Town Council Awards $74,000 Bid For Community Market Analysis

The Town Council approved a bid for $74,000 from 4wardPlanning Monday night to conduct a community market analysis for North Kingstown. The vote was 4-1, with Kevin Maloney voting in dissent. The council approved spending up to $75,000 on a market analysis in June.

Five companies bid on the project, ranging from $69,715 to $75,000:

1. Urban Partners from Philadelphia, Pa. – $69,715

Of the winning bidder, NK Economic Development Manager Paige Bronk said in a memo to the Town Council: “4ward Planning Inc. is a highly specialized planning and market analysis firm. Their budget satisfied all scope of work elements, but also provided many tangible extras that will directly contribute to the success of the market analysis’ accuracy and credibility. 4Ward Planning has a working knowledge of Rhode Island and also North Kingstown’s current plans and efforts.”

The Town Council did express concern Monday night that 4ward Planning might not be able to give the sort of objective report it seeks because it has been doing work for a company involved with Wickford Junction.

Town Manager Mike Embury said one reason for such overlap was there weren’t as many companies to choose from since the economic downturn in 2008.

“Companies that used to bid on analysis work no longer exist,” Embury said. “You can’t find people if they aren’t there. They’ve gotten rid of a lot of planning arms of these companies.”

“They offered not only everything we demanded but much more,” said Bronk. “I have had a very open conversation with 4ward Planning. We want to make sure we get the facts – the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

When councilors expressed worry that a company already doing work in North Kingstown might be tempted to sugarcoat information, Bronk said, “We had a very candid conversation on the strengths and weaknesses of North Kingstown.”

Bronk said one other bid was strongly considered, the bid for $75,000 from RKG Associates.

“The RKG proposal was considered to be the other finalist competing most closely with 4Ward Planning,” Bronk’s memo to the council read. “RKG’s proposal addressed most items in the [request for proposal] and they have Rhode Island experience, but the proposal lacked further specifics, details, or offerings. RKG is a reputable firm; however the offering from 4Ward Planning simply was superior in approach, extras, and total package.”