RFP-Northampton Preservation Plan-2022-03.03-WORDRequest for Proposals for Consulting Services
City of Northampton Historic Preservation Plan
The City of Northampton, acting through its Office of Planning and Sustainability and in cooperation with its Historical Commission and Planning Board, is seeking proposals for a new
Historic Preservation Plan(HPP) element of the City’s existing Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan(Sustainable Northampton) (amended through 2021).
The city has a rich cultural history, a wealth of historic resources, a local historic district and several national/state historic districts, and previous cultural and other related
plans. The City seeks a dedicated HPP element to assess these buildings, objects, and landscapes of historic significance, and guide future actions and priorities. That current plan
has historic preservation discussions sprinkled throughout, but those sections are very limited and not especially current.
Estimated total value of the contract is $70,000
Proposals are due at 12:00 PM, Thursday April 7, 2022 as an electronic PDF file(s) (no hard copies) to WFeiden@NorthamptonMA.gov.
Questions may directed to Sarah LaValley at SLaValley@NorthamptonMA.gov
No specific format is required so long as the proposal explains how the proposal addresses these criteria, provides a budget, timeline, and qualifications. This is a performance based
contract with a fixed fee for the work.
The city may ask follow‐up questions and may invite semi‐finalist for an interview. The contractor agrees that their proposal is good for 60 days. We hope to sign a contract within 30
days, but reserve the 60 day period if needed. We will use a standard city contract specifying compliance with this RFP and the proposal and requiring appropriate liability and workers
compensation insurance. The city will own all work products and may use in anyway it chooses.
This procurement is exempt from the terms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Uniform
Procurement Act (M.G.L. c. 30B), and hence, will not be subject to its terms (M.G.L. c 30B, section 1(b) paragraph 32A: “architects and engineers and related professionals”).
Overview
The HPP should focus on identifying and preserving the city’s historic and cultural resources, and provide a means of integrating preservation of these resources into municipal planning
efforts. The HPP must provide a coherent overall planning framework with goals and action steps for implementation.
The HPP is not expected to replace or update the land use or climate resilience and regeneration sections of Sustainable Northampton that focus more broadly on where and how the city
is encouraging and discouraging development.
Integration into Sustainable Northampton
In the context of the historic preservation element being integrated into the Sustainable Northampton, the selected consultant will:
Design an element with a ten-year action plan and a conceptual twenty year planning horizon. We hope that the preservation element will be updated every decade or so.
Ensure that the HPP’s voice and approach is consistent with Sustainable Northampton’s goals and resiliency efforts, while accepting that Sustainable Northampton is made up of diverse
elements and purposes, each with their own voice and approach.
Mine existing Sustainable Northamptonpreservation recommendations and sections and suggest which of those can be deleted or revised with the adoption of a new plan.
Develop a lively, readable plan document that can be accessed easily by city officials, staff, permit applicants and committee members and by residents of the City of Northampton.
Once the historic preservation element is approved by the City, take the Sustainable Northampton InDesign files and bring the new element into those same files.
Objectives
The historic preservation plan should address the following elements:
Physical Preservation: protect historic buildings and heritage and cultural landscapes to prevent the loss of importanthistoric resources and to preserve those resources in the future.
Documentation: complete, improve, and increase public access to the city’s inventory of historic resources.
Regulation: amend and improve city ordinances, regulations, policies and incentives, and permitting procedures to protect and enhance historic resources during the development process.
Outreach and Advocacy: increase community knowledge of and access to these historic and cultural resources.
Specific project objectives include:
Assess Northampton’s historic and cultural resources, (including buildings, structures,objects, areas, landscapes, burial grounds and sites), including their current level of identificationand
general state of preservation, and identification of areas that may require additional inventory. The historic preservation plan is not expected nor budgeted to be include a detailed
inventory of all historic properties.
Identify issues and opportunities pertinent to preservation of the city’s historic andcultural resources.
Assess the status of historic preservation in the community, including existingpreservation mechanisms, and the present integration of historic preservation activities into thecity’s
broader planning, environmental, social, economic, and sustainability goals and procedures.
Identify historic preservation priorities and develop of an action plan to ensureimplementation of priority historic preservation goals.
Identify ways to further integrate current historic preservation activities with broaderplanning, environmental, social, economic, and sustainability goals and procedures.
