RFP for City of Mount Vernon, NY Comprehensive Update of Zoning Ordinance

Mount Vernon residents and businesses have some of the fastest commute times to Manhattan in the region. This access, when combined with proximity to multiple parkways and highways, has created significant development pressures and unique opportunities for equitable growth, reinvestment, and neighborhood stabilization.
The City’s diverse population, combined with a predominantly residential land use pattern, particularly towards the northern end of the City, is an asset the City seeks to preserve. Known as “the City of Homes,” many of Mount Vernon’s residential properties are architecturally distinct and historic, despite a lack of any local historic preservation or landmark ordinances. In addition, while the commercial tax base is limited, Mount Vernon has one of the last remaining (sizable) industrially zoned areas in Westchester County. It is also one of the few industrially zoned areas still capable of being served by a navigable waterway.
In November 2025, following a multi-year, two-phase planning process that included extensive public engagement, technical analysis, and intergovernmental coordination, the City adopted its first Comprehensive Plan since 1968. The Comprehensive Plan establishes a long-term vision for land use, housing, economic development, transportation, sustainability, and community character, with a strong emphasis on transit-oriented development, equity, and environmental resilience. Implementation of this vision requires a comprehensive modernization of the City’s Zoning Ordinance, which has not been fully updated in several decades and no longer reflects current planning best practices or the City’s adopted policy framework. Through this Request for Proposals, the City seeks a qualified consultant team to prepare a clear, modern, and legally sound zoning ordinance that will serve as the primary regulatory tool for implementing the Comprehensive Plan and guiding Mount Vernon’s growth and development over the coming decades.
This RFP invites experienced and innovative teams to deliver a modern, clear, equitable, and effective zoning framework that will support Mount Vernon for decades to come. The preferred team should include Urban Planners and attorneys to write the code in a simple, easy-to-understand document.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026.05.01
• Department: Planning
• Department Head: Rausse, James (Commissioner)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-05-15T20:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-05-18T20:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Important Instructions for Electronic Submittals —

  The City of Mount Vernon, NY is accepting electronic bid submissions. Bidders shall create a FREE account with OpenGov Procurement by signing up at https://procurement.opengov.com/signup. Once you have completed account registration, browse back to this page, click on "Draft Response", and follow the instructions to submit the electronic bid.

• Summary —

  Mount Vernon residents and businesses have some of the fastest commute times to Manhattan in the region. This access, when combined with proximity to multiple parkways and highways, has created significant development pressures and unique opportunities for equitable growth, reinvestment, and neighborhood stabilization.
  The City’s diverse population, combined with a predominantly residential land use pattern, particularly towards the northern end of the City, is an asset the City seeks to preserve. Known as “the City of Homes,” many of Mount Vernon’s residential properties are architecturally distinct and historic, despite a lack of any local historic preservation or landmark ordinances. In addition, while the commercial tax base is limited, Mount Vernon has one of the last remaining (sizable) industrially zoned areas in Westchester County. It is also one of the few industrially zoned areas still capable of being served by a navigable waterway.
  In November 2025, following a multi-year, two-phase planning process that included extensive public engagement, technical analysis, and intergovernmental coordination, the City adopted its first Comprehensive Plan since 1968. The Comprehensive Plan establishes a long-term vision for land use, housing, economic development, transportation, sustainability, and community character, with a strong emphasis on transit-oriented development, equity, and environmental resilience. Implementation of this vision requires a comprehensive modernization of the City’s Zoning Ordinance, which has not been fully updated in several decades and no longer reflects current planning best practices or the City’s adopted policy framework. Through this Request for Proposals, the City seeks a qualified consultant team to prepare a clear, modern, and legally sound zoning ordinance that will serve as the primary regulatory tool for implementing the Comprehensive Plan and guiding Mount Vernon’s growth and development over the coming decades.
  This RFP invites experienced and innovative teams to deliver a modern, clear, equitable, and effective zoning framework that will support Mount Vernon for decades to come. The preferred team should include Urban Planners and attorneys to write the code in a simple, easy-to-understand document.

• Scope of Work or Project Details —

  Please see the Attachments section for specifications and attachments.

• Timeline —

  Release Project Date:	May 1, 2026
  Question Submission Deadline:	May 15, 2026, 4:00pm
  Question Response Deadline:	May 18, 2026, 4:00pm
  Proposal Submission Deadline:	May 26, 2026, 4:00pm

• Project Contact —

  Lukas Herbert

  Assistant Commissioner of Planning

  1 Roosevelt Square N

  Mount Vernon, NY 10550

  Email: lherbert@mountvernonny.gov

  Phone: (914) 665-2497

• Procurement Contact —

  Gimeno Simmonds

  Procurement and Purchasing Manager

  City Hall 1 Roosevelt Sq

  Mount Vernon, NY 10550

  Email: gsimmonds@mountvernonny.gov

  Phone: (914) 665-2341

Submission Requirements

• Respondent Submittals (required) —

  Please upload your COMPLETE response, including any and all required forms listed in the solicitation and the corresponding attachments.

• Form of Disclosure (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Non-Collusive Bidding Certificate (required) —

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• Certification of Compliance with the Iran Divestment Act (required) —

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• Hold Harmless Agreement (required) —

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• Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification Form (required) —

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• Reference Sheet (required) —

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• Bidder's Certification (required) —

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• Labor Law 220-I Certification Form (required) —

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• Executive Order No. 16 (Russian Energy Sector) (required) —

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• Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification (required) —

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• Additional Information
• I am sending two hard copies by mail. (required) —

  Two hard copies must be submitted and postmarked by May 26, 2026, and each proposer is required to submit in both formats. 

• I certify that I have read, understood and agree to the terms in this solicitation, and that I am authorized to submit this response on behalf of my company. (required)
• Pricing (required) —
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  • Choose Option 2 when you need vendors to provide you with the line items. 
• Evaluation Committee? (required) —

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