information contained within this entire Proposal package. By responding to this RFQ, the vendor agrees to read and understand these documents.
1.2. Background
The City of Richmond has long committed to identifying social, economic, and health inequities, creating programs, and adopting policies to address these inequities. During the November 21, 2017, Richmond City Council meeting, Councilmembers voiced their desire to develop an equity program for commercial cannabis activities before accepting any new cannabis retail licenses.
Beginning April 20, 2021, the City Manager's Office Economic Development staff members worked with SCI Consulting Group to develop an Equity Assessment (Exhibit A) and an Equity Manual (Exhibit B), establishing an equity program for the City of Richmond. On December 7, 2021, the Richmond City Council approved adopting a resolution establishing a cannabis equity program for the City of Richmond, including adopting the Equity Assessment and the Equity Manual.
The City of Richmond Cannabis Equity Program Manual is designed to foster equitable access and ensure diversity and inclusion in the cannabis industry by reducing entry barriers into the Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 4 commercial cannabis industry for individuals and communities impacted by the disproportionate enforcement of cannabis crimes in Richmond. The manual describes the qualifications for Equity applicants, services to be provided by the Richmond Cannabis Equity Program, and resources and funding available to qualified Equity applicants. The City Manager or their designee shall review and approve all Equity applications.
After establishing a Cannabis Equity Program, via the Equity Manual, the City of Richmond applied for $1.3 million in California's Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development Type II grant funding to implement the equity program in Richmond. The City was awarded $1,319,360 in GO-Biz Type II funding to implement the Cannabis Equity Program and to support local equity applicants with starting and/or growing their Cannabis Businesses over the next 18 months. On March 15, 2022, the City of Richmond approved the receipt of the State of California Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant, which includes funds for permit fees, technical assistance, workforce training, and more. The City may continue to apply for Go-Biz Type II funding, and if the City is awarded these additional funds, it is conceivable that the Richmond City Council will approve the allocation of the grant funds towards the administration of the grant program and for the Cannabis Equity Applications for 2023 and 2024.
The City of Richmond now seeks consultant/s to support the City with administering the grant program, providing technical assistance, and legal support (for further detail, review the scopes and services section of this RFP) for cannabis equity applicants over the next two (2) years. Due to varying consultant expertise, prospective consultants can propose submittals for grant administration, technical assistance, legal services for cannabis equity applicants, or any combination of the three services. The consultant can propose to submit proposals for one, two, or all three services being requested here and in the Scopes of Services section of the RFP.
Grant funds for consultants will be broken up into two buckets: consulting services to provide webinars/seminars for prospective and equity applicants. The City will set aside grant funds to be paid directly to consulting firms for these services. For the second bucket, once an equity applicant is accepted into the program and has begun preparing necessary applications, funding will be given directly to applicants for technical assistance. The goal of the second pot is to allow equity applicants to get one-on-one, tailored support for the establishment and growth of the cannabis business.
1.3. Contact Information
Thomas omolo
Managmenet Analyst II
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (510) 620-5560
Department:
Economic Development
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 5 Department Head:
Shasa Curl
City Manager
1.4. Timeline
Release RFP Date June 6, 2022
Pre-Proposal Meeting (Non-Mandatory) June 8, 2022, 9:46am Zoom Link to be provided
Question Submission Deadline June 17, 2022, 9:46am
Question Response Deadline June 15, 2022, 9:46am
RFP Due Date July 1, 2022, 9:47am
Short List Interviews July 8, 2022
Contractor Selection Date August 1, 2022
Final Selection and Contract
Negotiations
August 1, 2022
Effective Date of Contract August 15, 2022
2. ABOUT THE CITY
The City of Richmond was chartered as a city in 1909, and is located 16 miles northeast of San Francisco, directly across the San Francisco Bay. Richmond’s population is 110,567. Richmond is one of the region’s most diverse communities: 42.5% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino,
20.2% identify as Black or African American alone, 17.8% identify as White alone (not Hispanic of Latino), and 15.4% identify as Asian alone (15.4%).
