Nelson County Government

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – RFP #2012-VBRRT- PHASE III
Nelson County, Virginia
Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail Project
The County of Nelson is requesting proposals from licensed professional architectural/engineering firms for the provision of services for a project entitled Phase III Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail Project.
The project consists of:
1. Preparation of detailed plans for the renovation, Blue Ridge Railroad Depot at Piney River and the weigh station at the end of the trail at Tye River Staton. The plans shall include the abatement of asbestos-containing materials found in the old depot building and the re-installation of the scales in the weigh station.
2. Preparation of plans for the preservation and/ or stabilization of an abandoned tip-car and a hand car.
3. Preparation of detailed plans for construction of a traditional railroad cover over the Naked Creek Bridge.
4. The preparation of plans for a sign similar to the one at Piney River but scaled to the small size of the Roses Mill Trail Head and the preparation of final plans for a pavilion at this location.
5. More than 50 signs are planned for the trail provided the consultant will work with the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail Foundation to determine and prepare revised plans for the sign structures( as necessary) and show the location of the signs on a plan along the trail.
6. When the trail head at Piney River was designed, space was left for the location of a rail car beside the loading dock of the Depot building to provide an historical representation of a working railway depot. The consultant will work with the Foundation to determine if a caboose is available for purchase, its cost and the cost of bringing it to Nelson County and setting it up for display and the preparation of plans for its location.
7. Preparation of development plans and construction documents including the completion of the last segment of the trial per approved plan, general notes, references to specifications and standards, typical sections, grading and drainage plans, storm water management, erosion and sediment control methods, profiles, cross sections, summaries and the like. All construction documents and specifications shall be prepared in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
8. Preparation of the appropriate environmental document as dictated by the National Environmental Policy Act and Federal Highway Administration policy and procedures, and carry out all functions necessary to clear the project environmentally.
9. Preparation of construction bid form, request for proposals form, contract documents and technical specifications for the renovation of the depot and weigh station, completion of the trail, pavilions, signs and cover over the Naked Creek Bridge.
Proposals will be received until 4:00 p.m., local time prevailing, on March 9, 2012 and may be submitted to the County by mail at Nelson County Department of Planning and Zoning, P.O. Box 558, Lovingston, VA 22949 or hand delivered to Nelson County Department of Planning and Zoning Office, 80 Front Street, Lovingston, VA 22949.
The County’s RFP document, RFP #VBRRT-1, contains a full description, terms, conditions, instructions and other pertinent information for the submission of proposals. The RFP is available by mail; by hand
delivery or review at the addresses denoted herein or by calling the Department of Planning & Zoning office at 434-263-7090. Site visits can be scheduled in advance with the Department of Planning & Zoning.
EOE
By Authorization of Nelson County Board of Supervisors

January 9:

“How to Start a Business”.  3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Central VA SBDC.  Learn the basics of starting a
business including planning and financing.  Free.  2211 Hydraulic Rd. For more information or to register: www.cvsbdc.org or sbdcinfo@ntelos.net.

January 12:

“Using QuickBooks for Payroll” . 9:30a.m. to 11:30a.m. Sponsored by the Central VA SBDC. Learn how to track and use
payroll with QuickBooks. $50. Downtown Charlottesville. For more information or to register: www.cvsbdc.org or sbdcinfo@ntelos.net

January 12:

“Managing Inventory with QuickBooks”  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Central VA SBDC.  Learn how to manage
inventory and costs using QuickBooks.  $50.  Downtown Charlottesville.  For more information or to register: www.cvsbdc.org or sbdcinfo@ntelos.net

January 19:

“Keeping the Books” 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Central VA SBDC. Learn how to match business revenues and
expenses and prepare financial reports. $60. Workforce Center at 2211 Hydraulic Rd. For more information or to register: www.cvsbdc.org or sbdcinfo@ntelos.net

January 23:

“Develop a Targeted Marketing Strategy”.  3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Central VA SBDC.  Learn how to increase business sales and profits.  $30.  Workforce Center at 2211 Hydraulic Rd.  For more information or to register:  www.cvsbdc.org or sbdcinfo@ntelos.net

