Questions about the RFP were grouped by theme and similar questions were answered together. Answers are displayed in italic.

Last updated: October 16, 2026

Due Date

The cover page lists “Monday, October 23” and the body lists Friday, October 23. Please confirm the due date and time.
RFP responses are due on Friday, October 23.

Budget

Is there a budget or not-to-exceed amount for the base scope and for the optional items?
Can the County share the anticipated budget or funding range for the base scope?
Our team seeks clarification regarding the budget language on page 22 of the RFP. Do you have a target range for this project?
Can County Planning provide the total anticipated consultant budget range for the base scope covering the six initial UZC Member Communities?
The RFP does not include a formal not to exceed amount. County Planning has currently secured funding and expected contributions in the amount of $350,000. County Planning anticipates a consultant budget in the range of $350,000 to $400,000 for the scope of work covering six participating communities.
Final scope and cost will be negotiated with the selected consultant. Optional items should be priced separately and may be incorporated depending on available funding. County Planning is actively continuing its fundraising efforts to close any funding gaps and to ensure sufficient resources for optional elements or expanded participation.

Additional Communities

Does the County anticipate that the UZC will be adaptable for other County cities or communities after adoption?
Yes, the Unified Zoning Code is intentionally designed to be expandable and adoptable by additional communities over time.
The RFP requests a base budget for the six initial Member Communities and a budget proposal for additional communities that may join during the first year. Is there a sense for how many additional communities may be expected?  Would they be limited to the same scope and process or will they be able to negotiate services as they come onboard?
The RFP asks for a budget for communities that may be added in the first year. How many additional communities does the County expect? May this be priced as a cost per added community?
County Planning anticipates the possibility of 2–4 additional communities joining the initial cohort; however, no more than 10 communities will participate in the initial cohort overall, and final participation levels are not yet known.
Any additional communities joining the initial cohort will be identified prior to signing the final agreement with the selected consultant team. No communities will be permitted to join the initial cohort after contracts have been signed.
Yes, we encourage consultants to propose a cost‑per‑added‑community structure.
For the requested pricing of additional communities joining during the first year, should consultants assume that each additional community would require the same full scope of diagnostic analysis, Local Elements, zoning map development, engagement, and adoption assistance as the initial six communities, or is a more streamlined process anticipated?
Consultants should assume that additional communities will require a similar scope of services as the initial six.

Community Engagement, Meetings, & Adoption

We would also welcome clarification on how the County expects the shared code’s amendment process to interface with each community’s local adoption authority.
Our intention is for the Unified Zoning Code to be first adopted by the board of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. Following that adoption, each individual community would adopt the Unified Zoning Code “as continuously amended.” At the same time, local communities would adopt any Local Elements that adjust the Unified Zoning Code.
Amendments to the Unified Zoning Code would be drafted by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission staff in coordination with member communities. We anticipate that those amendments would be adopted by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission and automatically apply to participating communities after a set period of time, based on their own Charters, and based on their original adopting ordinances.
For engagement deliverables, is the consultant expected to produce online surveys and a website to be hosted on its own platform, or may the consultant develop such materials to be hosted by County Planning’s website (which would improve search engine optimization) and ArcGIS enterprise?
The consultant is not required to host online surveys or create a standalone website on its own platform. County Planning maintains and manages its own website and can host all project materials, information, and UZC content directly, including through a standalone site (an example of which is our www.cuyahogatod.org site).
County Planning also has an active SurveyMonkey account that may be used for all online survey needs. In addition, County Planning can host mapping and interactive components through its ArcGIS online environment.
Consultants may therefore develop surveys, web content, and digital engagement materials for deployment on County Planning’s platforms, though teams are welcome to propose alternative hosting solutions if they offer clear benefits.
For the community engagement responsibilities, can you please provide additional details regarding (a) the number of in-person workshops, open houses, and adoption meetings that the consultant should expect to organize, attend, and participate in and (b) the number of consultant personnel expected to assist County Planning at such in-person workshops, open houses, and adoption meetings?
How many in-person open houses, workshops and adoption meetings does County Planning expect, and may staff working sessions be virtual?
Is there a minimum expected number of in-person open houses, workshops and adoption hearings per member community?
Adoption Assistance: How many rounds of adoption-related meetings, revisions, and presentations should consultants include in the base scope for each of the six communities?
Consultants should plan for four Public Official Workshops (delivered as two rounds of two workshops), twelve Open Houses (two rounds of six community specific meetings), and adoption related meetings that include six Planning Commission meetings and six City Council meetings. These represent the minimum number of required meetings.
Public Official Workshops and Open Houses must be held in person. Adoption related meetings (Planning Commission and City Council) may be held virtually or in person.
County Planning will take a robust and active role in coordinating and participating in all engagement activities. Consultants should expect to attend the required in person meetings with a team of personnel appropriate to the meeting. County Planning staff will be available to supplement consultant personnel.