Richmond is home to a multi-modal transit hub that includes BART, Amtrak and AC Transit, marinas, shopping, recreational and cultural amenities, and 32 miles of shoreline. This all Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 6 contributes to making Richmond among the most desirable up-and coming communities in California.
The mission of the City of Richmond is as follows:
The City of Richmond provides services that enhance economic vitality, the environment and the quality of life of our community.
The City of Richmond provides a full range of municipal services including police and fire protection; construction and maintenance of highways, streets and infrastructure; library services; storm water and municipal sewer systems; operation of a wastewater treatment facility; and the administration of recreational activities and cultural events.
The City also operates the Richmond Memorial Convention Center and the Port of Richmond.
3. SCOPE OF SERVICES
Due to varying consultant expertise, prospective consultants can propose submittals for grant administration, technical assistance, legal services for cannabis equity applicants, or any combination of the three services.
3.1. Technical Assistance Program - Workshops/Seminars
Ensure cannabis equity applicants understand how to operate a compliant cannabis business by hosting workshops, group training, and one on one consultations with equity applicants that cover the following topics:
• Preparation of business plans.
• The complete cycle of business formation, operations, steady growth, and planned exits. • Accounting practices.
• Insurance requirements.
• Inventory and quality control procedures.
• Local permitting requirements.
• State licensing requirements.
• Real Estate: assistance in finding a viable location
• Review Applications for completeness and accuracy
3.2. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Ensure cannabis equity applicants accurately and fully complete state and local cannabis applications and are fully compliant with state and local regulations Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 7 Hosting workshops and group training with equity applicants that cover the following topics:
• Review state and local regulatory requirements
• Create a flow chart, or check-list for businesses
The City of Richmond will administer direct funding to equity applicants for one-on-one support • Review the equity applicant's cannabis license application • Support equity applicants complete any outstanding documents • Prepare packet for submission to the appropriate regulatory department/organization • Support completing outstanding documents if applications are incomplete
3.3. LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The City will provide direct funding to Equity Applicants to work with the chosen consultant to provide direct legal services to equity applicants and marshal additional outside legal resources to meet any legal service gaps through the following:
• One-on-one Legal Consultations regarding:
o Business disputes, landlord/tenant matters, tax compliance, inventory management, compliance requirements, and similar matters
• Document Review and/or Redlining: letters of intent, memorandums of understanding, term sheets, lease agreements, landlord/tenant notices, incubation agreements, partnership agreements, operating agreements, bylaws, shareholder agreements, investment memos, demand letters, and similar documents • Hosting periodic Workshops
4. QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:
This Project will require the firm/team to have the following qualifications/experience:
• Firm understanding of state, local, and legal cannabis cannabis regulatory requirements • Experience supporting Cannabis Businesses from business planning to growth and expansion
• Proven experience developing physical and digital resources and leading workshops for equity applicants
• Project Manager/Team Lead's overall experience managing similar projects Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 8 • Experience working within tight deadlines and budgets
5. PROPOSAL FORMAT GUIDLINES
5.1. Format Guidelines
The proposal should be concise, well organized, and demonstrate the proposer’s qualifications and experience applicable to the Project. The proposal shall be limited to 8 double-sided pages (8.5 inches x 11 inches), inclusive of graphics, forms, pictures, photographs, dividers, etcetera, but not of cost proposal, resumes, required forms, certifications, front and back covers, or letters of commitment from sub-consultants. The required font size is 12 point, with minimum left and right margins of one-inch, and top and bottom margins of 0.7 inches.
Each proposal will adhere to the following order and content of sections. Proposal should be straightforward, concise and provide “layman” explanations of technical terms that are used.
Emphasis should be concentrated on conforming to the RFQ instructions, responding to the RFQ requirements, and on providing a complete and clear description of the offer. Proposals, which appear unrealistic in the terms of technical commitments, lack of technical competence or are indicative of failure to comprehend the complexity and risk of this contract, may be rejected. The following proposal sections are to be included in the Vendor’s response:
5.2. Vendor Cover Letter
A cover letter, not to exceed three pages in length, should summarize key elements of the proposal and shall:
• Confirm that all elements of this RFQ have been reviewed and understood; • Include a statement of intent to perform the services as outlined; • Express company’s willingness to enter into an agreement under the terms and conditions prescribed by this RFQ, insurance requirements (Attachment A) and in the sample Service Agreement (Attachment B);
• Submit a written description and brief history of the company’s experiences, qualifications and successes in providing municipal advisor services described herein.
