Zoning Code Consultant

The City of Wheat Ridge is seeking proposals from a qualified consultant team to support a comprehensive analysis of the city's zoning code and to provide technical support with drafting and adopting recommended code amendments. The project implements strategies identified in the City Plan, Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan, and Sustainability Plan.

The project is funded through a combination of city and federal grant funds and will require coordination with city staff to support grant compliance, reporting, and billing requirements. The federal funding comes through the Colorado Energy Office Local Impact Accelerator Grant, via the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant.

Background

The City of Wheat Ridge (the “City”) Municipal Building is located in the northwest Denver metropolitan area, with municipal offices at 7500 W 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. The City’s area consists of about nine square miles of rolling land adjacent to the Interstate 70 transportation corridor between Denver and the Rocky Mountains.  The topography is somewhat unique, with a natural ridge traversing the City. The City is a suburban community of approximately 33,000 residents. Wheat Ridge is a home-rule municipality with an elected mayor and eight council members, and a Council- Manager form of government. Wheat Ridge recognizes the Best Value procurement model which allows the City to appoint suppliers that best meet the needs of the City, taking into consideration proposer qualifications, price, products, and service capabilities and other factors relevant to the City’s policies, programs, administrative resources, and budget.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 25-40
• Department: Comm Dev.
• Department Head: Lauren Mikulak (Community Development Director)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-08-18T20:00:00.000Z
• Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-08-11T16:00:00.000Z — Microsoft Teams Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/24910522678274?p=dugwUV1OpdazDYPaXe Meeting ID: 249 105 226 782 74 Passcode: 4xj3NT2G

Evaluation Criteria

• Understanding of Scope of Work (25 pts) —
  1. The two-part structure of the zoning audit, residential (Task 1.A) and non-residential (Task 1.B).
  2. The policy context driving this project and demonstrated understanding of the goals in the City Plan, the Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan, and the Sustainability Action Plan.
  3. The federal grant requirements of the Colorado Energy Office Local IMPACT Accelerator Grant and the importance of proper expense allocation and documentation between funding sources.
  4. The city’s role as the primary author of code amendments, and the consultant’s role in providing analysis, best practice research, stakeholder engagement, and technical support.
  5. The scope and nature of deliverables, including the technical memorandum, targeted stakeholder engagement, and policy adoption support materials.
• Qualifications of Firm and Subconsultants (20 pts) —
  1. Experience conducting zoning code audits, land use analyses, and map analysis, particularly in suburban communities of comparable size and character to Wheat Ridge.
  2. Familiarity with the scope of work, including experience modernizing zoning codes to support residential infill opportunities such as missing middle housing, and non-residential zoning by right-sizing regulations to support economic vitality
  3. Demonstrated capacity to manage federally funded planning projects, including compliance with grant reporting and documentation requirements.
  4. Qualifications and relevant experience of key personnel assigned to the project, including project managers and technical leads. Resumes or qualifications summaries should be included.
  5. Experience of any proposed subconsultants, and a clear description of their role in the project.

  References from comparable prior projects will be considered as part of this category. The City may contact references provided.

• Proposed Approach to Providing Services (25 pts) —
  1. A clear and well-structured project work plan describing how the consultant will approach each task, including the zoning code analysis for residential (Task 1.1) and non-residential (Tasks 1.2), technical support for code amendments (Task 2), and policy adoption support (Task 3).
  2. A project schedule with defined milestones and deliverables that demonstrates the ability to complete the project within the anticipated 12–18 month timeline, based on the anticipated project kick-off date.
  3. A description of how the consultant team will coordinate with city staff, maintain clear communication, and support grant reporting obligations throughout the project.
• Related Experience and References (15 pts) —
  1. Zoning code audits and comprehensive code updates for municipalities with a similar size and character to Wheat Ridge.
  2. Projects that addressed housing diversity and affordability, including creation of new residential zone districts, removal of barriers to attached housing, or other relevant strategies.
  3. Projects that help modernize commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zoning to help promote economic redevelopment and vitality.
  4. Work completed in collaboration with community planning departments, providing technical support and analysis.
  5. Experience working within grant-funded project structures, including federally funded programs with specific reporting and compliance requirements.

  Proposals shall include a minimum of three (3) references from comparable projects completed within the past five (5) years. References should include the project name, client name, and contact information, project description, and the consultant’s specific role. The city reserves the right to contact references as part of the evaluation process.

