Request for Proposal (RFP) Pre-Approved Accessary Dwelling Unit (ADU) Plans Town of Center, Colorado

1. Project Overview

The Town of Center is seeking proposals from qualified architects, residential designers, or design teams to develop two (2) pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans for repeated use by property owners within Town limits. The intent is to provide residents with a simple, cost-effective, and streamlined pathway to construct ADUs while supporting the Town’s housing goals.

The project supports implementation of the Town’s ADU regulations and its Supportive Jurisdiction designation through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). The Town is seeking practical designs appropriate for Center’s housing stock, lot patterns, climate, construction market, and local permitting process.

Final plans developed through this project are intended to be made available by the Town for repeated public use. Use of a pre-approved plan will not eliminate site-specific review. Each proposed ADU will remain subject to applicable zoning, setbacks, lot coverage, utility availability and connection requirements, site conditions, building permit requirements, and other applicable Town or agency approvals.

The Town intends to select the consultant whose proposal is determined to be most advantageous to the Town based on qualifications, understanding of the project, design approach, schedule, and cost. This solicitation is subject to the Town of Center’s procurement policies and applicable grant requirements.

2. Scope of Work:

The selected consultant will develop a small, user-friendly library of pre-approved ADU plans. At a minimum, the scope shall include the following tasks:

1. Project Kickoff and Code / Program Review. Meet with Town staff / Owner’s Representative to confirm project objectives, typical lot and housing conditions, applicable zoning and building requirements, desired architectural character, utility considerations, and the Town’s intended pre-approval process.
2. Develop Two (2) ADU Designs. Prepare two distinct ADU plan types, generally within the following parameters:

• One detached ADU, approximately 500–750 square feet • One attached or integrated ADU, approximately 500–750 square feet

• Final unit size, bedroom count, configuration, and orientation may be refined with Town staff during schematic design

3. Visitability / Accessibility. At least one ADU design shall incorporate visitability features consistent with applicable Colorado requirements and the Town’s program goals, including a step-free entrance, accessible main-floor living area, and a usable main-level bathroom. The consultant shall identify any design assumptions necessary to achieve these features on typical sites.
4. Schematic Design Review. Provide draft floor plans and exterior elevations for Town review before advancing to final construction documents. The consultant should anticipate at least one consolidated Town review cycle and incorporate agreed-upon revisions.
5. Permit-Ready Plan Sets. Prepare complete, coordinated construction drawing packages suitable for the Town’s pre-approval and local building permit process. Plan sets should include, as applicable, cover/code information, dimensioned floor plans, roof plans, exterior elevations, building sections, foundation/framing information, typical construction details, and electrical/plumbing/mechanical information necessary for permitting. The proposal shall clearly identify the level of engineering, professional stamping, energy-code documentation, or other specialty design included in the fee and any items expected to remain site-specific.
6. Typical Site Layouts and Site-Specific Guidance. Provide example site layouts showing how each ADU type could fit on representative residential lots in Center, including typical access, setbacks, parking (if applicable), and utility connection concepts. Prepare a concise list of site-specific items that must be verified by the property owner and Town before a pre-approved plan may be used.
7. Cost-Conscious and Repeatable Design. Use straightforward building forms, conventional construction methods, commonly available materials, and efficient structural and utility layouts. Designs should be adaptable to typical Center lots without unnecessary customization.
8. Final Deliverables and Town Use. Provide final plan sets in PDF format and editable/source files used to prepare the plans. The selected consultant shall grant the Town the rights necessary to reproduce, distribute, post online, and allow repeated use of the final pre-approved plans by residents as part of the Town’s ADU program. The final professional services agreement will establish ownership, licensing, professional reliance, and limitations on site-specific use.
9. Design Expectations:

Plans should:

• Be attractive, durable, easy to build, and cost-effective for local property owners • Fit typical residential lots and complement the scale and character of existing neighborhoods in Center • Use efficient layouts and standard construction methods that can be competitively bid by local contractors

• Account for typical utility connections and clearly identify utility or site conditions that require project-specific review • Be designed to support a streamlined, staff-level permitting process to the extent allowed by applicable codes and Town procedures • Incorporate visitability features in at least one plan and comply with applicable building, energy, and accessibility requirements • Clearly distinguish elements that are pre-approved from elements that must be verified or designed for each individual site

4. Consultant Qualifications:

The Town is interested in teams that demonstrate:

• Experience designing ADUs, small residential units, infill housing, or standardized/pre-approved residential plans • Ability to produce practical, coordinated, buildable construction documents appropriate for local permitting • Familiarity with Colorado building, energy, accessibility/visitability, and residential development requirements • Experience working with local governments, housing programs, or rural communities is preferred • Ability to communicate clearly with Town staff and complete the work within the proposed schedule and budget

5. Submission Requirements:

Proposals should be concise and include the following information:

1. Cover Letter: Brief introduction, primary contact information, and confirmation of availability to complete the work.

2. Project Understanding and Approach: Description of the team’s understanding of the Town’s goals and proposed approach to developing pre-approved ADU plans.