Please indicate the number of employees, client base and location of offices. • Indicate the address and telephone number of the vendor’s office located nearest to Richmond, California and the office from which the project will be managed. • Confirm that vendor has a minimum of three (3) years verifiable municipal advisor experience.
• Stipulate that the proposal price will be valid for a period of at least 180 days.
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 9 • Identify a single person for contact during the RFQ review process; and • Cover letter shall be signed by an authorized official of the company.
5.3. Background and Project Summary Section
The Background and Project Summary Section should describe your understanding of the City, the work to be done, and the objectives to be accomplished. Refer to description of services for this RFQ.
5.4. Staffing
Describe proposed Project team organization, including identification and responsibilities of key personnel. Indicate role and responsibility of prime consultants and all sub-consultants. If applicable, indicate how local firms are being utilized to ensure a strong understanding of state and local laws, ordinances, regulations, policies, requirements, and permitting. Indicate the extent of the commitment of key personnel for the duration of the Project and furnish resumes of key personnel. Provide an indication of the staffing level for the Project. The City of Richmond’s evaluation of the proposal will consider the proposer’s entire team; therefore, no changes in the team composition will be allowed without prior written approval of the City of Richmond. Sub-consultant letters of commitment are required and must be submitted with the proposal.
Describe the experience of the proposer’s Project team in detail, including the team’s Project Manager, and other key staff members, on projects of similar size, capacity, and dollar value.
For each similar project, include the client’s name and correct telephone number. It is the City of Richmond’s policy to interview proposers’ references as well as references identified by the City of Richmond.
5.5. Qualifications and References
The information requested in this section should describe the qualifications of your firm, including key staff, for work performed within the past five years that are similar in size and scope to demonstrate competence to perform these services. Information shall include:
A. Names of key staff that participated on named projects and their specific responsibilities with respect to this scope of service.
B. A summary of your firm’s demonstrated capability, including length of time that your firm has provided the services being requested in this Request for Proposal.
C. Provide at least three (3) references that received similar services from your firm. The City of Richmond reserves the right to contact any of the organizations or individuals listed. Information provided shall include:
1. Client Name and contact info
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 10 a. Telephone number(s)
b. E-mail Address
c. Address
2. Description of services provided including contract amount
3. Project start and end dates
5.6. Proposed Fee Schedule
Provide a statement of hourly rates for all proposed classifications, including rates for any proposed percentage mark-up of reimbursable expenses. Any proposed annual percentage increase shall be specified. In the event that a land secured financing district issues bonds, please indicate your firm’s contingent fee for serving as municipal advisor on such a bond issue.
5.7. Value Added Services
Please provide any additional services of benefit not specifically required herein, which the Offeror offers to provide.
5.8. Contractor Assignment of Sub-Contract
The resulting contract shall not be assigned, transferred, or sublet, in whole or in part, without the prior written approval of the City of Richmond. If Offerors intend to subcontract any portion of the resulting contract, they must describe their process for selecting such subcontractor(s) and the quality control measures that the Offeror will employ to ensure that any subcontractor complies with the provisions of Offeror’s contract with the City.
5.9. Previous Contracts with the City of Richmond
The proposer shall submit a list which indicates all prime contracts and/or amendments awarded to the proposer by the City of Richmond for the last three (3) years. The list shall include a short description of the Project, the Project scope of work, award date, completion date, name of City of Richmond’s assigned Project Manager, and contract value.
