Item 5B. 2027-2031 Professional Consulting Services Pool Update
Superintendent's Recommendation:
NO ACTION REQUIRED; THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Prepared By: Josh Bowe, Director of Design
Background:
The Park District utilizes a prequalified consulting pool that provides Staff professional consulting services and technical assistance for project implementation. The Park District has utilized a multi-year prequalified consulting pool since 2014. When an existing pool expires, Staff have reevaluated Park District needs and established a new pool. Multi-year prequalified consulting pools were established between 2014-2016, 2017-2021, and currently 2022-2026. The current 5-year prequalified consulting pool the Board approved in February 2022 has 11 Areas of Practice and is comprised of 32 firms. This pool is set to expire on December 31, 2026.
There are multiple benefits to creating and utilizing a prequalified consulting pool, including:
- Retaining a diverse pool of consulting firms to match the expertise required for the changing workload demand.
- Streamlines the consultant selection process within the prequalified pool to align with industry standards practiced by most municipalities.
- Allows staff to utilize multiple different firms in the most cost effective manner without becoming overly dependent on any one firm.
- Maximizes the accountability of consultants working for the Park District.
- Initiate projects with a better understanding of the project needs and scope of work.
Park District Staff are preparing the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the 2027-2031 prequalified consultant pool. The RFQ request, consultant submittal, and Park District Staff evaluation is anticipated to start this summer and be completed in the fall. Staff anticipates bringing the Board a recommendation to approve the 2027-2031 prequalified consultant pool in December 2026 that would be effective starting January 1, 2027.
The 2027-2031 RFQ includes lessons learned during the last 5-year period and from the previous RFQ evaluation process. Staff are reviewing the Areas of Practice and number of firms required to match the number of projects and project types in the Capital Improvement Program. The 2027-2031 prequalified consultant pool is expected to serve the Departments of Design, Planning, Maintenance, Natural Resources Management, and Scott County Partnership projects.
Relationship to the System Plan:
The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:
Goal 1: You Belong Here
Goal 2: Parks Matter
Goal 3: Lead by Example
