The County of Solano, Resource Management, hereinafter referred to as the "County", intends to secure a contract with a qualified Proposer to provide a complete, timely, and adequate General Plan Update RFP.
Solano County is initiating a comprehensive evaluation and targeted update of its General Plan to establish a long-term vision for the County through 2050 and beyond. This effort comes at an important point in the County's history, as regional growth pressures, economic changes, technological advancements, environmental considerations, and evolving community expectations continue to shape the future of land use and development throughout the region.
Located at the intersection of the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento region, Delta, and Central Valley, Solano County occupies a unique position within Northern California. The County's unincorporated area encompasses productive agricultural lands, significant natural resources, open space, transportation corridors, rural communities, and areas that support regional infrastructure and economic activity. These assets have been shaped by decades of planning policies focused on preserving agricultural resources, protecting open space, directing urban growth toward incorporated cities, and maintaining the distinct character of unincorporated communities.
As the County looks toward 2050, it must evaluate how these long-standing policies and priorities can continue to serve future generations while responding to new opportunities and challenges. Questions surrounding housing, economic development, agriculture, environmental stewardship, infrastructure, fiscal sustainability, climate resilience, technological innovation, and changing demographics will require thoughtful analysis and meaningful public discussion. The General Plan Update will provide an opportunity to examine these issues comprehensively and develop a framework that reflects both community values and future needs.
The County is seeking a consulting team capable of providing objective analysis, innovative thinking, technical excellence, and a robust public engagement process. The selected team should be prepared to evaluate a wide range of alternatives, facilitate productive discussions among diverse stakeholders, and help the County assess the opportunities, tradeoffs, and long-term implications of potential policy choices.
This General Plan Update (GPU) is intended to be a forward-looking effort grounded in data, community input, and sound planning principles. The County seeks a partner that can help develop a vision and implementation strategy that supports economic opportunity, protects valuable resources, promotes fiscal and environmental sustainability, and positions Solano County to successfully navigate the opportunities and challenges of the coming decades.
Solano County invites qualified consulting teams to bring their expertise, creativity, and commitment to this important planning effort and assist in shaping a General Plan that will guide the County's future through 2050 and beyond.
PROLOGUE
Solano County is initiating a comprehensive evaluation and targeted update of its General Plan to establish a long-term vision for the County through 2050 and beyond. This effort comes at an important point in the County's history, as regional growth pressures, economic changes, technological advancements, environmental considerations, and evolving community expectations continue to shape the future of land use and development throughout the region.
Located at the intersection of the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento region, Delta, and Central Valley, Solano County occupies a unique position within Northern California. The County's unincorporated area encompasses productive agricultural lands, significant natural resources, open space, transportation corridors, rural communities, and areas that support regional infrastructure and economic activity. These assets have been shaped by decades of planning policies focused on preserving agricultural resources, protecting open space, directing urban growth toward incorporated cities, and maintaining the distinct character of unincorporated communities.
As the County looks toward 2050, it must evaluate how these long-standing policies and priorities can continue to serve future generations while responding to new opportunities and challenges. Questions surrounding housing, economic development, agriculture, environmental stewardship, infrastructure, fiscal sustainability, climate resilience, technological innovation, and changing demographics will require thoughtful analysis and meaningful public discussion. The General Plan Update will provide an opportunity to examine these issues comprehensively and develop a framework that reflects both community values and future needs.
The County is seeking a consulting team capable of providing objective analysis, innovative thinking, technical excellence, and a robust public engagement process. The selected team should be prepared to evaluate a wide range of alternatives, facilitate productive discussions among diverse stakeholders, and help the County assess the opportunities, tradeoffs, and long-term implications of potential policy choices.
This General Plan Update (GPU) is intended to be a forward-looking effort grounded in data, community input, and sound planning principles. The County seeks a partner that can help develop a vision and implementation strategy that supports economic opportunity, protects valuable resources, promotes fiscal and environmental sustainability, and positions Solano County to successfully navigate the opportunities and challenges of the coming decades.
Solano County invites qualified consulting teams to bring their expertise, creativity, and commitment to this important planning effort and assist in shaping a General Plan that will guide the County's future through 2050 and beyond.
REQUESTED SCOPE OF SERVICES
The purpose of this request for proposal (RFP) is to select and execute a professional services agreement with a qualified consultant to produce for Solano County a complete, timely, and adequate GPU. This RFP is open to any qualified consultant team demonstrating successful and comparable GPU’s within the state of California and who possess extensive experience with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Contact with staff regarding this RFP is prohibited except as described herein. Consultants that initiate contact with staff outside of the terms of this RFP will be barred from submitting a proposal. The project will comprehensively evaluate the existing General Plan, but the County anticipates targeted revisions rather than wholesale rewriting of chapters, goals and policies that remain current, effective and legally adequate.
The GPU is proposed to occur in 4 main phases:
Baseline Assessment of current General Plan, zoning and implementation efforts; Existing data analysis; and Background Report
Board and Community Outreach and Engagement
Draft General Plan Update/Alternatives/CEQA
General Plan Final Documents/Adoption/Implementation
The focus of this project is to respond to changes in the community and region and in circumstances that affect the future direction of the County through an update to the existing General Plan. The consultant shall conduct field studies and research as necessary; modify, update and add select, targeted General Plan text amendments focusing on policies and programs; modify and add diagrams and maps; and ensure that each element conforms to state law. The GPU will be based upon the results of a comprehensive visioning process, kicking off with initial Board of Supervisors engagement in a format determined by the County with input/recommendations from the consultant, and include a robust public education and engagement process that provides meaningful opportunities for broad and diverse participation. The consultant shall develop additional specified implementation tools including a “workbook” style summary of General Plan goals, policies, actions, and land use designations for ease of use for Planning Commissioners, the Board of Supervisors, and the public. County staff will collaborate with consultant team on which policies are to be updated and which will be carried forward.
All services provided by the consultant team shall be performed by individuals with appropriate experience and qualifications for the task. Extensive Principal level involvement by the consultant team is preferred. The successful consultant team shall have the resources to provide cost effective and timely services, including providing a high level of customer service to the County. The consultant team shall include an appropriate range of expertise necessary to carry out all aspects of the GPU as required for successful completion.
The consultant shall ensure that the plan is legally adequate, addresses and aligns with all regulatory changes / requirements of state and local law, is consistent with the state General Plan Guidelines, is attractive and user-friendly, innovative and reflects best professional practice.
Optional Additive Tool—Interactive GIS Planning Tool: Proposers shall provide a separate optional scope, cost, and schedule for development of a web-based, Arc GIS Urban or equivalent-enabled interactive planning tool depicting Solano County through multiple selectable data layers. The tool should allow users to view and evaluate relevant land-use, environmental, agricultural, infrastructure, transportation, public-service, hazard, jurisdictional, and other General Plan information in an accessible and understandable format.
The optional proposal shall describe:
the proposed platform and its principal capabilities;
the data layers, analytical functions, visualization features, and level of interactivity that would be included;
whether the tool would support land-use scenarios, alternatives analysis, three-dimensional visualization, or comparison o
