Reports, Publications, RFP/RFQ

Request for Information: Torrington Transfer Station - Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) & Recycling Management & Transfer Station Operations.

Purpose / Background:

For decades, the Torrington Transfer Station (“the facility”) was operated by the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA). Due to the recent dissolution of MIRA, the facility is temporarily being operated by the State of CT Department of Administrative Services (DAS).

Several municipalities in NW CT are interested in ensuring that the Torrington Transfer Station (facility) remains a public facility. One option to keep the Torrington Transfer Station a public facility is for the NRRA to acquire and manage the facility.

There are contracts in place with municipalities, haulers, recycling facilities, a facility operator, and a scale operator through June 30, 2027, but in order for the NRRA to acquire the facility, we must make a determination if it is feasible to acquire and operate the facility in a self-sustaining, cost-effective manner beyond July 1, 2027.

We are seeking information from companies that may be interested in providing services for the management and operation of the facility.

This information will be used solely for the purpose of determining sustainability. Further procurement and contract negotiations will be necessary, depending on results, required procurement processes as determined by State statute, and funding sources.

We understand that market conditions may change in the next two years; therefore, any information submitted is non-binding. We do expect that the information submitted will be reasonably likely to be honored in today’s market and under existing conditions.

Please view the RFI with a full scope of services here.

RFI Addendum #1

RFI Addendum #2

The requested information is due by January 12th, 2026 10:00 AM. Information will be reviewed on a rolling basis

Request for Proposals: AI Driven Road and Asset Management Tool for the Northwest Hills

Purpose / Background:

The Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG) invites qualified vendors to submit proposals for an AI-driven road and asset management tool designed to help member municipalities save resources, optimize operations, and make data-driven decisions about roadway and infrastructure management.

The goal of this initiative is to deploy a unified digital platform that provides objective, up-to-date condition data for roads and municipal assets, while offering intuitive tools for planning, maintenance, and budgeting.

The project seeks to:

· Enhance decision-making through accurate, real-time road condition data.

· Improve resource allocation and maintenance scheduling.

· Enable long-term capital planning and budgeting.

· Foster collaboration among public works teams across NHCOG towns.

· Reduce costs through automation and proactive asset management.

Please view the full RFP here.

Proposals are due by 11:00 AM on January 12th, 2026 and should be submitted electronically to Erik Shortell, Director of Transportation - EShortell@nhcogct.gov

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) / Request For Qualifications (RFQ)
Bus Stop Placement and Amenities Study

Purpose / Background:

The Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG) is seeking proposals from qualified firms to conduct a Bus Stop Placement & Amenities Study for the Northwest Connecticut Transit District (NWCTD) fixed routes. NWCTD currently has 4 fixed routes that traverse between the City of Torrington and the Town of Winsted.

The selected consultant will assess existing bus stops, identify opportunities for improvements and new stop locations, and recommend strategies to enhance accessibility, visibility, and rider comfort.

This project builds upon NHCOG’s recently completed Transit Analysis Study, which identified the need for improved bus stop infrastructure as a top regional transit priority.

Objectives:
The Bus Stop Placement & Amenities Study will -

Create an inventory of all existing bus stops and their amenities that can be used by both riders and as a planning tool for the District.
Evaluate the condition and visibility of current stops and shelters.
Identify opportunities for upgrades, relocations, or new stop locations.
Recommend appropriate infrastructure improvements, including shelters, benches, paved waiting areas, and signage.
Gather input from riders, service providers, and community partners.

Please view the full RFP here.

Proposals are due no later than 11:00 AM January 20, 2026.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSALS (RFQ/RFP)

Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG)

Brownfield Area Revitalization (BAR) Planning Grant

Revitalization Along the Mad River – Winsted, Connecticut

Purpose / Background:

The Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG) is soliciting Qualifications and Proposals (RFQ/RFP) from experienced and multidisciplinary consulting teams to prepare the Revitalization Along the Mad River Study in Winsted, Connecticut.

This project is funded through a Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Brownfield Area Revitalization (BAR) Planning Grant and will develop a comprehensive redevelopment strategy for the designated project area, as delineated in Appendix A: BAR Program Planning Area Map.

The purpose of this study is to create an actionable, long-term revitalization and investment framework that guides both public and private redevelopment efforts. The plan should identify opportunities to stimulate new economic growth, encourage private investment, support environmental restoration and remediation, and align redevelopment activities with the Town of Winchester’s long-term vision while protecting environmentally sensitive areas.

The NHCOG seeks a qualified, multidisciplinary consultant team with demonstrated experience and capacity in the following areas: Planning and Urban Design, Civil and Structural Engineering, Environmental Assessment and Analysis, and Market and Economic Research

The selected consultant or consulting team will be responsible for preparing a feasible, phased, and implementable redevelopment plan that achieves the objectives outlined in Section IV – Scope of Work.

Please view the full RFP here.

Proposals are due by 11:00 AM on January 23, 2026.

2025 Transit Analysis Study

This Market Analysis of Need and Proposed Transit Options Memorandum, undertaken by the Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG), is the second part of the agency’s broader effort to undertake a Transit Analysis Study (“the Study”). The Study will offer recommendations to improve transit service in the region to better meet the needs of residents, workers, and visitors.

This Memorandum identifies:

• Transportation providers as well as the routes and services they operate;
• Ridership trends;
• Operational deficiencies;
• Existing operational funding sources; and
• Recommendations to improve transit service that will accommodate a growing older adult population and workforce travel demands in the region.

The long-term goal of the Study is to inform and support NHCOG in the development of a coordinated and centralized transportation network. This Memorandum summarizes a market analysis of the communities in the NHCOG service area, focusing on older adults, people with disabilities, and people living below the poverty level. The resulting trends in regional demographics are compared to travel patterns, the locations of major activity centers, and existing transportation services to identify gaps and applicable service options. Further, the Memorandum includes a performance analysis for the two main providers in the region, Northwest Connecticut Transit District (NWCTD) and CTtransit. The Memorandum culminates in a menu of transit options for consideration by regional stakeholders.

Member Towns:

City of Torrington

The Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG) is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to awarded firms on the State of CT Department of Administrative Services contract #18PSX0153, to retain a consultant or consulting team to complete environmental investigations and site planning activities for a 8.1 acre parcel, 41 Meadow Street (Assessor’s Map: 106/095/013-14) and 2 vacant lots 1.4 acres, known as 3 Medow Street (Assessor’s Map: 106/95/012 & 110/095/009A).

Questions must be submitted by email to the Director of Economic and Community Development, Rista Malanca, at rmalanca@nhcogct.gov by June 27, 2025 by 12:00 PM.

7/2/2025 UPDATE: A site visit of both interior and exterior conditions has been scheduled for July 9th at 10am. This is not a mandatory site visit. To accommodate this site visit the RFP Deadline has been extended to Monday July 21st @ Noon.

View the full RFP, here.

View the addendum (7/2/2025) here.