The city is moving forward with plans to update the citywide GIS digital parcel database in order to modernize City Tax Assessor’s records, assess flood hazard vulnerabilities, increase accessibility to land records and improve online access to information. A Request for Proposals (RFP) has been issued. Mayor Scott Avedisian reminded interested vendors that the RFP responses must be submitted prior to the bid opening scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at 10 a.m.

 The RFP seeks a qualified consultant to develop a citywide, digital parcel map linked to the City Assessor’s database, and to develop or host an internet-based GIS mapping platform. In addition to improving record accessibility, the intent is to improve flood zone mapping and risk analysis and to give the general public, property owners, and professionals the ability to use an internet browser to query, browse, report, print maps, and create abutters’ lists from their own computers.

The selected consultant will be responsible for automating assessor’s tax maps and the citywide index map; adjusting existing datasets to align with the digital parcels; developing or providing a web-based application that will provide access to the digitized parcels and also include flood hazard mapping layers, and digitizing the citywide zoning map.

“This initiative will further the City’s efforts to assist businesses and make it more convenient for residents to access information, from the comfort of their own home or office, any time of day or night, while saving taxpayers money,” Avedisian said in a statement. “Going forward, we expect this to be a tremendous resource when e-permitting is implemented. I would also like to thank Shane White, the state GIS coordinator, for serving on the RFP review committee.”

 The project will be funded through the city’s annual budget and, in part, from a U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Funds.

The RFP is available online at warwickri.gov, under the “Bids Available” tab within the Purchasing Division’s page.