REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR FOOD INDUSTRY CLUSTER STUDY & STRATEGY Issued by the St. Louis County Port Authority Proposals Due By: Friday, December 8, 2017, at 3:00 PM CST St. Louis County Port Authority c/o St. Louis Economic Development Partnership ATTN: Howl Bean II 7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 2200 St. Louis, Missouri 63105 (314) 615-7663 hbean@stlpartnership.com
Introduction The St. Louis County Port Authority (the Authority ) was established pursuant to Chapter 68 of the Missouri Revised Statutes for the purposes of promoting the general welfare of and within the port district, which includes all of St. Louis County, advancing the economic interests of residents, fostering increased employment opportunities, and promoting trade and industry in St. Louis County, Missouri. The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership provides staff for the Authority. In the past decade, the St. Louis region has focused development efforts in several industry clusters. Building on this approach, the Authority, in conjunction with its affiliates, seeks to evaluate whether the establishment of a food industry cluster is indicated. In furtherance of its statutory purposes, the Authority issues this Request for Proposals ( RFP ) for a contractor to research, plan, and develop a food industry cluster strategy for St. Louis County, Missouri (the Project ). Scope of Services Pursuant to this RFP, the Services shall consist of, and the successful firm shall provide, all services and work for the Project, including, but not limited to, the following: 1. Analyze the food industry and local water resources. Among other areas of analysis, the contractor will analyze the strengths and gaps of the food industry in St. Louis County and map the entire industrial food chain, including: production, processing, packaging, and distribution. Specifically, the contractor shall at a minimum analyze recent employment growth within the food industry. This analysis shall compare the employment concentrations in the St. Louis region for the food industry to that of other regions as well as investigate the connections between companies inside and outside of the food industry. Additionally, the contractor will analyze local water resources in the St. Louis region as well as their connection and value to a food industry cluster. This analysis shall, at a minimum, address the quality and availability of water in the St. Louis region. The contractor will conduct a real estate study of the food industry and water resources in St. Louis County, Missouri. The contractor will not be required to conduct scientific testing on regional water resources but may be expected to analyze and discuss knowledgeably such third-party work. 2. Interview business leaders within the food industry. The contractor will utilize the analysis described above to identify and conduct interviews with key leaders within the food and water resources industries. These interviews will enable the contractor to assess regional opportunities in the food industry. The interviews shall cover, at a minimum, gaps in the industrial supply chain, strategies to ensure collaboration, water availability and other environmental impacts on the food industry, requirements to grow and cluster, and opportunities to attract potential partners to St. Louis County.
3. Coordinate with 39 North implementation. The contractor will prepare a real estate strategy to co-locate a food industry cluster within the six hundred (600)-acre 39 North district. The contractor will propose a brand identity for a food industry cluster that is compatible with the 39 North brand. 4. Conduct a concept meeting. The contractor will conduct at least one concept meeting with the Authority and its affiliated stakeholders to present the contractor s analysis of the water resources and a proposal to implement a food industry cluster strategy in coordination with the 39 North district. 5. Develop a final report and an implementation plan. Within six (6) months of execution of a contract for the Services, the contractor will draft a final, data-based report for the Project. The final report shall provide the results of the analyses and interviews described above and detail cluster strategies to spur growth and add value to the food industry in St. Louis County. Within three (3) months of delivery of the final report, the contractor will prepare a five (5)-year implementation strategy for a proposed food industry cluster that will conform with the implementation strategy for the 39 North master plan. The implementation plan shall include suggestions for potential funding sources for the Project. Proposal Content Proposals must include, at a minimum, the following information: 1. Experience of the Firm. Provide a detailed description of the firm's experience in providing similar services. Include the type and number of clients served, as well as the size, scope, and nature of the projects involved. 2. Experience/Qualifications of Assigned Professional(s). Provide the qualifications for each individual who may be assigned to provide the Services and designate the individual who would have primary responsibility for oversight of the Project. 3. Estimated Time. Provide an estimate for the general timeframe required to complete the Services. 4. Proposed Fees/Expenses. Proposals shall clearly state all fees and expenses to be charged for performance of the Services: a. If based on an hourly rate, provide the hourly rates to be charged for each individual who would be assigned to this engagement and a general description of how billable hours will be allocated among key personnel. b. Provide an explanation if fees will be calculated on any other basis. Itemize the type of expenses (other than fees) for which your firm would seek reimbursement.
c. It is anticipated that a maximum not to exceed amount will be established for these Services. Selection Criteria Proposals submitted will be reviewed by the Authority s staff for completeness and qualifications. Selection of a firm will be made on the basis of the following criteria: 1. Expertise and experience of the firm in providing similar services; 2. Expertise and experience of the individuals assigned from the firm; 3. Timeliness of completing the Services; 4. Cost; and 5. Responsiveness of the firm to the RFP categories. The St. Louis County Port Authority actively encourages submission of proposals from disadvantaged business enterprises and companies owned by minorities, women, immigrants, and veterans. The Authority does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, or veteran status in consideration of this award. Equal Opportunity Employer. Terms and Conditions The following terms and conditions apply to all proposals: 1. The Authority reserves the right to reject any and all proposals submitted; to select one or more responding parties; to void this RFP and the review process and/or terminate negotiations at any time; to select separate responding parties for various components of the scope of services; and to select a final party/parties from among the proposals received in response to this RFP. Additionally, any and all RFP project elements, requirements and schedules are subject to change and modification. The Authority also reserves the unqualified right to modify, suspend, or terminate at its sole discretion any and all aspects of this RFP process, to obtain further information from any and all responding parties, and to waive any defects as to form or content of the RFP or any responses by any party. 2. This RFP does not commit the Authority to award a contract, defray any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this RFP, or contract for any services. All submitted responses to this RFP become the property of the Authority as public records. All proposals may be subject to public review, on request, unless exempted as discussed elsewhere in this RFP.
3. By accepting this RFP and/or submitting a proposal in response thereto, each responding party agrees for itself, its successors and assigns, to hold the Authority, the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and its affiliated entities, St. Louis County, and all of their various agents, commissioners, directors, consultants, attorneys, officers and employees harmless from and against any and all claims and demands of whatever nature or type, which any such responding company, its representatives, agents, contractors, successors or assigns may have against any of them as a result of issuing this RFP, revising this RFP, conducting the selection process and subsequent negotiations, making a final recommendation, selecting a responding party/parties or negotiating or executing an agreement incorporating the commitments of the selected responding party. 4. By submitting responses, each responding party acknowledges having read this RFP in its entirety and agrees to all terms and conditions set out in this RFP. 5. Responses shall be open and valid for a period of ninety (90) days from the due date of this RFP. Submission of Proposals To be considered, proposals must be received no later than Friday, December 8, 2017, at 3:00 PM CST. Electronic proposals should be sent by email to hbean@stlpartnership.com. St. Louis County Port Authority c/o St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Attn: Howl Bean II, Staff Attorney 7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 2200 St. Louis, Missouri 63105 (314) 615-7663