Review Cycles

How many formal review cycles should consultants assume for major UZC components, including the diagnostic reports, UZC structure, zoning districts and use regulations, development standards, Local Elements, and zoning maps? In other words, if the consultant delivers drafts in modules, would there be an initial draft module, review of the draft, and a finalized draft module, or more back-and-forth than that?
Consultants should assume that each major UZC component will undergo 1) an initial internal review by County Planning, 2) a second review that incorporates feedback from participating communities, which will be compiled by County Planning, and 3) a final draft prepared for broader discussion and eventual adoption. While this three‑stage cycle represents the expected minimum level of review, all materials will remain in draft form until formally adopted, and additional refinements may be required.

Local Elements

Can County Planning provide an anticipated range or preliminary estimate of the number and type of Local Elements expected for each community? Should consultants assume similar levels of customization among the six communities, or substantial variation?
County Planning cannot provide a predetermined number of Local Elements for each community. Local Elements are intended to serve as limited, exceptional adjustments used only when the core UZC framework does not fully address a specific community’s needs. They function as a release valve, allowing customization in clearly defined circumstances while maintaining maximum consistency across participating jurisdictions.
Local Elements should be developed in a standardized format to ensure clarity, usability, and alignment; however, the type and quantity of Local Elements will vary by community.

Page Limit

As long as the entire submittal does not exceed the 25-page limit, may respondents exceed the stated max pages for each individual section? (For example, may respondents combine References [3 pages max] with Consultant Experience and Qualifications [6 pages max] for page savings, and then add pages in Team Composition [4 pages max] in order to provide more resume details?)
Yes. The page limits assigned to individual sections are flexible, and consultants may redistribute pages across sections so long as the total submission does not exceed 25 pages and all required content is included.
Does the 25-page limit exclude resumes and the cost proposal?
The cost proposal must be included within the 25‑page limit. Abbreviated resumes for core team members must also be included within the 25‑page limit; however, full resumes may be provided in an appendix, which does not count toward the page limit.
Please confirm the overall limit is 25 pages for the submission. Does the limit exclude the cover, table of contents, resumes, and section dividers?
Yes. The overall submittal is limited to 25 pages, which does not include the cover page, table of contents, or section divider pages. Abbreviated resumes for core team members must also be included within the 25‑page limit; however, full resumes may be provided in an appendix, which does not count toward the page limit.

Mapping & Digital Platform

How involved does County Planning staff in the development of the proposed zoning maps for member communities? Do you envision this as a collaborative effort, or should our team be prepared to handle all the GIS map preparation and analysis independently?
County Planning will work closely with member communities to collect, verify, and digitize all existing zoning maps in advance of the consultant’s work. County Planning maintains a robust and highly qualified team of GIS and planning professionals, and we have the capacity to maintain and update the official zoning maps throughout the life of the Unified Zoning Code.
The consultant, however, will be responsible for developing all proposed zoning districts, preparing the proposed zoning maps, and creating the associated symbology needed to support a consistent visual language. While the consultant should assume primary responsibility for producing these proposed maps, this will be a collaborative process, with County Planning providing GIS support, data preparation and governance, and technical review to ensure accuracy and consistency.
For the optional Digital Platform, what functions matter most: public viewing and search, staff editing and amendment tracking, side-by-side comparison of each community’s local elements, or alerts when state or federal law changes affect the code?
For the optional Digital Platform, the functions of greatest importance to County Planning are the ability to view and search zoning text and maps; however, access to local elements and staff editing abilities are also important.
Please confirm whether the Digital Platform is optional and should be priced only as a separate line item.
Yes, the Digital Platform is an optional deliverable and should be priced separately from the base scope. County Planning will determine whether to include this component in the final contract.

