Request for ProposalsRFP #46-013For the provision of Highlands to Islands Trail Study UNG to McEver Purpose: Hall County, Georgia Board of Commissioners (herein County ) located at 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30504, on behalf of the Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization (herein GHMPO ) is seeking qualified consultants with bicycle and pedestrian planning and engineering experience to provide a small-scale planning study for the Highlands to Islands Trail between the University of North Georgia (herein UNG ) campus in Oakwood, Georgia, to McEver Road near downtown Flowery Branch, Georgia, with a scope of approximately five (5) miles. Schedule of Events: Bid Post Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025Bidder's Questions Due Date: Monday, May 12, 2025Response to Bidder Questions Due Date: Friday, May 16, 2025Bid Due Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025, 2:00pm EST Bidding Process: Hall County, Georgia and the GHMPO are now accepting sealed bid proposals from qualified consultants (herein Bidder or Consultant ) with bicycle and pedestrian planning and engineering experience for a small-scale planning study for the Highlands to Islands Trail between UNG campus in Oakwood, Georgia, to McEver Road near downtown Flowery Branch, Georgia, with a scope of approximately five (5) miles (herein Services ). The County will accept sealed bids in the Purchasing Division on the fourth (4th) floor of the Hall County Government Center, located at 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30504, Thursday, May 22, 2025, by 2:00pm EST. Late bids may not be evaluated. All bid packets must be sealed and time and date stamped by the County receptionist located on the 4th floor to be considered. The County is not responsible for delays in mail service. Questions: Address all questions and communications solely to Andrew Youngblood, Issuing Officer at For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. for clarifications of the RFP requirements. Public Reading: Bid openings are open to the public and Bidders. Bidders are not required to attend bid openings but may do so. The Issuing Officer named herein will open and publicly read all Bidders' company names and locations on the date, time, and address above. Cost will not be read at this time, but published after the County has evaluated the qualifications of each Bidder. Addenda: If needed and in the best interest of the County, the Purchasing Division may make an extension of the bidding period by a formal written addendum and publicly posted on the County website. All addenda must be signed by the Bidder and returned with the bid packet.Pre-Bid Meeting: A pre-bid meeting is not required for this RFP. Bidders are welcome to visit the site on their own as needed. Request for Clarification: The County reserves the right to request clarification of information submitted though a written Request for Clarification. The County may also request in-person or virtual presentations or interviews and may choose to enter into negotiations with potential Bidders as needed. Bid Response: The County considers a bid response as an irrevocable offer, good for a period of one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date of submission. The County reserves the right to reject all proposals, in full or part, and to negotiate fees, conditions, or other terms with the Bidder(s) submitting the overall best scored proposal. Furthermore, the County may cancel the RFP in its entirety if in the best interest of the County. The County may waive nonmaterial irregularities, informalities, and errors and seek clarification of such. Legally Binding Agreement: The County and the selected consultant shall enter into a formal agreement; substantially in the form of the attached Exhibit B Contract for Services by countersigning the contract with an execution date. Contracts are only valid if they are countersigned by the County's Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. Bidders must sign the Exhibit B Contract for Services and submit it with their bid response. All questions regarding the Scope of Work must be submitted to the Issuing Officer by close of business Monday, May 12, 2025. If there are no written objections, then the County will understand this as an affirmative acceptance of the Scope of Work as it is presented.Bonds: Not required for this solicitation.
Background
The Hall County, Georgia Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization (GHMPO), is seeking qualified consultants with expertise in bicycle and pedestrian planning and engineering. The goal is to conduct a small-scale planning study for the Highlands to Islands Trail, which will connect the University of North Georgia (UNG) campus in Oakwood, Georgia, to McEver Road near downtown Flowery Branch. This project aims to enhance transportation options and community connectivity over an approximate distance of five miles.
Work Details
The consultant will provide comprehensive services including:
1. Review existing conditions, land use, utilities, and right-of-way throughout the corridor.
2. Explore potential routes between UNG – Oakwood and Flowery Branch/McEver Road.
3. Rank routes by priority, cost, and feasibility.
4. Deliver findings in a final report in PDF format.
The project will be initiated with a kickoff meeting in July 2025, followed by data collection and analysis until September 2025. Stakeholder involvement will occur from July to December 2025, including monthly check-ins with GHMPO staff and meetings with a stakeholder committee consisting of representatives from Hall County, Oakwood, Flowery Branch, and UNG staff. The final deliverables include a Draft and Final Highlands to Islands Trail Study document along with supporting maps and project lists.
Period of Performance
The contract work is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2025, with final deliverables due no later than December 1, 2025.
Place of Performance
The work will be performed in Hall County, Georgia, specifically between the University of North Georgia campus in Oakwood and McEver Road near downtown Flowery Branch.
Bidder Requirements
Bidders must demonstrate experience in bicycle and pedestrian planning and engineering. They are required to submit six hard copies of their Technical Qualifications response (one marked 'Original' and five marked 'Copy') as well as a separate sealed envelope containing their Cost Proposal. Bidders must also provide a Certificate of Insurance evidencing coverage as specified in Exhibit B – Contract for Services.
