Request For Qualifications/Request For Proposals

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS/REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: CONTRACTOR SUPPORT FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BROWNFIELDS

Through this Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals (RFQ/RFP), the University of Connecticut Technical Assistance to Brownfields (UConn TAB) program is soliciting qualifications for on-call professional consulting services to support the UConn TAB program. These services include market analysis/feasibility studies and cost estimating, and redevelopment planning support. Firms may propose for one or both services, which will support UConn TAB’s technical assistance to communities, regional planning agencies, and non-profits around New England. The term for this contract is anticipated to be December 2026 through September 30, 2028*.  The deadline to submit proposals is December 22, 2026.

* Subject to earlier or later start based on applications and UConn vendor approval timeline

INTRODUCTION

About UConn TAB
The University of Connecticut Technical Assistance to Brownfields (UConn TAB) program supports New England communities to advance investigation, cleanup, and redevelopment of abandoned, potentially contaminated sites, protect public health, and support underserved populations facing environmental issues. Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), UConn TAB offers a wide range of services, including document and grant proposal review, guidance with regulatory, technical, and economic issues, planning and organization of community engagement actions, and continuing education on diverse topics related to brownfields.

Consultant Eligibility
UConn TAB is seeking consultants to support this technical assistance through multiple activities, described below. Proposers should be fully qualified to deliver the requested services for which they are proposing without the use of subconsultants. Consultants must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest related to the services they may provide under this solicitation and agree to notify UConn TAB of any conflicts that arise during the contract term. If selected, Consultant must become an approved vendor for the University of Connecticut. Consultants must comply with all applicable federal and University of Connecticut contracting requirements. Selection under this solicitation does not guarantee any minimum number or dollar value of task assignments, and work will be issued on an as-needed basis.

Task Assignments Under This Contract
The selected consultant(s) will be eligible to perform work for UConn TAB. When specific project support is needed, UConn TAB will contact the Consultant to discuss the task scope, schedule/milestones, and expected deliverables. Tasks may be refined based on these discussions. Consultant will provide a budget estimate for the negotiated task. If approved, UConn TAB will execute a Task Order that will include a Scope of Work and associated “Not-to-Exceed” budget authorization. The Consultant will be responsible for completing the task according to the approved timeline.

POTENTIAL SCOPE OF SERVICES

Firms may propose to provide one or both of the following services. UConn TAB intends to contract with one consultant for each of the service categories.

 1. Market Analysis and Feasibility Studies
Support for Site Reuse Assessment projects: market feasibility studies for redevelopment scenarios

  • Industry and sector demand analysis
  • Real estate market assessments and comparable market evaluations
  • Identification of highest and best use opportunities
  • Economic development opportunity assessments
  • Demographic analysis and community market trend evaluations
  • Development of site reuse recommendations aligned with local economic conditions

2. Cost Estimating for Redevelopment Planning Support
Support for Site Reuse Assessment projects: cost estimating services to support conceptual redevelopment scenarios

  • Preliminary construction cost estimating for reuse scenarios
  • Site preparation and infrastructure cost estimates
  • Cost comparison analysis between alternative redevelopment scenarios

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF file via email to uconn-tab@uconn.edu with the subject line “RFP – [Firm Name] – Proposal”. Please name the single PDF file “RFP_[Firm Name]_Proposal”.

Example:

Email subject: RFP – UConn TAB – Proposal

File Name: RFP_UConn TAB_Proposal

Proposals should be no greater than 10 pages, single-spaced, and include the following:

  1. Cover Letter: Include a cover letter with the firm’s name, address, phone number, and email address.
  2. Service Category(ies) for Which Company is Proposing: Clearly identify which of the services listed under Potential Scope of Services that the firm is proposing to provide. Each consultant may offer one or both of the requested services.
  3. Company Profile & Qualifications: Describe the firm’s history and technical capabilities; areas of technical expertise relevant to requested services; experience working with public sector or federally funded projects; experience supporting environmental redevelopment, brownfield projects, or related planning initiatives; relevant certifications, licenses, or specialized qualifications.
  4. Project Staffing: Provide a description of the firm’s key personnel who will be assigned to the team. Provide the names and experience of key personnel, including education and professional registration.
  5. A schedule of hourly rates: Provide rates for all principal staff that will have a significant role in the project. Rates shall be hourly, fixed, and fully burdened, meaning inclusive of all the following:
    • average wage rate
    • overhead rate
    • fringe rate
    • general and administrative (G&A) rate
    • profit
    • escalation factor
    • any additional burden