County Planning Involvement & Role

In a similar vein, how does County Planning envision its staff participating in development of the code itself? For example, should we anticipate County staff serving primarily in a review/coordination role, or working collaboratively on drafting and analysis of various elements across the project?
County Planning anticipates a collaborative approach to code development. The consultant should expect County Planning staff to serve not only in a review and coordination capacity, but also as active partners in shaping key elements of the Unified Zoning Code. County Planning has a highly qualified team of planners, zoning specialists, and GIS professionals who will contribute technical review, policy guidance, and local insights throughout the drafting process.
The consultant will remain responsible for primary drafting, synthesis, and production of all code components, while County Planning staff will work collaboratively to provide direction, refine content, ensure consistency, and support alignment across communities.
Would the County be the only, or the primary, point of contact between the consultant and the six participating cities? Or would the consultant work directly with the six communities as well as the County throughout the project?
County Planning will have a dedicated project team comprised of internal staff that will be actively involved throughout development of the UZC. This internal team will provide guidance, technical review, coordination support, and continuity across all elements of the project. County Planning’s Project Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for project administration, coordination, and day‑to‑day communication.
Alongside the County Planning project team, participating communities will meet regularly to coordinate input, review draft materials, and ensure that community perspectives are reflected consistently across the code. The consultant should expect to work directly with this Member Group at key milestones and during the adoption process, as well as to meet individually with communities on occasion to address local needs or clarify specific zoning issues.
Does the County expect that a public information officer (or similar) for the County and/or the cities will be engaged to coordinate and standardize messaging, graphics, templates, and similar? Or is that the responsibility solely of the project consultant?
County Planning will coordinate internal communication needs and can provide guidance on messaging, branding, and template usage. However, the consultant will be primarily responsible for producing project‑related communication materials—including graphics, diagrams, presentations, engagement materials, and explanatory content needed for stakeholder and public understanding.
County Planning will work directly with communities to coordinate local communication, ensure consistency, and distribute through appropriate channels.

Scope & Eligibility

Will County Planning accept a proposal limited to the optional Digital Platform and the three-year maintenance plan, or a proposal that covers the diagnostic and code-comparison work together with those optional items, without the full code drafting scope?
County Planning will not accept proposals limited only certain aspects of the RFP. The selected consultant team must be prepared to complete the entire base scope. Optional services may be proposed in addition to, not in place of, the required core scope.
Could you please clarify whether a qualified lead consultant may include an India-based specialist subconsultant for these services, and whether any additional eligibility or data-handling conditions apply?
County Planning does not automatically exclude international consultants; however, all consultants and subconsultants must be legally permitted to perform work in the State of Ohio and must meet all applicable requirements related to data security, procurement, and professional qualifications.
[Consultant]’s proposed contribution would examine development opportunities and market requirements, distinguish zoning barriers from other constraints, and prepare an alignment guide identifying complementary actions needed to support implementation. Before developing a detailed proposal, could you advise whether this would address a useful gap in the existing programme, and whether it could be considered as a separate study or coordinated with the appointed zoning consultant?
County Planning does not anticipate awarding a separate study. These items fall outside the scope of the Unified Zoning Code RFP, and the work described does not fill a gap in the existing program.

References

Should the three examples of completed zoning code updates come from the prime consultant, or may they come from named team members’ prior work?
The prime consultant must demonstrate sufficient and direct experience with zoning code updates to show its qualifications for leading this project. However, the three required examples may come from a combination of the prime consultant and the prior work of named team members.

Planning References

Will the six communities’ current zoning codes and maps be provided in editable formats (Word and ESRI geodatabase), and are any of them hosted by a code publisher today?
County Planning will provide the current zoning codes for the six participating communities in Word or other editable formats, to the extent they are available. Some communities’ codes are hosted by code publishers, but County Planning will make every effort to supply editable documents to support the consultant’s work.
County Planning will work closely with member communities to collect, verify, and digitize all existing zoning maps in advance of the consultant’s work and to the extent possible.
Are any of the six participating cities undergoing concurrent local General Plan (or Comprehensive Plan, or Master Plan) updates? If not, are they expected to update land use policy direction during the course of the project?
None of the six participating communities are currently undergoing comprehensive planning updates; however, many communities have recently undertaken planning studies, often in partnership with County Planning.
These plans will provide land use policy direction during the process; however, additional land use policy discussions may be necessary to finalize districts and intent. For example, large-scale redevelopment projects are in progress in multiple communities that may impact land use policy decisions.
County Planning has also recently collaborated with East Cleveland, Euclid, Maple Heights, North Olmsted, and South Euclid on various zoning updates that will be made available to the selected consultant team.