San Mateo County Multijurisdictional Inclusionary Housing and Non-Residential Linkage Fee Study

The County of San Mateo’s Planning and Building Department is issuing a Request for Proposals for a Multijurisdictional Inclusionary Housing and Non-Residential Linkage Fee Nexus Study.

The County of San Mateo participates in and supports 21 Elements, a collaborative housing and planning effort that involves the twenty-one (21) jurisdictions located in San Mateo County. Staffed by Community Planning Collaborative (formerly Baird + Driskell Community Planning), 21 Elements piloted an innovative “Grand Nexus Study” in 2014-2016, hiring a single technical consultant to study affordable housing impact fees for 15 jurisdictions in San Mateo County and the City of Palo Alto. The collaborative effort reduced costs by 75 percent, strengthened local relationships and helped to establish best practices.

This project will replicate the Grand Nexus Study for several San Mateo County jurisdictions seeking to create or update their inclusionary housing. commercial linkage fee policies, and small residential project housing impact fee policies. The County will be the contract administrator and fiscal agent for the effort, which will include both nexus and feasibility studies in support of the potential policies.

The County of San Mateo’s Planning and Building Department is issuing Request for Proposal (RFP) No. PLN2025-0401 for Multijurisdictional Inclusionary Housing and Non-Residential Linkage Fee Nexus Study.

The County of San Mateo participates in and supports 21 Elements, a collaborative housing and planning effort that involves the twenty-one (21) jurisdictions located in San Mateo County. Staffed by Community Planning Collaborative (formerly Baird + Driskell Community Planning), 21 Elements piloted an innovative “Grand Nexus Study” in 2014-2016, hiring a single technical consultant to study affordable housing impact fees for 15 jurisdictions in San Mateo County and the City of Palo Alto. The collaborative effort reduced costs by 75 percent, strengthened local relationships and helped to establish best practices.

This project will replicate the Grand Nexus Study for several San Mateo County jurisdictions seeking to create or update their inclusionary housing and commercial linkage fee policies. The County will be the contract administrator and fiscal agent for the effort, which will include both nexus and feasibility studies in support of the potential policies.

The agreement will have a two (2) year maximum term. In addition, the County shall have one (1) option to extend the term for an additional period not to exceed two years, which the County may exercise in its sole, absolute discretion. To exercise this option, the County would provide written notice to the contractor at least thirty days before the end of the agreement’s term.

The County’s standard contract template is included as Attachment A to this solicitation. The awarded contractor will be expected to sign an agreement prepared by the County using this template. Please ensure that your firm has completed legal review of these contract terms. If your firm wishes to request exceptions to these standard terms, submit a Contract Exceptions Request by the Deadline for Questions, Comments and Contract Exceptions listed in the Solicitation Schedule. The County will consider Contract Exceptions Requests but reserves the right to reject requested modifications to its standard terms.