3. Relevant Experience: Examples of comparable ADU, small residential, pre-approved plans, or local government housing work. Include images or sample plan sheets where helpful.

4. Project Team: Identify key personnel, roles, professional registrations (if applicable), and any subconsultants, including structural or MEP consultants.

5. Work Plan and Schedule: Proposed work plan and schedule identifying major tasks, Town review points, draft plan delivery, and final completion.

   6. Fee Proposal: Provide a lump-sum, not-to-exceed fee by major task and identify assumptions, optional services, reimbursable expenses, and any services not included in the proposed fee.
   7. References: Provide up to three references for comparable work, including contact name, organization, email, and telephone number.
   8. Budget:

   The Town anticipates a total project budget in the range of $12,000–$15,000.

   Respondents should propose a scope and level of documentation that can be completed within this budget and clearly identify any recommended services that are not included.

   Any travel costs should be included in the consultant’s proposed fee unless otherwise clearly identified. Reimbursement for approved travel expenses, if any, shall be subject to prior written authorization by the Town and applicable grant requirements, including current GSA per diem rates or documented actual costs.

   7. Tentative Project Schedule:

   The Town anticipates the following procurement schedule. The Town reserves the right to modify this schedule by addendum.

   RFP Milestone Date / Time RFP issued October 29, 2026 Questions due November 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM MST Final addenda issued / responses to questions posted November 25, 2026 RFP proposals due December 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM MST Interviews, if needed December 17–18, 2026 Anticipated award End of December 2026

   Following award and contract execution, the Town anticipates an initial kickoff in January 2027. Respondents should propose a realistic design schedule, with a goal of completing draft plans within approximately six (6) months of contract execution and final plans as soon thereafter as practicable. In all cases, final deliverables must be completed within the period allowed by the applicable grant agreement, and no later than 24 months from contract execution unless otherwise approved by the Town.

   8. Review and Selection Criteria:

   Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

   Criteria Description Weight Relevant Experience and Team ADU, small residential, pre-approved plan, and comparable local government experience; qualifications of key personnel and subconsultants 30% Design Approach Practical approach to cost-effective, repeatable, permit-ready plans, including visitability and site-specific considerations 30% Understanding of Project Goals Demonstrate awareness of ADU use, permitting context, and accessibility/visitability expectations 20% Cost / Value Proposed fee, clarity of assumptions, and overall value relative to the proposed scope and qualifications. 20%

   The Town may conduct interviews with one or more finalists. The Town may consider information obtained through references, interviews, clarification requests, and negotiation of the final scope and fee. Selection will be based on the proposal determined to provide the best overall value to the Town and is not required to be based solely on the lowest fee.

   9. Submission Instructions:

   All proposals must be submitted electronically via the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System (BidNet) as follows:

   Submission Deadline: 4:00 PM Mountain Standard Time (MST) December 8, 2026

   Proposals must be submitted as one (1) complete PDF document uploaded through BidNet.

   Proposals will be time-stamped by the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System upon receipt. Only proposals received prior to the submission deadline will be considered.

   The Town will not accept hardcopy proposals or proposals submitted by any method other than BidNet.

   10. Insurance and Indemnification:

   The selected consultant shall maintain all applicable professional licenses and insurance required for the services provided under this project. The Town may require professional liability/errors and omissions coverage appropriate to the final scope of services.

   The selected consultant shall indemnify and hold harmless the Town of Center, its officers, employees, and agents from claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses arising out of the consultant’s performance of services, except to the extent caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Town. Detailed insurance and indemnification requirements will be included in the final professional services agreement.

   11. General Conditions and Equal Opportunity Statement:

   The Town of Center reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive informalities, request clarification or additional information, conduct interviews, and negotiate the final scope of work, schedule, and compensation with the selected consultant. Issuance of this RFP does not obligate the Town to award a contract or reimburse respondents for costs incurred in preparing a proposal. Award of any contract is contingent upon approval by the Town of Center Board of Trustees and availability of project funding.

   Proposals submitted in response to this RFP may be subject to public inspection under the Colorado Open Records Act, except for information clearly identified as confidential and protected from disclosure by law.

   The Town of Center values equity, inclusion, and local leadership. The Town welcomes proposals from consultants with ties to the San Luis Valley and from teams demonstrating experience serving rural communities and supporting accessible, attainable housing opportunities.