• Price (15 pts) —

  The total anticipated budget for this project is approximately $217,500, funded through a combination of city funds and a Colorado Energy Office Local IMPACT Accelerator Program grant. Proposals will be evaluated on:

  1. The overall reasonableness of the proposed fee relative to the scope, complexity, and quality of work described in the proposal.
  2. The consultant team’s ability to deliver the core project objectives within the anticipated project budget.
  3. How effectively the proposed budget allocation aligns with the scope of work, project priorities, and anticipated level of effort for each task.
  4. The consultant’s approach to separately tracking and billing costs associated with grant-funded tasks versus city-funded tasks in accordance with grant compliance requirements.
  5. The value provided relative to cost, including the quality, completeness, and feasibility of proposed deliverables.
  6. If the proposal exceeds the anticipated budget, the clarity and justification of any additional tasks or services, including a description of the value each addition would provide to the overall project outcome.

  The City reserves the right to negotiate scope and fees with the selected consultant. Final funding amounts are subject to confirmation upon contract execution.

Submission Requirements

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• Non-Discrimination Assurance Title VI Regulations at 49 CFR Part 21 (required) —

  Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination of the basis of race, color or national origin by any entity receiving Federal financial assistance.

  The City of Wheat Ridge is a recipient of Federal financial assistance and as such, it—as well as all of its responsible agents, contractors and consultants—is required by the United States Department of Transportation Title VI Regulations at 49 CFR Part 21 (the Regulations) to assure nondiscrimination. The City of Wheat Ridge assures that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin under any program or activity conducted by the City.

  All bidders are hereby notified that the City of Wheat Ridge will affirmatively ensure that disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to all invitations and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award.  This applies to all solicitations for bids for work or material subject to the Regulations, and for all proposals for negotiated agreements.

  By clicking "Please confirm" below, the bidder agrees as follows:

  1. The bidder shall comply with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  2. The bidder assures the City of Wheat Ridge that disadvantaged business enterprises are afforded full opportunity to submit bids as sub-contractors or sub-consultants and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for award.
  3. The bidder shall comply with all reasonable requests made in the course of an investigation of Title VI, the Regulations and this assurance by the Colorado Department of Transportation, the US Department of Transportation or the City of Wheat Ridge, as a sub-recipient of Federal financial assistance.
  4. The bidder agrees that the United States has a right to seek judicial enforcement with regard to any matter arising under Title VI, the Regulations and this assurance.
• Non-Collusion Affidavit (required) —

  The Contractor, of lawful age, being duly sworn, on oath says that (s)he is the agent authorized by the Bidder to submit the attached bid. Affidavit further states that the Bidder has not been a party of any collusion among Bidders in restraint of freedom of competition by agreement to bid at a fixed price or to refrain from bidding; or any Federal, State or Municipal official or employees as to quantity, quality, or price in the prospective Contract, or any other items of said prospective Contract; or in any discussions between bidders and any Federal, State or Municipal official concerning exchange of money or other thing of value for special consideration in the letting of a Contract.

• Contractor agrees: (required) —

  By submitting a proposal, if awarded, the Offeror agrees to abide by all mandatory state and federal contract terms and conditions, including but not limited to EPA’s General Terms and Conditions, 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 1500, 40 CFR 33, Clean Air Act Sec 137, which shall be incorporated into and govern any resulting contract.

• Contractor acknowledges they: (required) —
  1. Have read the RFP documents thoroughly prior to submitting a proposal,
  2. Will fulfill the obligations in accordance to the scope of work or specifications, terms, and conditions,
  3. Are capable of performing quality work to achieve the City objectives, and
  4. Are submitting without collusion with any other individual or firm.

  By clicking "Please confirm" the contractor agrees to the above.

• Artificial Intelligence Certification (required) —

  By submitting a response, the Offeror certifies that it has read and understands the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Requirements contained in this solicitation and agrees to comply with them if awarded a contract. The Offeror further certifies that any subcontractors engaged under the resulting contract will also comply with these requirements.

• OWNERSHIP/MANAGEMENT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISORS, AND RELATED ENTITIES
• Principle In Charge Name (required)
• Principle in Charge Email (required)
• Type of Business Organization (required)
• State in which incorporated
• Joint Venture
• Contact Information (required) —

  Name, position, and address of contract person regarding the information on this form.