January 26:

“QuickBooks Part 1 & 2″. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Central VA SBDC. Hands-on course to learn how to set up and use Quickbooks for your business. Second session on 2/2. $120. Workforce Center at 2211 Hydraulic Rd. For more information and to register: www.cvsbdc.org or sbdcinfo@ntelos.net

January 30:

“How to Start a Business”  3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Central VA SBDC.  Learn the basics of starting a
business including planning and financing. Free.  Workforce Center at 2211 Hydraulic Rd.  For more information and to register: www.cvsbdc.org or sbdcinfo@ntelos.net

Nelson County residents asked to help identify areas in need of broadband

Nelson County is joining with other Virginia counties to map broadband availability by starting their own local Internet speed testing campaign. Residents with Internet access are asked to take the

Accelerate Virginia speed test

to help identify areas in the county in need of better access to high-speed Internet services.

The Accelerate Virginia Internet speed test is a short and simple online survey and speed test that measures the overall quality and performance of your Internet connection.  Upon completion of the speed test users will receive performance details regarding their Internet connection, as well as a comparison summary based on other speed test results in your community.

To participate in the Nelson County Internet speed testing campaign, all residents with Internet access are asked to visit

http://acceleratevirginia.org/speedtest

 and take the two-minute speed test from their home computers.  Accelerate Virginia also encourages business owners to take the speed test from their business locations.  Everyone is asked to spread the word and encourage friends and neighbors to participate.

Because numerous, often temporary factors affect connection speed, you may want to take the speed test more than once, at different dates and times. The average of those readings will present the most reliable overall measure of your connection capabilities.  When you connect to the Internet, the speeds that you will experience will vary based on a variety of factors, including:

• the configuration of the computer you are testing from,
• your home networking configuration,
• the number of computers and other networked equipment using the available bandwidth at the same time a speed test is being run – for the best results do not download/upload  movies, music, photos etc while running any Internet speed test,
• network or Internet congestion –  different times of the day are busier than others,
• server and router speeds of the websites you access,
• the condition of the wiring at your location.

The Accelerate Virginia campaign’s goal is to collect 300-500 speed tests per county. The data will provide county officials with a more accurate understanding of broadband availability, as well as identify areas of potential need for improved services.  The more participation we have the better the assessment will be for Nelson County.

Often referred to as high-speed Internet service, broadband makes possible videoconferencing, Internet phone (VoIP), streaming media, interactivity, and real-time online consultation. Broadband allows faster and richer interactions between citizens and government, businesses and customers, educators and students, libraries and patrons, and families and friends. Broadband empowers Nelson County  residents to launch businesses, work from home, expand their studies, pay bills, conduct research, complete homework, play games and be entertained, exchange e-mails or photos, even stay connected through social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

By improving communication and the flow of information, broadband creates jobs, decreases health care costs, reduces miles driven and fossil fuels consumed, expands consumer choices, improves competition, and entertains more people for less cost. Broadband is the backbone of a high skill, high tech economy, and can lead to a better life for everyone in Virginia.

Accelerate Virginia was launched in 2010 as an extension of the Virginia Tech eCorridors program and is responsible for the collection of consumer broadband availability data for Virginia’s  broadband mapping initiative.  By participating in the Nelson County Internet speed testing campaign you will be getting real-time information about the quality of your Internet connection, a comparison summary of what others in your community are reporting, including provider names, connection types, speed averages and satisfaction ratings, and better awareness about the speed you need to access content and services you want.  You will also be contributing information that will support Virginia’s effort to accurately map current broadband availability across the state and to help drive future policy decisions and strategically direct future funding to areas of need.

If you cannot receive high speed Internet services at your address, please register your broadband dead zone at: http://www.broadband.gov/qualitytest/deadzone/.  If you have questions or want more Information about Accelerate Virginia, please contact Jean Plymale, vplymale@vt.edu at (540) 231-2270.