Air Service Development Consultant for Southwest Florida International Airport

The Lee County Port Authority is seeking proposals from qualified individuals, corporations, partnerships, and other legal entities authorized to conduct business in Florida to serve as an Air Service Development Consultant for Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers. The consultant will provide comprehensive market analysis and strategic guidance to attract unserved or underserved commercial air traffic and cargo services, with deliverables including market data analysis, traffic and revenue forecasts, economic impact studies, leakage and catchment area data, leisure and business travel trend research, airline outreach facilitation, and second homeowner studies, plus additional on-call services as authorized. The RFP was released on April 16, 2026, with a questions and clarification deadline of April 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. local time and proposals due electronically through OpenGov on May 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. local time; no pre-proposal meeting is planned. The initial contract term is three years with Authority options to renew for two additional one-year terms based on satisfactory performance and mutual consent. Proposers must submit hourly rates for twelve personnel categories (principal, president, executive vice president, vice president, director, senior consultant, consultant, senior analyst, analyst, project manager, attorney, and administration staff) and must possess Florida business registration, provide two references from airport clients served within the past three years, and demonstrate financial capacity upon request. Evaluation will be conducted by a Staff Evaluation Committee using criteria weighted as follows: vendor experience and qualifications (25%), technical approach and methodology (25%), project manager and staffing plan (30%), and value-added services and innovation (20%), with past performance on Authority projects as an additional consideration; the Board of Port Commissioners is anticipated to approve the award on November 5, 2026.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE) are detailed in the proposal summary, though the contract agreement incorporates FAA non-discrimination requirements and DBE provisions, indicating that DBE participation may be encouraged or evaluated. Proposers are required to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including commercial general liability ($1,000,000 to $5,000,000 limits depending on coverage type), professional liability, cyber liability, and pollution legal liability, and must list the Authority as an additional insured; no proposal bond, performance guarantee, or payment guarantee is required. Proposers are prohibited from lobbying Authority board members, ASMC members, or employees during the entire procurement process. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The total annual cost for services shall not exceed $90,000 per year, with compensation structured on an hourly rate basis inclusive of direct and indirect expenses, fringe benefits, overhead, and profit; the Authority will pay invoices within 30 calendar days of service acceptance and receipt of itemized invoices. The contract is subject to annual appropriation, with non-appropriation of funds resulting in automatic termination without penalty.