• Number of years your firm has done business under current name? (required)
• Previous Names or Partnerships —

  Previous firm names and / or partnerships (or firms you have had any interest in), and number of years of each name

• CONTRACTING HISTORY
• Major Account History (required) —

  Attach a list of all major accounts for the past two (2) years. For each account indicate the following:

  • Original contract bid amount
  • Owner (address, telephone number, and contact name)
  • Account services provided
  • Litigation or claims related to each project—state nature of claim(s), the parties, the dollar value, the status and outcome—including the value of any judgment(s) or settlement(s)
  • Name, address, and phone number(s) of reference(s)
• Company Availability (required) —

  List major equipment, facilities, number and type of employees available for City contract work. Specify type of work normally done by your forces, and type of work you normally subcontract.

• Have you ever terminated or abandoned any work prior to completion, or had work completed by others? (required)
• If yes, describe the situation (required)
• Has your firm—or any firm you have had any interest in—ever been debarred or prohibited from contract work with any government or private institution? (required)
• If yes, describe the situation: (required)
• City Staff will evaluate all qualification forms. The evaluation will include the following: (required) —
  • Verification of statements and information provided
  • Ability to perform work of similar nature
  • Financial stability and capability
  • Any pattern of controversy, poor management, delayed claims, late completion, inferior service or equipment, or other undesirable characteristics

  This qualification process is not intended to restrict competition. The intent is to protect the City’s legitimate interests by ensuring that vendors are competent, capable of quality work, and financially able to complete the work awarded.

• COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND OTHER REGULATIONS —

  If “Yes” is answered to any of the following questions in Sections IV, V, or VI, please provide details—including a brief summary of cause(s) of action, indicating if applicant firm, owner, or affiliate firms were plaintiffs (P) or defendants (D); define charges explicitly, identifying by what authority, court, or jurisdiction charge(s) were made. Complete details are required.

  NOTE: For Sections IV and V below, the definition of an “investigation” includes:

  • An appearance before a grand jury by representatives of the firm
  • Any oral or written inquiry or review of the firm’s documents by a governmental or law enforcement agency or investigative agency
  • Questioning of employees concerning the general operation or specific activities of the firm
• Public Benefit —

  I, the vendor, swear or affirm under penalty of perjury, and under the laws of the State of Colorado, that: (select an option below)

  I understand that this sworn statement is required by law because I have applied for a public benefit. I understand that State law requires me to provide proof that I am lawfully present in the United States prior to receipt of this public benefit. I further acknowledge that making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in this sworn Affidavit is punishable under the criminal laws of Colorado as perjury in the second degree under C.R.S. 18-8-503 and it shall constitute a separate criminal offense each time a public benefit is fraudulently received.

• Acceptance of Conditions Statement (required) —

  City of Wheat Ridge prohibits contracting with firms that employ certain relatives of City employees, unless the City Council determines that the making of such a contract is in the City’s best interest. No City Council member, member of a City Board or Commission, Municipal judge, City Manager, City attorney(s), or employee of the City of Wheat Ridge—or any such person’s spouse, child, parent, brother, sister, dependent or person assuming a relationship being the substantial equivalent of the above—has an existing or pending (direct or indirect) financial, pecuniary, or personal interest in the proposing firm or this Request for Proposal (RFP)

• References
• Reference Authorization (required) —

  I authorize the City of Wheat Ridge to contact the submitted references.

• References (required) —

  Upload a single document containing 3 client references for projects similar in scope and complexity to the services requested in this solicitation.

  For each reference, include:

  • Company/Organization Name
  • Primary Contact Name and Title
  • Email Address
  • Phone Number
  • Project Name (if applicable)
  • Brief description of the project or services provided, including the scope of work and your firm's role
• ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED —

  Additional document copies to be submitted with this application:

• Proposal (required) —

  Upload all proposal documentation here.

• Contract Term (required) —

  Enter the contract term for your project.

  Example: one (1) year with the option to renew for four (4) one-year periods 

• Pricing (required) —
  • Choose Option 1 when you have set line items, for example:
    • This is a quote for goods or commodities
    • This is a public works bid, with a pricing table that can be uploaded into OpenGov Procurement from an Excel spreadsheet.
    • Seeking services for hourly rate schedules.
  • Choose Option 2 when you need vendors to provide you with the line items.