Encourageactivities that identify, document, preserve and promote historic and culturalresources associated with diverse minority, ethnic, social and cultural groups who have played
arole in the history of the city of Northampton and Massachusetts.
Encourage communication and cooperation between existing groups engaged in historicpreservation activities and the community at large.
Identifyhow the city can encourage and support cooperation among existing historic preservation organizations, and ways that preservation activity will involve a representative cross-section
of the Northampton population
HPP Format and Anticipated Table of Contents
The organization of the historic preservation plan is anticipated to include thefollowing items, guided by tasks outlined in each phase. The city is open to considering, however, other
formats and to working with the selected consultant as opportunities arise to adjust this format to focus on the issues most relevant to Northampton, and combine elements as needed.
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
Historic Preservation Planning
Historic Context and Major Themes in History of the City of Northampton
History of Historic Preservation Planning in Northampton
Annotated List of Preservation Partners and Stakeholders in Northampton
3. Investigation & Analysis
An Overview of Historic Preservation Issues and Challenges in Northampton
Historic Properties Inventory – Analysis of Existing Documentation
National Register of Historic Places and Local Historic DistrictAnalysis of Existing Listings and Eligibility
Local Public Awareness and Engagement Analysis
Analysis of Existing Municipal Ordinances, Regulations, Tools, Municipal Policy, Management and Capital Improvements Analysis
4. Recommendations
The Historic Properties Inventory – Survey Priorities
National Register of Historic Places and Local Historic DistrictPriorities
Priorities for Preservation, Levels of Need
Public Awareness
Municipal Ordinances, Policy, Management and Capital Improvements Regulations and Other Tools
Mechanisms to Protect Public Investment in Private Historic Properties
5. Action Plan
Historic Properties Inventory – Survey Action Plan
National Register of Historic Places and Local Historic Districts
Public Awareness
Municipal Ordinances, Regulations, and Other Tools
Municipal Policy, Management and Capital Improvements
Bibliography and References
Phase I: Background Scope of Work
Tasks:
Meet with Planning and Sustainability staff to review project goals, scope of work, schedule and protocols.
Review three (3) to five (5) recent historic preservation plans from comparable communities both in and outside Massachusetts that have advanced, progressive and successful preservation
programs.
Prepare introductory text explaining why historic preservation planning is and why it is important, and what a historic preservation plan is.
Meet with the Historical Commissionor its subcommittee for brainstorming and concept tests
Develop a list of all preservation partners and stakeholders with a role in historic preservation. Prepare a brief description of the role of each partner or stakeholder.
Review the historical development of the community and its neighborhoods, including settlement patterns, architecture, demography, neighborhoods, transportation, industry, housing, and
commerce, and what remains extant in today’s built environment. Prepare a statement of historic contexts and major themes in the history of Northampton’s built environment and cultural
landscapes that encompasses pre-contact to present day periods. The introduction shall include a description of how historic contexts can inform good preservation planning.
Review previous planning documents, including Sustainable Northamptonand its open space, resiliency and transportation elements,Housing Plans, Regional Plans, Heritage Landscape Plans,
Community Preservation Plan, along with other existing preservation reports, maps and recommendations (archaeological, architectural, historical and cultural). Prepare a chronological
narrative that includes plans, reports, major projects and events related to historic preservation.
Review existing historic inventory. Undertake a wide-view reconnaissance to assess inventory coverage Citywide and identify gaps. Prepare an analysis of the current status of the inventory.
Preparation of new inventory forms is not part of this project, but will be utilized to inform future survey efforts
Prepare an analysis of current designations, including properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places, identified as NR-eligible as indicated in records of the Massachusetts
Historical Commission, and listed in the State Register of Historic Places. The analysis should include information on which properties are protected from alteration or demolition by
local designation, preservation restrictions, or other means.
Review existingOrdinances and regulations that could impact historic properties and resources, including at a minimum, zoning, building codes, incentives, design review, demolition delay,
scenic roads, and wetlands.
Review the status of all historic City-owned properties, objects and sites, and those on which the City has a financial or legal interest
Assess current City capabilities and staffing as related to preservation.
Meet with Planning and Sustainability staff to review Phase I activities and products.
