REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

Corridor Safety Enhancement Lighting Project

November 1, 2023

Issued by New Kensington Community Development Corporation NKCDC Representative:

Lee Nentwig lnentwig@nkcdc.org; 215-427-0350 ext. 124

Project Background

New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is issuing this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to engage a contractor to serve as the Electrical Contractor for two separate lighting installation projects at 2800 D St and 2721 Kensington Ave. These two sites were selected as part of a Corridor Safety Enhancement project to receive exterior lighting upgrades to improve safety conditions outside of the storefronts.

There will be one Electrical Contractor hired for both projects. The intent of this RFP is to have contracting firms provide a fee proposal for electrical services for each site, in addition to providing information about their experience, qualifications, and interest related to the renovations of the properties noted above.

The responding firms must be capable of completing both projects concurrently. Lighting installations must meet all current building codes and the successful bidder will be responsible for procuring all required permits.

Project Budget and Funding Limitations

NKCDC has a total of $19,500 to pay for the completion of these two projects. That budget cannot be exceeded. All prospective Electrical Contractors are asked to submit a completed version of the budget outlined in Appendix C and Appendix D in their response to this RFP. Estimates should be based on the attached Conceptual Design Proposals (see Appendix A and B) and information gathered during site visits. If additional costs must be considered that are not specified in Column 1 of the budget outline, please specify them in the space provided under the line item, “Additional Costs.”

Project proposal

Please include the following information about your company in your proposal:

1. Business Name
2. Business Address
3. Contact Name
   1. Contact Email
   2. Contact Phone Number

4. Copy of Electrical Contractor License and Certificate of Insurance
5. Provide a brief description of your company’s experience and qualifications for this project (maximum 500 words). Please specify if the owner of your company identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC) or any historically underrepresented group, the company’s total number of employees, and the role that equity factors into the company’s hiring practices.
6. Completed version of budget outlined in Appendix C and D
7. List one to three projects your company has completed similar to the scope of this project.
8. Proposed start date assuming a contract effective date of 11/24/2023 and anticipated schedule for project completion.
9. References – please provide contact information for 1 – 3 clients, who we can ask about their experience working with your business.

License & Insurance

The Electrical Contractor for this project must be a licensed electrician and must be insured. All applicants are asked to provide a copy of their license and evidence of insurance in their proposal.

Permits

The Electrical Contractor must obtain all permits as required for the completion of this project. All permit fees must be included in the proposed budget.

Site Security

The Electrical Contractor is responsible for site security and shall be required to monitor the site as is necessary to protect from unwanted intrusion and theft of materials or equipment. The Contractor will be required to coordinate site access with building owners.

Deadline for Proposals

The deadline for proposals to be submitted is Friday, November 17 at 5 p.m. To be considered, all applicants must complete a site visit to both 2800 D St and 2721 Kensington Ave with NKCDC to review the project Scope of Work and building conditions. Please contact Lee Nentwig by phone at 215-427- 0350 ext. 124 or by email at lnentwig@nkcdc.org to schedule this site visit.

Selection Criteria

All proposals will be evaluated according to the criteria below. No single category is make-or-break, each is only part of the larger selection process.

1.      Qualifications/background experience

• History, past performance, professional qualifications and references.
• Services align well with the needs of Kensington businesses.

2.    Quality

• Meets NKCDC and/or industry standards and expectations for the quality of their work.
• Services have had a meaningful impact on past clients.

3.    Price

• Price proposals

4.    Development opportunity.

• The contractor has capacity to complete work and potential to grow through this opportunity.

5.    Owner or executive is a member of an underrepresented group.

• The company owner or executive management identifies as BIPOC, a woman, or disabled.

6.   Location

• Preference will be given to firms based within the 19134 ZIP code, or a neighboring ZIP code. After that, preference will be given to firms located in Philadelphia.

7.   Diversity of workforce

• Staff makeup and company’s inclusion of women and/or BIPOC employees.

8. Community service

• Demonstrated commitment to the community, through time or money given to community service or involvement in community organizations (for example, civic groups or charities).

Payment Details

The selected Electrical Contractor must provide a Form W-9 to receive payment. NKCDC is prepared to pay a deposit, if required, equal to the cost of materials that must be purchased for work to begin. The Electrical Contractor will be paid by check, they may invoice for the deposit and upon 100% completion of each project. NKCDC will require a walkthrough to verify completion of each project, prior to payment.

Tax Exemption

The contract will be held and administered by New Kensington Community Development Corporation. As such, contracts will not necessarily be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder and contractors may assume that they will be able to take advantage of any sales tax exemption on materials and supplies in accordance with PA Department of Revenue’s website regarding Act 45.

The link to the form can be found here: https://www.revenue.pa.gov/FormsandPublications/FormsforBusinesses/SUT/Documents/rev-1220.pdf

The link for exempt items per Act 45 can be found here: https://www.revenue.pa.gov/TaxTypes/SUT/Documents/construction_contractors.pdf

About NKCDC

New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is a nonprofit organization based in Kensington. The organization’s mission is to advance social equity and economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live and actively shape their neighborhoods of choice. NKCDC was founded in 1985 and has developed into a community development corporation

with programs in economic development, real estate development, vacant land management, housing counseling, community engagement, and neighborhood planning. NKCDC has received the Best Practices award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is recognized as an Organization of Excellence by NeighborWorks America.

NKCDC’s Economic Development Department has been providing support to businesses on our service area’s five commercial corridors for over ten years. The five commercial corridors are Front St, Kensington Ave, Frankford Ave, Allegheny Ave, and Richmond St. Over that time, we have developed a technical assistance strategy grounded in trauma-informed care and racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our equitable economic development strategy focuses on minimizing displacement and fostering growth of businesses; community wealth building; and facilitating relationships between businesses.

 

Appendix A: 2800 D St (Cantina La Martina) Conceptual Design

 

 

Appendix B: 2721 Kensington Ave Conceptual Design

Appendix C: Project Budget for 2800 D St (Cantina La Martina)

Project: 2800 D St (Cantina La Martina)
Item	Cost
Materials (Please specify)
UMC-98001 Macaron 3 Catenary (2)
Pitch Single Wall Sconce (6)
Labor
Permits
Insurance
Overhead / Profit
Additional Costs (Please specify)
Total

 

Appendix D: Project Budget for 2800 D St (Cantina La Martina)

 

Project: 2721 Kensington Ave
Item	Cost
Materials (Please specify)
LNT-45 4.4W IP65 Flexible Neon Series LED Strip Linear Tracing Lights
CY3 UD WM Up/Down Cylinder Sconce Lights (6)
Labor
Permits
Insurance
Overhead / Profit
Additional Costs (Please specify)
Total

 

 

7

Appendix D: Project Budget for 2800 D St (Cantina La Martina)

 

Project: 2721 Kensington Ave
Item	Cost
Materials (Please specify)
LNT-45 4.4W IP65 Flexible Neon Series LED Strip Linear Tracing Lights
CY3 UD WM Up/Down Cylinder Sconce Lights (6)
Labor
Permits
Insurance
Overhead / Profit
Additional Costs (Please specify)
Total

 

Appendix D: Project Budget for 2800 D St (Cantina La Martina)

Project: 2721 Kensington Ave
Item	Cost
Materials (Please specify)
LNT-45 4.4W IP65 Flexible Neon Series LED Strip Linear Tracing Lights
CY3 UD WM Up/Down Cylinder Sconce Lights (6)
Labor
Permits
Insurance
Overhead / Profit
Additional Costs (Please specify)
Total