Employment and RFPs
Learn about City of Hart employment and Request for Proposal (RFP) opportunities on this page when they arise.
Request for Proposals - 5-Year Parks & Recreation Plan and Historic District Concept Plan
1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
The City of Hart is seeking proposals from qualified firms to prepare a new 5-Year Parks & Recreation Plan meeting current MDNR requirements and a concept plan for the Hart Historic District. The project will assess existing recreational assets, identify future priorities and improvements, support grant eligibility, and explore the Historic District and improved downtown-to-Hart Lake access as future community recreation opportunities.
2. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The selected consultant shall provide, at minimum, the following services:
A. 5-Year Parks & Recreation Plan
Prepare a new 5-Year Parks & Recreation Plan meeting current MDNR requirements.
The planning process shall include:
- Kickoff meeting with City staff.
- Inventory and assessment of all City-owned parks and recreational properties and facilities.
- Review of relevant community characteristics, demographics, land use, existing recreation resources, administration, and recreation-related expenditures.
- Evaluation of accessibility and ADA considerations.
- Community needs and recreation analysis.
- Online community survey.
- At least one in-person public engagement meeting.
- Development of community recreation goals and objectives.
- Identification and prioritization of capital improvements.
- Conceptual cost estimates and potential funding sources.
- Five-year action and implementation program.
- Required public review, public hearing, and adoption process.
- Preparation and submission of the completed plan in accordance with MDNR requirements.
The plan shall also identify improved public connectivity and access from downtown Hart to Hart Lake as a future recreational and community development priority. Detailed design of the connection or lake access improvements is not required as part of this RFP. The intent is to establish the project within the City's adopted planning framework to support future planning and grant opportunities.
B. Hart Historic District Assessment & Concept Plan
The consultant shall evaluate the Hart Historic District site and its potential function as a recreational, cultural, historic, and community gathering destination.
The scope should consider opportunities such as community gathering and event space, farmers market activities, museum/history interpretation, food truck accommodations, pedestrian circulation, traffic and parking, landscaping, accessibility, Hart Lake interaction, and other complementary recreational or placemaking amenities.
The Historic District planning process shall include:
- Site assessment and review of existing conditions.
- Coordination with the Parks & Recreation Plan planning process.
- Public input through the community survey and at least one in-person public meeting.
- Development of preliminary concepts and/or bubble diagrams.
- Draft concept plan for City review.
- Preliminary opinion of probable project costs.
- Final color concept drawing.
- Photo or graphic examples of recommended amenities and improvements.
- Opportunity for City review and revisions prior to finalization.
- Identification of logical project priorities and potential implementation phases.
3. DELIVERABLES
At completion, the City expects to receive:
- Final MDNR-compliant 5-Year Parks & Recreation Plan.
- Inventory and assessment of City parks and recreation facilities.
- Five-year capital improvement/action program with priorities, estimated costs, and potential funding sources.
- Historic District assessment and final concept plan.
- Final color concept drawing and supporting amenity examples.
- Preliminary cost opinion and implementation priorities for the Historic District.
- Identification of improved downtown-to-Hart Lake connectivity/access as a future priority project.
- Digital copies of final documents, drawings, graphics, survey results, and related materials.
The City desires completion of the project by March 1, 2027.
Proposers shall provide a proposed project schedule identifying major milestones, public engagement, draft review, adoption, and final delivery.
5. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Proposals should be concise and include:
- Firm qualifications and relevant municipal parks/recreation planning experience.
- Experience preparing MDNR-compliant recreation plans.
- Proposed project team and responsibilities.
- Understanding of the project and proposed approach.
- Public engagement approach.
- Proposed schedule.
- Examples of similar projects and references.
- Lump-sum project fee, including any optional or additional services clearly identified.
The City will evaluate proposals based on the firm's qualifications and relevant experience, understanding of the City's objectives, proposed approach, project team, ability to meet the schedule, quality of comparable work, and proposed fee.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive informalities, request additional information, and select the proposal determined to be in the best interest of the City.
