FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tonto National Forest Releases RFQ for Appraisal of Proposed Campus Site
April 10, 2014, Payson Arizona — A key milestone is within reach in the US Forest Service appraisal process for the property that is the preferred location for the university campus in Payson. Next week, the USFS Tonto National Forest Contracting Office (USFS TNF) will release a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) document and selection criteria to an array of qualified appraisers. The appraisers will have 10 days to submit their proposals.
The USFS TNF requires a minimum of three proposals from qualified appraisers. The Arizona-based USFS TNF selection team will review the proposals and select the proposal that best meets the selection criteria. The chosen appraiser will then complete the appraisal of the USFS property and submit the appraisal report, including the price of the USFS TNF land.
Once the RCEA Board has agreed with the price for the property, the Board will finalize the proposed financial model for the campus and its educational partner. The RCEA will contract with its designated vendor to conduct the cultural mitigation work on the USFS TNF property.
Once the final mitigation work is completed, the contracted mitigation firm will draft a final mitigation report, as required by the USFS for the sale of the land. The USFS TNF Supervisors Office will prepare the required direct sale and deed transfer documentation for review and final approval.
RCEA President Steve Drury noted, “We are poised to move forward with next steps in this process. We know everyone is ready to see progress, and we are moving closer to acquiring the land.”
About Rim Country Educational Alliance
Rim Country Educational Alliance (RCEA) is a Separate Legal Entity formed in 2011 by an intra-governmental agreement between the Towns of Payson and Star Valley, AZ for the specific purpose of engaging in activities that further the concept of higher or advanced education, and economic and workforce development in Arizona’s Rim Country. A Separate Legal Entity (SLE) is a stand-alone political subdivision of the State of Arizona. SLEs typically are formed for specific governmental functions and ordinarily include a county, city, town, or school district.
Contact for more information about Rim Country Educational Alliance:
Mary Kastner
Vice Chairperson
Rim Country Educational Alliance
(928) 595-2088
Email: kastner85541@gmail.com
http://www.universityinpayson.com/rim-country-educational-alliance/role-of-the-rcea/
Contact for more information about this press release:
Laura Ann Bartlett-Armstrong
Marketing and PR Committee Lead
Payson University Campus Volunteer Committee
928-468-0993
lxb59@yahoo.com
www.universityinpayson.com
###