Request for Proposals - Build Ready Cedar Falls (to prepare a catalog of Pre-Approved Housing Plans)

Home In Your Community Consultants Request for Proposals - Build Ready Cedar Falls (to prepare a catalog of Pre-Approved Housing Plans) City of Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA Request for Proposals: Build Ready Cedar Falls Professional Design and Consulting Services for a Catalog of Pre-Approved Housing Plans Issued: November 4, 2026 Proposals due: November 30, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. Central Time Contact: Jaydevsinh Atodaria (JD), AICP, Planner II City of Cedar Falls, 220 Clay Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 (319) 268-5180 | jda@cedarfalls.com Project Overview The City of Cedar Falls, Iowa, invites proposals from qualified architecture and design consulting firms to develop Build Ready Cedar Falls , a catalog of pre-approved, permit-ready housing plans. The project will reduce design costs, create a predictable path for infill development, support homeowners and small-scale or first-time developers, and expand housing choices for residents of varied ages and incomes. The City’s 2023 Housing Needs Assessment, updated in 2026, identified the need for more affordable and diverse housing. Recent zoning updates in neighborhoods surrounding downtown and the University of Northern Iowa allow housing forms compatible with traditional lots and neighborhood character. Cedar Falls has approximately 41,000 residents; its central neighborhoods generally follow a gridded pattern with common lots measuring 66 by 132 feet, often with rear alleys. Firms with national experience creating pattern books or pre-approved housing programs are strongly encouraged to apply. Scope of Work and Deliverables The selected consultant will work with City staff and stakeholders to complete the following: Review and analysis. Review applicable zoning maps, neighborhood conditions, lot and block patterns, and local zoning regulations. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of applying the IBC versus IRC to buildings containing three to eight units, including examples from jurisdictions that have amended their codes. Zoning references: College Hill Zoning Update Documents and Sections 26-191 through 26-197 of the Cedar Falls Zoning Ordinance . Engagement. Provide content for the City’s project webpage and conduct stakeholder outreach with nonprofit leaders, developers, home builders, financial institutions, real estate professionals, municipal staff, and other participants. Present draft designs publicly and to the City Council, document feedback, and revise the work as directed. Housing catalog. Prepare designs for two accessory dwelling unit types (carriage-house and cottage styles), row buildings/townhomes, multi-unit houses containing four to eight units, and two-unit yard houses/duplexes. The City may amend the contract later to add other housing types. Design development. Produce three-dimensional massing models showing each type on a typical lot and three design variations for each type. Variations may address floor plans, footprints, façade materials, roof forms, entries, stacked or side-by-side configurations, and architectural details. Design criteria. Ensure designs comply with College Hill Neighborhood Zoning and the Downtown Character District, fit typical 66-by-132-foot lots or their multiples, and work with or without alleys. Designs should be adaptable, scalable, economical, practical to construct with commonly available materials, compatible with neighborhood character, and appealing to homeowners and builders. Identify implementation barriers and strategies for phased or incremental construction. Testing and review. Evaluate code compliance, affordability, constructability, long-term viability, and market appeal; obtain City and public comments; and revise recommendations. Final deliverables. Provide a final illustrated catalog and complete, permit-ready architectural and construction drawing sets requiring no additional consultant drawings. Sets must include floor plans; key mechanical, plumbing, and electrical information; elevations; foundation, framing, structural, and truss information; wall sections; roof framing; dimensions; notes; and typical details. Documents must satisfy City-adopted building and trade codes. Digital files and estimates. Deliver the final catalog and construction documents as legible PDFs formatted for 11-by-17-inch and 24-by-36-inch sheets. Provide a construction cost estimate for each housing type, including an inflation escalator. Proposal Requirements Submit five identical hard copies and one electronic copy. Proposals should include: A step-by-step project approach and estimated timetable. A public and stakeholder outreach plan informed by comparable work. Qualifications of the firm, project manager, key personnel, and subcontractors; roles and relevant experience; prior team collaboration; and experience with national-level projects. Comparable projects completed within the past five years, including client/community, project goals, engagement methods, stakeholders, housing types, completion date, team similarity, and implementation results such as units built or under construction. Sample design plans for at least two building types and sample pages from a pattern book or catalog prepared by the firm. Resources or professional guidance used on similar projects, including any guidance from the American Planning Association, National Association of Home Builders, or American Institute of Architects. Detailed fees by task in a separate sealed envelope, plus estimated pricing for adding future housing types. Acknowledgment that the consultant has reviewed and can meet all City insurance requirements. References, including names and contact information, for comparable projects. Evaluation Criteria The City will evaluate relevant experience with pattern books, pre-approved plan sets, comparable housing types, and small-scale developers; qualifications of the firm and proposed team; understanding of the scope; clarity, feasibility, and quality of the approach; quality and constructability of sample drawings; record of successful implementation; effectiveness and inclusiveness of engagement methods; and references. The City may request additional information and interview the highest-ranked firms. Anticipated Schedule November 4, 2026: RFP issued November 30, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Central Time: Proposals due December 1–10, 2026: Committee review and evaluation December 11, 2026: Selected firms contacted for interviews December 17–18, 2026, 1:00–5:00 p.m.: Interviews Week of December 28, 2026: Firm selected and applicants notified January 2027: Contract and insurance documentation prepared January–February 2027: Contract submitted for City Council approval February–March 2027: Project kickoff Submission Instructions Proposals must be received by 4:00 p.m. Central Time on November 30, 2026 . Late proposals will not be considered. Send five hard copies, including the insurance acknowledgment, to: City of Cedar Falls RFP for Build Ready Cedar Falls Attn: Jaydevsinh Atodaria (JD), Planner II 220 Clay Street Cedar Falls, IA 50613 Email one electronic copy to jda@cedarfalls.com . The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, request additional information, negotiate any portion of a proposal, and conduct the solicitation and selection process in the City’s best interest and sole discretion. NOTE: Full RFP and attachments: Respondents should review the complete RFP, sample consultant contract, and insurance acknowledgment posted on the City of Cedar Falls website before submitting a proposal. Link to Full RFP: https://www.cedarfalls.com/DocumentCenter/View/17934/RFP---Build-Ready-Cedar-Falls Request Type Deadline Request Type RFP Deadline Monday, November 30, 2026 Contact Information Contact Email jda@cedarfalls.com