About this opportunity
AI summaryRegional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. seeks proposals from qualified professionals to deliver Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy planning services for Brown, Monroe, and Owen counties. The selected contractor must conduct background research, evaluate regional economic and labor conditions, assess infrastructure, perform a SWOT analysis, provide resiliency and disaster plans, and establish an evaluation framework aligned with U.S. Economic Development Administration requirements. Only onshore USA organizations may bid on this offsite contract. Proposers must limit submissions to 30 pages and submit them digitally via email or online, or deliver five hard copies to 100 S. College Avenue, Ste. 240, by 5:00 p.m. EST on November 30, 2026. The buyer will evaluate offers based on quality, cost, efficiency, prime and subconsultant qualifications and experience, past performance on similar studies, and demonstration of commitment to the project budget and schedule, which allocates up to $120,000.
Buyer and opportunity details
- Client
- Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc.
Scope of work
- Present background and historical information and evaluate regional economic conditions
- Identify regional strengths, constraints, and evaluate infrastructure inventory and needs
- Conduct a full SWOT analysis concerning economic development
- Evaluate local labor characteristics and recommend actions linking education to employment providers
- Create a strategic action plan and evaluation standards to measure strategy success
- Provide resiliency and disaster plans addressing recovery from economic shocks and natural disasters
- Identify federal, state, and local funding opportunities and public-private partnerships
- Conduct stakeholder and public outreach involving the CEDS Strategy Committee, advisory groups, and interviews
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Qualifications/experience of prime consultant with studies of similar type and size | Not specified |
| Qualifications/experience of subconsultants or team members with studies of similar type and size and/or special expertise beneficial to study | Not specified |
| Demonstration of knowledge of economic development principles and trends | Not specified |
| Indication of sufficient staff for all facets of the CEDS preparation | Not specified |
| Past record of performance on similar projects, including names and dates of relevant work | Not specified |
| Proposed cost of study and demonstration of commitment for meeting the project budget and schedule | Not specified |
Minimum qualifications
- Qualified professionals knowledgeable in research and development, planning and data analysis
Documents to include with your response
- Detailed work plan addressing timelines, schedule, milestones, and budget
- Staffing plan and number of hours devoted to each activity
- Descriptions of the work product produced
- Collection of data and assessment of needs description
- Methods and tools of research, evaluations, forecasting and analysis
- Report preparation and documentation plan
- Past record of performance including names and dates of relevant work
- Proposed cost of study
- Examples of previous CEDS plan
Key dates
- RFP Issue Date
- October 30, 2026
- Deadline for proposals
- 5 p.m. (EST), November 30, 2026
- Review by RFP Committee
- December 1-7, 2026
- Consultant interviews, if needed
- December 7-11, 2026
- Consultant recommendation determined/approved
- December 14, 2026
- Project Commencement Date
- December 21, 2026
- Project Completion Date
- August 1, 2027 to ROI and the three counties for final review
- Authorized award end date
- August 11, 2027
How to submit
- Method
- Email or Mail
- Instructions
- Send via email in .pdf format, or via mail with 5 hard copies. Proposals must be limited to 30 pages excluding examples of previous CEDS plan.
Contract details
- Term
- December 21, 2026 through August 11, 2027
- Estimated value
- Up to $120,000
- Place of performance
- Brown, Monroe and Owen counties in the Uplands region of Southwest Indiana
- Insurance and bonding
- Insurance will be required.
- Funding
- U.S. Department of Economic Administration (EDA)