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria, with a maximum possible total score of 100:

  • Demonstrated qualifications and technical expertise of assigned personnel – 30 points
  • Relevant project experience – 25 points
  • Experience working with public agencies and federally funded programs – 10 points
  • Capacity to perform work in a timely manner – 10 points
  • Cost competitiveness and rate structure – 25 points

RFP TIMELINE

RFQ/RFP Issued: October 5, 2026
Question Period Ends: December 1, 2026
Proposal Submission Deadline: December 22,  2026
Notification to Firms Selected: January 4, 2026

Q&A (Updated 11/11/26)

  1. Does this provision prohibit the use of subconsultants for all Category 2 services, including specialized portions of cost estimating or redevelopment planning?
    The Consultant’s role is to support UConn TAB’s redevelopment planning by providing selected services as described in the RFP. Consultant will not independently complete redevelopment plans. We do not expect cost estimates to be prepared by a certified cost estimator/analyst. As described in the RFP, cost estimating will be preliminary only, intended to provide rough order-of-magnitude estimates, subject to the inherent limitations of early-stage, conceptual redevelopment planning.
  2. Are teaming arrangements or joint ventures permitted, provided the submitting firm remains responsible for the proposed services?
    For simplicity in contracting and ensuring compliance with federal rules concerning non-discrimination, conflict of interest, etc., we prefer all assignments to be performed by a single entity. If a consultant cannot perform a given task using in-house personnel, we will likely assign that task to a different consultant. Our concern is that teaming arrangements carry a greater risk of delays, since our required turnaround time for assignments is anticipated to be one week to several weeks.
  3. If subconsultants are not permitted, must all proposed work be performed directly by the submitting firm’s own personnel?
    All work must be performed directly by the submitting firm’s own personnel to avoid potentially triggering federal procurement, disclosure, and compliance issues.
  4. Could you please confirm the controlling proposal deadline and whether any revised solicitation documents or addenda have been issued? The version I reviewed lists November 24, 2026, while the current program webpage lists December 22, 2026.
    The proposal deadline is December 22, 2026.
  5. Is there an anticipated annual or total funding level for each on-call area, or an expected range for individual task orders?
    The estimated total funding level for all on-call services is approximately $100,000. It is anticipated that roughly half of this budget will be allocated to each of the two service categories outlined in the RFQ/RFP.
  6. Roughly how many task orders do you expect to issue per year, and are they typically tied to specific communities or sites?
    The number of assignments to be issued will depend on the needs of the communities that TAB serves, and the complexity and cost of each project. It is TAB’s objective to provide these services to as many entities as practicable, within budget constraints.
  7. Will TAB select one firm or several per area, and is an award in both areas viewed favorably or evaluated separately?
    As specified in the RFQ/RFP, TAB intends to contract with one consultant for each of the service categories. A single firm may propose on both categories, and only one. Proposals for each category will be reviewed and evaluated independently, and there will be no advantage given to a firm that submits proposals on both categories versus a firm that submits a proposal on only one category.
  8. Is there a formal question period or Q&A addendum for this solicitation, or is email the preferred route?
    The RFQ/RFP did not indicate a deadline for submitting questions.  TAB will continue to accept questions until December 1, 2026.  TAB’s official responses to all questions will be posted weekly in the Q/A section of the announcement page (https://tab.program.uconn.edu/request-for-qualifications-request-for-proposals/). Responses to all questions will be posted no later than December 8, 2026. Any firm that has already submitted a response to this RFQ/RFP has the option of submitting an updated proposal, should TAB’s answers to any questions warrant changes. Should a firm submit more than one proposal, UConn TAB will consider only the final submittal received before the proposal deadline and will discard any earlier submittals from such firm.