5.10. Exceptions to this Request for Proposals
The proposer shall state whether or not it takes exception(s) to this RFQ, including but not limited to the City of Richmond’s Standard Services Agreement – RFQ (Attachment B). If the proposer does take exception(s) to any portion of the RFQ or contract, the specific portion to which exception(s) is taken must be identified by section number and explained. Requests for changes or additions to sections of City of Richmond’s Standard Services Agreement must be shown by requesting deletion of specific words and/or by providing new requested contract language. Requests for complete replacement of the City of Richmond’s Standard Services Agreement for another contract will not be granted. Failure to make exceptions to the RFQ or Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 11 Standard Services Agreement within the proposal will be deemed a waiver of any objection.
Exceptions will be considered during the proposal evaluation process.
5.11. Statement of Impartiality and Disclosure
The nature of this Project requires an impartial unbiased approach on the part of the proposer’s team. This proposal shall include a statement declaring that the proposer’s and sub-consultants are not currently, and will not, during the performance of these services, participate in any other similar work involving a third-party with interests currently in conflict or likely to be in conflict with City of Richmond’s interests. Additionally, proposer is required to disclose any pending or active investigations or litigation that may affect the reputation or ability of the proposer to carry out the Project.
6. PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS
6.1. Questions Concerning Request for Proposals
All questions must be submitted via the electronic BidsOnline system on the Q&A tab by 9:46 am PST, on Friday, June 17, 2022. If the City finds it necessary to issue an addendum, prospective Offerors will receive e-mail notification of addendum. Otherwise, answers to questions received will be provided on the Q&A tab and notification will be sent by 9:46 am PST Wednesday, June 15, 2022. It is the proposer’s responsibility to periodically check the BidsOnline website www.ci.richmond.ca.us/bids for any possible Addenda to the RFQ that may have been posted.
Any party submitting a proposal shall not contact or lobby any City Council member, City official, employee (except those specified for contact) or agent regarding the RFQ. Any party attempting to influence or circumvent the RFQ, bid submittal, and review process may have their proposal rejected for violating this provision of the RFQ.
Interested parties may download copies of the above-mentioned proposal by visiting the City's web site, www.ci.richmond.ca.us/bids. To download RFQ, new vendors will be required to register. Once the vendor downloads any documents relative to a solicitation, that vendor's name will appear on the Prospective Bidders list for that project and will receive any addenda or notifications relating to the RFQ.
6.2. Submission of Proposals
Electronic Proposals shall be submitted via the City’s secure online bidding system. All required sections of the proposal must be submitted via the website. Contractor is solely responsible for “on time” submission of their electronic proposal. The Bid Management System will not accept late proposals and no exceptions shall be made. Contractors will receive an e-bid confirmation number with a time stamp from the Bid Management System indicating that their bid was submitted successfully. The City will only receive those proposals that were transmitted successfully.
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 12 The proposal must be received no later than 9:47 am, local time, on Friday, July 1, 2022.
The proposal and any required certifications shall be signed by an individual or individuals authorized to execute legal documents on behalf of the proposer.
The City of Richmond reserves the right to waive inconsequential irregularities.
6.3. GENERAL GUIDELINES
This RFQ does not commit the City of Richmond to award a contract, to defray any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal pursuant to this RFQ, or to procure or contract for work. The City of Richmond may reject a proposal without providing the reason(s) underlying the declination. A failure to award a contract to the proposer with the lowest cost proposal shall not constitute a valid cause of action against the City of Richmond. The City shall not be responsible for work done, even in good faith, prior to final approval of the proposed contract.
The City may investigate the qualifications of any respondent under consideration, require confirmation of information furnished by the respondent, and require additional evidence or qualifications to perform the Services described in this RFQ.
The City reserves the right to:
A. Reject any or all proposals.
B. Issue subsequent Requests for Proposal.
C. Postpone opening for its own convenience.
D. Remedy technical errors in the Request for Proposal process.
E. Negotiate with any, all, or none of the Respondents.
F. Solicit best and final offers from all or some of the Respondents.
G. Select one or more Respondents.
H. Accept other than the lowest proposed fees.
I. Waive informalities and irregularities in proposals.
6.4. Public Records
All proposals submitted in response to this RFQ become the property of the City of Richmond and public records and, as such, may be subject to public review. Documents protected by law from public disclosure will not be disclosed by the City of Richmond if clearly marked with the word "confidential" on each applicable page. Trade secrets may be marked as confidential only to the extent they meet the requirements of California Government Code section 6254.7. Only information claimed to be a trade secret at the time of submittal to the City of Richmond and marked as "confidential" will be treated as a trade secret.
