Request for Proposals: Wayfinding Design Services

The Town of Gorham is seeking proposals for the design and fabrication of gateway and wayfinding signage in key areas of town, to improve and promote access to municipal buildings and services, village centers, commercial corridors, trail locations, public parking, and other points of interest.  The selected consultant must possess demonstrated experience in providing wayfinding services to municipalities, specifically in working with communities to develop an appropriate standard for signage to meet a variety of travel modes and community needs, and to identify suitable locations for wayfinding and gateway signage. 

The Town is primarily interested in the development of central design standards of multi-purpose signage for motorized vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.  The selected vendor will work closely with Town staff to identify specific locations and types of signage needed, and fabrication and installation services would be considered as part of this initial phase.  In addition, the project may involve expanding the scope of services in the future to include signage needs for recreation (trailheads, bike paths, etc.) and other purposes.

Background

The Town of Gorham is a thriving community and one of the fastest growing towns in Maine with a population over 18,000. With a flourishing urban village, steady industrial and commercial development, plentiful recreation opportunities, a college campus, and Greater Portland METRO public transit service, the Town of Gorham continues to attract young families and older adults for its a high-quality school system, abundant community programs and rewarding access to the outdoors, including a top ranked trail system. 

Gorham is located approximately 25 minutes (13 miles) from downtown Portland and is home to the University of Southern Maine Gorham campus with 2,200 students and site of the university’s sports facilities.  The Sebago Lakes Region, a popular tourism destination, is also nearby and offers opportunities for Gorham to benefit from out-of-state visitors.  Gorham has the advantage of being home to a diversity of business sectors, beginning with its agricultural heritage, a strong manufacturing sector and a burgeoning village center.

The wide range of residents, students, business engagement and visitors to Gorham demonstrate the need for a system that will orient travelers and help them navigate to various end destinations.  In addition, a comprehensive program that incorporates connectivity across various modes of transportation (roads, trailheads, bike paths) as well as services and amenities (parks, open space, public utilities) will help to create a deeper sense of place in our community.  

Project Objectives

The goal of the Town’s wayfinding program is to provide a consistent and efficient approach to orienting and assisting the traveling public to key destinations within the town. To achieve this, the planning process should:

• Identify community-wide criteria and graphic conventions for wayfinding.
• Seek input from and coordinate with Town staff and relevant Town stakeholders.
• Consider wayfinding needs for all modes of travel including motorized vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
• Identify ways that wayfinding can contribute to a greater sense of place for the community by incorporating recreation opportunities, points of interest, and visitor services.

Scope of Work

The anticipated project scope is focused primarily on community gateways, village centers and threshold locations, however it is expected that the agreed upon designs will be incorporated into future phases of the project. The successful firm will work with Town staff and other community stakeholders to learn more about Gorham’s sense of place, community culture, local businesses, visitor destinations, and economic development initiatives. The successful firm's role will be to carry out the scope of work described below. It is anticipated that the selected firm will use a combination of GIS mapping, illustrative graphics, and written narrative for each of the identified tasks. The proposal should clearly identify the method for documenting or illustrating the deliverables for each task. The Town may consider alternatives to the scope of work presented below, provided it achieves the goals of this project with the same level of quality and purpose.

Task 1: Inventory and Assessment

• Review relevant local studies/plans and ongoing community branding efforts in Gorham.
• Review all modes of transportation and preferred routes and identify destination points.
• Review and update as needed the inventory of existing wayfinding signs.

• Identifying areas where sign clutter is a concern.

 Task 2: Recommend Wayfinding Policies and Criteria

• Review existing signage and branding systems and recommend a possible hierarchy of wayfinding classes and messaging that may be used to guide design, content, and location of wayfinding types (e.g. directional, automobile, pedestrian, informational, interpretive, etc.).

Task 3: Design Standards

• Develop an attractive, readable, and easily understood designs.
• Consult with Town Staff to recommend site improvements associated with signs, to ensure that landscape and hardscape installations are consistent with local ordinances and standards.

Task 4: Fabrication and Installation

• Include a list of recommended materials for various sign types.

While we encourage interested firms to creatively interpret and apply the community’s brand standards to this project, the Town would prefer the following materials be included for review:

• Gateway signs will be constructed using Sign Foam, or an equivalent durable and 3-dimensional material. Polyurethane paint will be used to ensure durability.
• Gateway signs will be attached to either natural granite or 6x6 aluminum posts, or a suitable equivalent.
• Wayfinding signs will be aluminum with reflective vinyl lettering/imagery to ensure driver safety.
• Wayfinding signs will be attached to 4x4 aluminum posts, or a suitable equivalent.
• Posts should be attached to concrete form using a Break-Safe, or MTUCD approved equivalent, support bracket to ensure driver safety in the event of an accident.

Task 5: Sign Specifications and Final Cost Estimates

• Develop wayfinding design specifications to guide fabrication and installation.
• Provide final cost estimates for the design of agreed upon wayfinding signage.
• Provide final cost estimates for the fabrication and installation of agreed upon wayfinding signage.
• Provide final cost estimates for landscaping and hardscaping associated with gateway sign installation. All landscape and hardscape installations should be consistent with local ordinances and standards.

Town Responsibilities

Town staff will be responsible for administering the project and overseeing the successful firm's work on this project, including:

• Providing necessary information on related studies and planning initiatives, and access to the Town’s GIS data layers relevant to the project scope.
• Planning and facilitating public meetings and other community outreach related to the planning process.
• Assuming responsibility for any printing and mailing costs associated with public communications, as necessary.

Proposal Content & Organization

Proposals shall include the following and shall be organized using each of the elements listed below as section headings:

1. Firm Description: Provide a brief description of the firm including firm size and area of specialization, location of office proposed to handle this project.
2. Project Team: Provide names and resumes of key staff who will be assigned to the project. Each team member’s education and qualifications shall be listed. The project manager shall be clearly identified. If different consultants will be teaming together, indicate the lead consultant.
3. Project Understanding: Provide a statement summarizing how the project team is particularly qualified for this project.
4. Scope of Services: Describe the firm’s approach and technical plan for accomplishing the work listed herein. The successful firm is encouraged to elaborate and improve on the tasks listed in the RFP; however, the firm shall not delete any requested scope tasks unless specifically noted.
5. Project Schedule: The successful firm shall submit a schedule, itemized by task, for completing the scope of work.
6. Project Budget: The firm shall submit a proposed project budget itemized by task and total project cost stated as a firm fixed fee. Labor and direct costs should be identified by task. Hourly rates for project staff shall also be provided.
7. Comparable Projects: Description of related, recent project experience and role of key staff.
8. References: Three (3) references, including current contact name and phone number for similar projects.

Evaluation Criteria

The Town will use the following criteria in evaluating proposals:

RFP Schedule

The award may be subject to further discussion with the Bidder(s) prior to making an award.

The making of a preliminary award does not provide the Bidder with any rights and does not impose upon the Town any obligations. The Town is free to withdraw a preliminary award at any time and for any reason. A Bidder has rights, and the Town has obligations, only when a professional services agreement is executed by the Gorham Town Council and/or their designee and the Project Developer/Owner.

Questions

If you have any clarifying questions or concerns, please contact Kevin Jensen, Economic Development Director, at (207) 222-1628 or kjensen@gorham.me.us.

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