Request for Information (RFI):
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Demolition and Revitalization Program
St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works
June 20, 2023
1. RFI Overview
St. Louis County is seeking input from non-profits, commercial developers, and other subject matter experts to gather information and inform decision making in order to address vacant and problem properties within St. Louis County using $11 million in ARPA State Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) appropriated under Ordinance 28,594 St. Louis County plans to use funds appropriated under Ordinance 28,594 to carry out demolition and revitalization efforts that qualify as eligible expenditures under ARPA.
Please note that this Request for Information (RFI) is for informational purposes only, and no contract will be awarded specifically in response to it. A firm or organization’s response to the RFI or lack thereof will have no impact on the evaluation of responses to any future solicitations that St. Louis County may release. Responses to the Request for Information will be used solely for information and planning purposes.
Please note that all responses to this RFI will be subject to applicable open records laws Do not submit confidential information in your response.
1.1. RFI Contact
The following individual will serve as the official point of contact for this RFI. This individual is the only authorized contact permitted to communicate on behalf of St. Louis County about this RFI. Any questions related to this RFI can be directed to the point of contact listed below.
Contact information for RFI point of contact:
Bill Walterscheid, Division Manager of Code EnforcementDepartment
of Transportation and Public Worksbwalterscheid@stlouiscountymo.gov 314-615-7145
1.2. Submission Details
Please submit your responses to this RFI via St. Louis County’s e-procurement portal (VSS) at https://stlouiscountymovendors.munisselfservice.com/Vendors/default.aspx before the deadline identified in Section 1.3. File size is limited up to 25 MB. All submissions must have the standard subject of: ARPA Demolition and Revitalization Program for St. Louis County Physical (paper) copies of RFI responses are not allowed.
1.3. RFI Timeline
Please review the RFI timeline below. Dates and/or other terms may be modified or amended by St. Louis County via amendments to the RFI posted in the e-procurement portal (VSS).
RFI Released: June 20, 2023
RFI Information Session: June 29, 2023
Deadline for Questions: July 14, 2023
Responses Due: July 28, 2023
1.4. RFI Conference / Information Session
An optional RFI Information Session will be held virtually on June 29, 2023 at 11:30am CST in advance of the RFI submission deadline for prospective respondents and community members Those interested in participating in the RFI Information Session should go to https://stcoit-evt.webex.com/weblink/register/redae9f07f72eb89e0963353399d934a7 to register and participate in the information session During this informational session, designated program representatives will summarize the goals of the RFI and answer any questions . Any answers given at the information session are tentative, and final answers will be provided via a Q&A document released after the Deadline for Questions identified in Section 1.3. A recording of the RFI Information Session will be posted to St. Louis County’s website
2. Background Information
2.1. Background
Currently, there are over 1,100 vacant properties across St. Louis County. St. Louis County, Ordinance 28,594 appropriated $11,000,000 “for support of demolition activities necessary to address vacant and abandoned properties within St. Louis County as permissible under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).”
2.2. Goals and Outcomes
St. Louis County seeks to demolish vacant and abandoned properties due to public health and safety risks they pose and carry out revitalization efforts within the demolished properties and the broader neighborhoods to improve public health and safety outcomes for residents The
goal of this RFI is to gather input from interested entities and inform them of demolition and revitalization efforts the County may fund
2.3. Eligible Activities
To qualify as eligible expenditure under ARPA SLFRF, demolition of vacant or abandoned buildings must be paired with greening or other lot improvement as part of a strategy for neighborhood revitalization, in accordance with SLFRF Expenditure Category 2.22 Strong Healthy Communities: Neighborhood Features that Promote Health and Safety.
Eligible revitalization activities aligned with Expenditure Category 2.22 are broad. For example, eligible activities may include projects that improve public health and safety outcomes within the community, such as addressing housing needs through affordable housing development, addressing food deserts through a grocery store, improving public health through parks, trails, bike paths, or recreation centers, and addressing pedestrian safety through improved walkways and security features. Revitalization activities must occur within the demolished property, but can also be extending to the broader neighborhood, such as resident home improvement support or neighborhood clean-up and beautification activities.
2.4. Eligible Locations
Demolition and revitalization activities must occur in County areas located within Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) There is no limit to the property size or number of properties for demolition and revitalization activities. Please see the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mapping Tool for QCTs within St. Louis County. The County has also developed a Vacant and Abandoned Property Mapping Tool identifying these properties within St. Louis County for reference. Please note that the properties identified within the Vacant and Abandoned Property Mapping Tool is not exhaustive; the County continues to investigate and identify additional vacant and abandoned properties, which will be periodically integrated into the Vacant and Abandoned Property Mapping Tool.
2.5 Period of Performance
All funds appropriated under Ordinance 28,594 must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and liquidated, or expended, by December 31, 2026 The project period of performance may vary according to the projects proposed but will all be subject to the rules and regulations that govern ARPA SLFRF
3. Additional Considerations
With this funding, St. Louis County intends to demolish as many vacant and abandoned properties as possible to reduce public health and safety risks. Therefore, the County seeks to provide funding for entities to acquire vacant and abandoned properties from property owners and conduct demolition and revitalization efforts within the acquired properties and broader neighborhood. Revitalization activities (defined in section 2.3) can include but are not limited to affordable housing.
Equity considerations and stakeholder engagement should be included in any proposed use of the ARPA SLFRF funding For example, projects should be informed by community input and reflect the priorities of the neighborhoods in which revitalization efforts will occur. Locations for demolition and revitalization activities should be equitably selected.
4. Information Requested
4.1. Who We’re Looking For:
St. Louis County is interested in receiving input from, but not limited to, the following firms, organizations, and individuals: Housing Non-Profits, Commercial Developers, Community Organizations focused on housing assistance, and other subject matter experts. County seeks responses from entities with experience in or carrying out demolition and revitalization activities.
4.2. What We’re Looking For:
Responses should address the following questions Information provided to St. Louis County in response to this RFI should be contained within the 5-page response form template provided in Section 5 Additional pages of text beyond the 5-page response form template in Section 5 should not be included with the submittal. Graphics or mapping images can be included and will not count against the page limit. Attachments are not permitted.
QUESTIONS:
1. What type of project would your organization/business envision carrying out with the funds?
2. What neighborhoods or locations would your organization/business target?
3. What is your cost estimate for the demolition activities proposed?
4. What is your cost estimate for the revitalization activities proposed?
5. What types of revitalization activities would your organization/business provide?
6. What is your general project timeline?
7. Is your organization/business open to acquiring vacant and abandoned properties with these funds?
8. Would your organization/business be able to accomplish demolition and revitalization activities by December 31, 2026?
9. What are your anticipated project challenges or concerns, if any?
