Standard Operating Procedure

Purpose:

Identify and formalize specific standards for the development of real estate controlled by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). Standards are to be directly informed by findings from the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) System Analysis and Station Area Plans, and are to include general qualities and metrics that communicate the expectations of UTA and the community to the private development community. Standards are to be used as the basis for Requests for Proposals (RFP), and are intended to form an objective basis for the selection of development partners.

Requests for proposals and developer selection are to comply with general procurement policies and other applicable corporate policies maintained by UTA.

Scale and Scope:

Conceptual layouts and standards will be limited to properties controlled by UTA and other adjacent properties that are controlled by participating parties. The information contained in a conceptual layout is to be used to inform future developer procurements and eventual design review.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Conceptual layouts and RFP language are to be created by UTA TOD Staff and are to be validated by those that assisted with the relevant Station Area Plan.
• Procurement processes are to be overseen by UTA Purchasing Staff, in conjunction with UTA Legal Counsel.
• Selection committees that include interests from UTA, local governments, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and other relevant organizations, are to be organized as the Procurement Team.

Approvals:

Development sites are to be selected and approved by the UTA Board of Trustees. Once this has been done, the board will authorize UTA TOD staff to issue an RFP to seek a development partner for the site.

End Product:

The end product of the Conceptual Layout and Procurement Process is an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with a developer who understands and is willing to adhere to UTA’s expectations of a single development project.

Conceptual Layout and Procurement Process:

1. UTA Board Working Session: This process will begin with the convening of a working session in which the board will discuss priorities, determine if/which site(s) to prepare an RFP for, and to develop objective criteria for procurement.
2. Assemble Procurement Team: A team is to be assembled that represents the interests of UTA, a respective local government, a respective metropolitan organization, and other relevant organizations.
3. Draft RFP & Conceptual Layout: TOD staff is to produce a preliminary version of any procurement materials, including conceptual layout that relates findings from the TOD System Analysis and Station Area Plan to a development concept, and a list of development criteria for a future site. All procurement materials are to be reviewed by the procurement team and revised as needed.
4. Review & Approval by UTA Board: After sites have been selected and approved by the UTA Board of Trustees, the board will then approve development criteria for a site and authorize TOD staff to seek qualified development partners for build.
5. RFP Issuance: RFP materials are to be advertised in a manner that is consistent with other procurement policies maintained by UTA.
6. Is Appropriate Developer Selection Available?: Responses to RFP’s are to be assessed and scored formally, by the Procurement team. If no proposals meet the standards documented in the TOD System Analysis or respective station area plan, the RFP will either be re-advertised with modifications, or an interim use will be identified for the property being advertised.
7. Developer Selection: RFP responses are to be assessed, and developer selections are to be finalized in a manner that is consistent with other procurement policies maintained by UTA.
8. Execute Exclusive Negotiation Agreement: After a development partner has been formally selected by the Procurement Team, UTA will enter into an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with the respective developer. At a minimum, Exclusive Negotiation Agreements are to provide a timeframe for the completion of a master plan, and if applicable, will require the development team to meet with stakeholders to discuss affordable housing.