7. SUBMITTAL
Proposals shall be submitted to:
City of Hart
407 S. State Street
Hart, MI 49420
Attention: Nichole Kleiner, City Manager
Proposal Due: September 25, 2026
Contact: (231) 873-3546
Email: nkleiner@cityofhart.org
Download a File:
Park-Rec 5-yr Plan RFP (PDF)
South Plum Street - Road Realignment Project
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
CITY OF HART
407 S STATE ST
HART, MI 49420
SOUTH PLUM STREET – ROAD REALIGNMENT PROJECT
Sealed bids will be received by the City of Hart at City Hall, 407 S State Street, Hart, Michigan 49420 until 10:00 AM on October 1, 2026, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.
Bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “South Plum Street Road Realignment Bid.” The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids and waive informalities in the best interest of the City.
Notice to Bidders Issue Date: August 28, 2026
Bid Opening Date: October 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Anticipated Council Award: October 7, 2026
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The City of Hart is requesting bids from qualified contractors to realign a portion of South Plum Street within the public right-of-way between Gilmore Street and Beagle Street.
The roadway will be shifted approximately 20 feet east to align with the future Safe Routes to School (SRTS) trail corridor shown on the attached concept plan.
Project limits extend from Gilmore Street to approximately 700-feet south of Beagle Street, totaling approximately 800 feet.
The contractor shall stake the proposed alignment prior to construction and the City may verify layout before work begins.
SCOPE OF WORK
Work includes removal of trees, sod, sand, and portions of the existing roadway; grading; reuse of existing gravel where suitable; construction of a new gravel roadway; drainage grading; and restoration.
ROADWAY SPECIFICATIONS
The relocated roadway shall meet the following minimum standards:
Roadway width: 22 feet
Aggregate base: 8 inches compacted minimum
Material: MDOT 22A aggregate or equivalent
Road crown: approximately 2% from centerline
Existing gravel may be reused where suitable. Contractors shall supply additional aggregate as needed to meet roadway specifications.
T
he roadway shall be shaped and compacted to prevent rutting, erosion, and standing water.
SUBGRADE AND DRAINAGE
The contractor shall proof-roll the roadway subgrade prior to placing aggregate. Any unstable areas shall be corrected with compacted aggregate.
The roadway shall be graded to match the proposed elevations of the future trail corridor and provide drainage away from the roadway toward adjacent lawn areas.
RESTORATION
Topsoil and seed may be required to be placed along the east side of the relocated roadway – depending on project timing/coordination with the trail project.
If the trail project proceeds at the same time, the west side may remain sand-graded provided the surface is stable. If trail construction is delayed, the contractor shall place topsoil and seed to prevent erosion.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
All work shall occur within the public right-of-way. The City will notify residents that any private improvements located within the right-of-way must be removed prior to construction.
The contractor shall contact MISS DIG prior to excavation.
INSPECTION
The City reserves the right to inspect materials, layout, and compaction and may require correction of work not meeting these specifications.
CONTRACT TERMS
The contract will be awarded based on a base bid plus unit prices. All work must be completed by
April 5, 2027 unless approved otherwise by the City.
The City reserves the right to adjust quantities based on the unit prices provided.
INSURANCE
The successful bidder shall provide proof of insurance prior to beginning work including:
General Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence
Automobile Liability: $1,000,000
Workers Compensation as required by Michigan law
The contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless the City of Hart from claims arising from the work.
QUESTIONS
Nichole Kleiner
City of Hart
nkleiner@cityofhart.org
231-873-3546
Late bids will not be accepted.
Download a File:
Plum Street RFP & Bid Form (PDF)
Plum Street Specifications (PDF)
Helpful Downloads
Download documents here.
Employment Application (PDF)
Chapter 210 Purchasing and Contracts (PDF)
City of Hart
407 State St. Map
Hart, Michigan 49420
Phone: 231-873-2488
Fax: 231-873-0100
City Manager: 231-873-3546
Clerk: 231-923-0012
Accounts Payable: 231-923-3810
Utilities: 231-923-3837
Hart Police Department: 231-923-0696
or 231-923-0851
Central Dispatch: 231-869-5858.
Hours:
8:00a to 5:00p, Monday-Friday