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 13 6.5. Insurance Requirements
The City of Richmond requires consultants doing business with it to obtain insurance, as shown in RFQ (Attachment A). The required insurance certificates must comply with all requirements of the standards as shown and must be provided within fifteen (15) days of issuance of the Notice of Intent to Award and prior to the commencement of any work on the Project.
6.6. Business Taxes
The successful Contractor and all subcontractors used in the work will be required to pay City Business Taxes, evidenced by obtaining and holding a City of Richmond Business Tax Certificate, for which the fee will not be waived.
6.7. Compliance with City Ordinances
The contractor and all subcontractors shall comply with the City of Richmond Nondiscrimination Clauses in City Contracts Ordinance (Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) Chapter 2.28), Business Opportunity Ordinance (RMC Chapter 2.50), Local Employment Program Ordinance (RMC Chapter 2.56), Living Wage Ordinance (RMC Chapter 2.60) and Ordinance Banning the Requirement to Provide Information of Prior Criminal Convictions on all Employment Applications (“Ban the Box”) (RMC Chapter 2.65), which are incorporated into the Contract Documents by this reference.
6.8. Sanctuary City Contracting Ordinance (SCCO)
The Richmond Sanctuary City Contracting Ordinance No. 12-18 (Attachment C) prohibits the City from granting and or retaining contracts with any person or entity that provides Data Broker or Extreme Vetting services to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division of the United States Department of Homeland Security (“ICE”). Bidders/Proposers must submit the attached Sanctuary City Compliance Statement with their Bid or Proposal (Attachment D).
6.9. Limited Liability Company Disclosure Statement (LLCS) Resolution No. 86-21 (Attachment E), approved by City Council on July 6, 2021, requires disclosure of the identities of beneficial & responsible owners of Limited Liability Corporations (LLC). Proposers must submit the attached Disclosure Statement of Limited Liability Companies Form with their Proposal (Attachment F).
6.10. Collusion
By submitting a proposal, each respondent represents and warrants that its proposal is genuine and not false or collusive or made in the interest of, or on behalf of any person not named therein; that the respondent has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other person to submit a false proposal, or any other person to refrain from submitting a proposal; and that the respondent has not, in any manner, sought collusion to secure any improper advantage over any other person submitting a proposal.
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 14 6.11. Withdrawal of Proposals
A respondent may withdraw their proposal before the expiration of the time for submission of proposals by delivering to the Finance Department a written request for withdrawal signed by, or on behalf of, the respondent.
6.12. Ownership of Documents
All reports, studies, information, data, statistics, forms, designs, plans, procedures, systems and any other materials produced for the Project shall be the sole and exclusive property of the City. No such materials or properties produced in whole or in part for the Project shall be subject to private use, copyrights or patent rights by Respondent in the United States or in any other country without the express written consent of the City. The City shall have unrestricted authority to publish, disclose (except as may be limited by the provisions of the Public Records Act), distribute, and otherwise use, copyright or patent, in whole or in part, any such reports, studies, data, statistics, forms or other materials or properties produced for this project.
7. EVALUATION CRITERIA
All proposals shall be reviewed to verify that the Respondent has met the minimum requirements. Proposals that have not complied with requirements, do not meet minimum content and quality standards, or take unacceptable exceptions to the General Terms and Conditions of the Service Agreement, will be eliminated from further consideration. Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by an evaluation committee comprised of City of Richmond personnel.
The top Proposals may then be invited to make a presentation to the evaluation panel at no cost to the City.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or to make no award. The City also reserves the right to require modifications follow‐up with requests for additional information, including, but not limited to, follow‐up interviews. The City may request Best and Final offers based upon improved understanding of the offers or changed scope of service. The City will negotiate with that vendor to determine final pricing, and contract form. Because this proposal is negotiable, all pricing data will remain confidential until after award is made, and there will be no public opening and reading of Proposals. Overall responsiveness to the RFQ is an important factor in the evaluation process. The criteria upon which the evaluation of the proposals will be based include, but are not limited to, the following:
No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 15 1. The Qualifications and Approach to Work
• All required information provided in
the format specified.
