Request for Proposals: Development of an Open Space & Trails Master Plan - Gorham, Maine

The Town of Gorham is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants interested in providing planning services in support of developing an open space and trails master plan. The scope of the project is to draft an open space and trails master plan that will act as a guide to elected and appointed town officials by identifying high priority areas and properties to protect, acquire or use for conservation and agricultural purposes, and provide an overall trail planning document outlining new connections, design guidelines, and provide recommendations to resolve conflict and create a variety of experiences. The project scope also includes providing land stewardship guidance for existing agricultural properties, open space lands, identifying opportunities to expand connectivity between open space assets and neighborhoods, as well as outlining programs, ordinances, and partners that could be instrumental in securing the future of the identified and preserving high priority areas.

In recognition of the Town’s historic past on agricultural and natural resource based economies, forecasted commercial and residential development needs, trends, and pressures in Southern Maine, and in anticipation of impacts of a changing climate and natural resource disturbances, the Town of Gorham seeks the development of an open space plan to help guide and prioritize future opportunities for open space preservation, protection of critical wildlife habitat and corridors, recreation access, and agricultural preservation. The open space plan will serve as both a stand-alone planning document and as the primary information tool for natural resource management and resilience strategies expected to be adopted in a future Comprehensive Plan (anticipated for 2026).

Project Goals

If successful, the Open Space plan will:

• Identify open spaces, forests, riparian habitat, and agricultural lands important to the residents of Gorham for their capacity to provide a range of ecological and public services including but not limited to climate change resilience, public recreation access, economic sustainability, rural aesthetic and protection from development, water quality, habitat and wildlife corridor protection:
• Establish a town wide strategy for land conservation and preservation;
• Plan for establishing new or formalizing existing access to passive recreational areas and balancing public access and types of uses with sustainable management practices;
• Plan for formalizing links to and between new and existing assets to ensure access;
• Identify regional partnerships and opportunities to help in the preservation of land;
• Guide and prioritize capital investments and identify funding opportunities including public/private partnerships; and
• Be a tool for coordinating town-wide projects, policies, trail recreation, and programs related to open space preservation and management.
• Identify existing trails and identify potential network development.

Through this RFP, the Town is requesting qualified consultants submit recommended approaches to develop an Open Space Plan. A final scope of work will be negotiated with the selected consultant based on responses to this RFP.

Project Budget

The expectation is that this work can be done for less than $75,000.00 to include investment in communication and engagement with citizens.

The final budget and scope will be negotiated with the selected firm.

Submission Information

All consultants interested in submitting a proposal must provide a written notice of their intent to submit an RFP to the Community Development Department by 5:00 p.m. on March 14, 2024. The notification of intent must include the name, address, telephone number and email of the project manager responsible for the RFP submission. The purpose of this notice is so that the Town can ensure that all potential respondents are included on any updates or modifications to this RFP and answers to questions submitted by the questions deadline. Notifications of Intent will be accepted by Thomas Poirier at tpoirier@gorham.me.us.

To be considered, proposal submissions must include four (4) hardcopies and one (1) digital copy of the complete submission packet in a searchable PDF format. All submissions must be received by the Community Development Department by 5:00 p.m. on April 11, 2024, No late submissions will be considered.

Subscribe for Updates/Addendums

The full RFP can be viewed via the attachment below. It is recommended that interested bidders please subscribe for updates to the RFP HERE as subscribing will ensure you automatically receive any associated addendums.