Deliverables:
Introduction to Historic Preservation Planning
Annotated Listing of Preservation Partners and Stakeholders
Historic Context and History of Historic Preservation Planning
Historic Properties Inventory Analysis
National Register of Historic Places and Local Historic District Analysis
Municipal Ordinances and Regulations Analysis
Phase II: Outreach
Tasks:
Seek input from board and commission members and City staff, including but not limited to theHistorical Commission, Planning Board and Central Business Architecture Committee, Office
of Planning and Sustainability, Department of Public Works and Central Services
Develop an engagement plan, informed by community context and past experience. Suggested elements of the plan could include the following, but the consultant is encouraged to propose
engagement strategies that fit the community and the task:
Seek direct input from local groups and organizations such as neighborhood groups and property owners of historic residential and/or commercial buildings and properties, business associations,
cultural and historic institutions.
Convene a Public Forum to seek input and discussion from residents, local groups and organizations such as neighborhood groups, institutions, historic homeowners, business and social
organizations.
Prepare text explaining the overall historic preservation issues and challenges facing Northampton. Include a description of the types of historic resources currently found in Northampton,
recent and potential losses, ongoing and anticipated issues and challenges to protecting and preserving the City’s historical and archaeological resources.
Meet with Planning and Sustainability staff to review Phase II activities and accomplished tasks/products.
Deliverables:
Municipal Policy, Management and Capital Improvements Analysis
Public Awareness and Engagement Analysis
Overview of Historic Preservation Issues and Challenges
Phase III: Recommendations
Tasks:
Develop Historic Properties Inventory recommendations and National Register of Historic Places and Local Historic District recommendations, including individual properties and districts.
Develop public awareness/education recommendations. This may include suggestions to make information more easily accessible through existing means, such as the assessor’s maps, Laserfiche,
or MACRIS.
Develop municipal ordinances, policy, regulations, management and capital improvements recommendations.
Develop mechanisms to protect public investment in private historic properties and mechanisms to protect/maintain city-owned historic properties.
Develop a ten-year preservation action plan that identifies each party responsible for implementation tasks and a schedule for implementation. Said action plan should consider priorities
in regards to specific properties and heritage and cultural landscapes.
Prepare an illustrated Executive Summary, suitable for distribution as a stand-alone document.
Present the recommendations of the draft Historic Preservation Plan at a Public Forum.
Prepare a summary report that describes the outreach, attendees and overall discussions at the public forum, as well as written comments received on the draft Historic Preservation Plan.
Meet with Planning and Sustainability staff to review Phase III activities and products.
Products:
Historic Properties Inventory Recommendations
National Register and Local Historic District Recommendations
Public Awareness, Programming and Education Recommendations
Municipal Bylaws and Regulations Recommendations
Municipal Policy, Management and Capital Improvements Recommendations
Recommendations for Mechanisms to Protect Public Investment in Private Historic Properties and Stewardship of City-Owned Historic Properties and those in which the City has a legal or
financial interest
Action Plan
Executive Summary
Public Forum/Comments Summary Report
Phase IV:Integration into Sustainable Northampton
Task:
Prepare a final version of the Northampton Historic Preservation Plan, incorporating itinto the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan, as outlined at the top of this RFP.
Qualifications
The overall proposal must also include:
A. The identity of the individual, partnership, or corporation applying for contract award, credentials of the personnel who would actually perform the work, as well as their managers,
and the nature of the supervision. State the responsibilities of each of the project personnel.
B. A proposer’s qualifications statement, including professional qualifications and work experience attesting to capacity to perform the required work program. Include resume(s), detailing
academic and professional work experience attesting to capacity to perform the required work program. Proposers must include a project manager with a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in
Historic Preservation, Architectural History, History, Art History, Urban Planning, or a closely related field and at least two (2) years full-time experience in an area relevant to
the project or otherwise provide evidence of necessary qualifications for this project.
C. A detailed explanation of the proposer’s approach to this project: methodology, demonstrated understanding of the scope of work and completion deadline, and the proposer’s expectations
of assistance and services from the City. A technical work plan and project timeline for accomplishing the tasks described in the scope of services must be provided.
D. A client reference list, with names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses (if available) especially for clients for whom the proposer has performed similar services
within the past five (5) years.
E. Sample work products for all personnel.
F. Any other information deemed relevant to the project, and which the proposer believes will further the competitiveness of the proposal.