Request for Proposals Tourism Asset Mapping and Impact Analysis Washington County, New York Background Washington County is a rural county situated in Upstate New York, bordered by Saratoga County and the Adirondacks to the west and Vermont to the east. The region is rich in agri-tourism, and boasts a vibrant arts and culture community as well as many picturesque village main streets. Understanding that County Tourism is driven largely by day trips (very little overnight accommodation is available in the County) the County is currently evaluating how to best serve/enhance the local tourism economy via services and programs. In order to make informed decisions more information is required. Project Understanding and Project Goal Washington County seeks to gain a better understanding of (1) its existing tourism assets, and (2) the economic impact of event-based tourism on the County s economy, and (3) how it can best support tourism in the future. The County would also like well-informed recommendations as to how it can best enhance the positive impacts of tourism into the future. With respect to the enumeration of current tourism assets, the County has an existing, incomplete inventory here: http://www.washingtonnycounty.com/). However, greater clarity and systematic identification of assets is desired and the proposer should expand upon how they will accomplish this in their scope of work. With respect to events, the County believes that event driven visits are a key driver of tourism in the County; however, the County does not drive or manage events, and therefore lacks relevant information that can be used to determine why or how events should be supported. The data and recommendations included in the report will be used to substantiate where County Tourism funding will be most effectively invested.
Scope of Work 1. Asset Mapping Building on already existing data and information, create an asset map of tourism sites in Washington County. Tourism shall include, but not be limited to, the following categories: Accommodation, Agritourism, Art, Heritage and Culture, Lodging, Museums, Natural recreation features, Restaurants, Special event venues (sports, banquets, weddings), Other. In the proposal, consultants should propose how they will collect and quantify assets in the most comprehensive manner. Once information on tourism assets is collected, the consultant shall input the data into the Tourism website,[http://www.washingtonnycounty.com]. 2. Impact Study a. The consultant shall conduct an analysis of the economic impacts of, at a minimum, one of the following annual event assets in the County for a given year. Cheese Tour, Maple Tour, Fiber Tour, Tour of the Battenkill, Raptorfest, and Open Studios Tour. This information shall be collected by working with the organizers of these events to estimate attendance and average spending patterns related to the events in a nonintrusive manner. The consultant shall specify which events are proposed for evaluation. b. The consultant shall develop a model of an average day-trip. This will assign a conservative dollar value to an average day-trip and could factor in travel to the destination including fuel and food purchases, likely stops along the way, and expenditure at the destination as well as other relevant factors. If applicable, the model shall be adjusted to reflect any identifiable differences between a visit to the Northern portion of the County and the Southern portion of the County. c. The economic analysis should quantify to the extent possible the impacts of tourism in terms of earnings and spending in the County. The consultant should use an appropriate impact model to show justifiable direct, and indirect economic impacts of an event, and of the average day-trip. 3. Recommendations a. In this final step, the consultant should formulate clear and concise recommendations for the future of tourism investments in Washington County that reflect the conclusions and data from previous tasks. The recommendations should speak to short, mid, and long term goals. Where possible, recommendations should include specific items for action, with potential tools to implement described recommendations. Deliverables The consultant should provide, at minimum, the following deliverables throughout the project.
An updated complete and systematic asset map of tourism sites in Washington County on the Washington County Tourism website. An economic impact analysis report that quantifies Washington County s tourism in terms of earnings and spending in the County. Recommendations for the future of Washington County s tourism industry, with potential paths forward. Anticipated Budget The anticipated maximum budget for this project is $55,000. Respondents must clearly indicate proposed costs and related deliverables by task. Approximately half of this funding is expected to be derived from I Love New York funds, and the project must comply with all State requirements for use of these funds. Questions and Clarifications: Respondents should contact Washington County Administrator, Chris DeBolt, with any questions regarding this request for proposal at 518-746-2590 or cdebolt@co.washington.ny.us. Schedule Proposals must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2016 Anticipated project start date: August 2016 Submission Requirements Please mail six copies of the proposal to County Administrator, 383 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828, postmarked by the above deadline. Evaluation of Proposal Proposals will be scored on comprehensiveness of plan, price, and relevant experience. In depth experience with evaluating economic impact of tourism will be considered advantageous; as will the depth and degree of analysis proposed.
FOR SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP OR PARTNERSHIP: NOTARIZATION OF SIGNATORY STATE OF NEW YORK } } SS: COUNTY OF } On this day of 2016, before me personally came, to me known and known to me to be the person who executed the foregoing instrument, and he duly acknowledge to me that he executed the same. FOR CORPORATIONS: Notary Public or STATE OF NEW YORK } } SS: COUNTY OF } On this day of 2016, before me personally came, to me known who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is the of, the corporation described in, and which executed the within Instrument; that he knows the seal of such corporation; that the seal affixed to said Instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and he signed his name hereto by like order. Notary Public
State of } County of } NON-COLLUSIVE BIDDING CERTIFICATE, being duly sworn, deposes and says:(a) By submission of this bid, each bidder and each person signing on behalf of any bidder certifies, and in the case of a joint bid, each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, under penalty of perjury, that to the best of knowledge and belief: (1) The prices in this bid have been arrived at independently without collusion, consultation, communication or agreement, for the purpose of restricting competition, as to any matter relating to such prices with any other bidder or with any competitor. (2) Unless otherwise required by law, the prices which have been quoted in this bid have not been knowingly disclosed by the bidder and will not knowingly be disclosed by the bidder prior to opening, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder or to any competitor and; (3) No attempt has been made or will be made by the bidder to induce any other person, partnership or corporation to submit or not to submit a bid for the purpose of restricting competition. (b) If the bidder is an individual, the bid must be signed by that individual; if the bidder is a corporation, it must be impressed with the corporate seal, signed by an officer of that corporation, or other person authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors, and in such case, a copy of the resolution must be attached; if a partnership, it must be signed by one of the partners or other person authorized by a writing signed by at least one general partner and submitted with the bid or previously filed with the Washington County Purchasing Department. I, hereby affirm under the penalties of perjury that the foregoing statement is true. Individual Bidder Co-Partnership (Corporate Seal) By: Partner Corporation By: Corporate Officer - Title Sworn to before me this day of, 2016