• Overall quality of the qualifications,
including responsiveness and
completeness
• Ability to provide services as outlined
in the RFQ
• Approach and proposed
methodology to project scope
• Demonstrated understanding and
knowledge of the work required
• Explanation of the services required
• Innovative approaches and internal
measures for services requested
Points Based 30
(37.5% of Total)
2. Qualifications/ References
Satisfactory evidence the Respondent has the
requisite experience and ability to execute the
work successfully and properly complete
services in a timely manner
Firm's experience in performing similar work,
years in business, past and current client
references, and technical expertise and
professional competence in areas directly
related to this RFQ
Points Based 30
(37.5% of Total)
3. Project Team
Respondent should demonstrate that all key
personnel have been successfully involved with
projects of similar scope and magnitude. This
category will evaluate the firm’s:
• Qualifications and relevant individual
experience
• Unique qualification of key personnel
• Staff Availability / Time commitment
of key members
• Organization chart
Pass / Fail 20
(25% of Total)
8. PRE-AWARD NEGOTIATIONS
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 16 8.1. Pre-Award Negotiations
After the proposals are opened, but prior to award, the City may elect to conduct negotiations with the highest ranked respondent for purposes of:
• Resolving minor differences and information
• Clarifying necessary details and responsibilities
• Emphasizing important issues and points
• Receiving assurances from respondents
• Cost/budget clarifications
If the City cannot successfully negotiate a contract with the highest ranked respondent, the City may begin negotiations with the second highest ranked respondent.
Selection may be made without further discussion, negotiations or Offeror’s presentations; therefore, Offeror shall offer the most favorable terms in response to this RFQ. Offeror must demonstrate an understanding of the scope of service to be provided and the ability to accomplish the tasks set forth. Offeror shall include information that will enable the City to determine the Offeror’s overall qualifications. The City reserves the right to request additional information or clarification on any matter included in the proposal response, to enable the City to arrive at the final award decision.
8.2. Award
When the Review Panel has completed its work, City staff will then recommend Municipal Advisor firms to the City Manager and City Council for approval. The services provided by the successful offerors shall be governed by a Standard Services Agreement (Attachment A).
9. VENDOR QUESTIONNAIRE
9.1. Which service does your firm wish to provide for Richmond Equity Applicants* The City of Richmond is seeking Consulting Services in three areas (Technical Assistance, Regulatory Compliance, and Legal Services). Intersted firms may submit qualifications for one or more of the above services. Please specify which services your firm wishes to support Richmond's Cannabis Equity Program.
Select all that apply
☐ Technical Assistance
☐ Regulatory Compliance
☐ Legal Services
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 17 *Response required
10. PRICING PROPOSAL
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Provide technical assistance to equity cannabis applicants through the hosting of Seminars and Workshops.
Line Item Description Quantity Unit of Measure Unit Cost Total 1a Business Planning and Growth 6 Webinars/Seminars $50,000.00 1b Regulatory Complaince 3 Businesses
Supported
$50,000.00
TOTAL
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Support equity businesses through one-on-one review to ensure cannabis equity applicants accurately and fully complete state and local cannabis applications and are fully compliant with state and local regulations.
Line Item Description Quantity Unit of
Measure
Unit Cost Total
2a Regulatory Compliance (up to $50,000
per application)
3 Businesses
Supported
$50,000.00
2b Application Review 3 Businesses
Supported
$25,000.00
TOTAL
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Line Item Description Quantity Unit of
Measure
Unit Cost Total
3a One-on-One Legal Support 3 Businesses
Supported
$50,000.00
TOTAL
Request For Proposal/Qualification #2022-RFP/RFQ-036
Title: City of Richmond - Request for Qualifications, Cannabis Equity Program 18