Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Consultant Services
Closed State & local contract opportunity Posted
- Solicitation number
- BPM053929
- State
- Maryland
- Responses due
Opportunity facts
- Jurisdiction
- NIGP code
- UNSPSC code
Opportunity details come from emma.maryland.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) is soliciting proposals from consulting firms to develop a five-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties in Maryland, with proposals due January 12, 2026 and questions due November 18, 2025.
Although not EDA-funded, the final CEDS document must meet U.S. Economic Development Administration requirements to position USRC and its partners for competitiveness in federal funding opportunities. This standards alignment is a non-negotiable deliverable specification.
The scope requires facilitating stakeholder engagement across local governments, businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations to define regional economic priorities and actionable strategies. Deliverables include a comprehensive CEDS document, situational assessments, updated demographic and economic analyses, SWOT analyses, strategic direction with actionable initiatives, and evaluation frameworks with key performance indicators. The consultant must also provide monthly progress updates throughout the engagement.
Qualified firms must demonstrate expertise in regional economic development strategy, prior CEDS creation, industry and workforce research, infrastructure planning, public engagement, and stakeholder facilitation. Proposals must include a cover letter, project approach and methodology demonstrating innovative solutions, proposed timeline, relevant experience with case studies and references, and resumes of key personnel.
The project runs from May 1, 2026 through May 1, 2027, establishing a 12-month maximum duration. Consultant selection is scheduled for March 2, 2026. Selection criteria emphasize project understanding, relevant experience, stakeholder engagement strategy, timeline feasibility, and cost effectiveness. No budget range is specified in the RFP. Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format to Janice Palmer at JPalmer@kentgov.org. USRC reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or negotiate contract terms with the selected firm.
Opportunity text
The Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) seeks proposals from qualified consulting firms to develop a five-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that will serve as a strategy-driven roadmap for regional economic development initiatives across Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties in Maryland. The consultant will facilitate a process that engages local governments, businesses, educational institutions, and community stakeholders to define priorities and actionable strategies for economic growth. Although this project is not funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), the final document must meet the requirements of an EDA-funded CEDS, ensuring that USRC and its partners remain competitive for federal funding opportunities. Please see more details within RFP document.
- RFP Release Date: November 3, 2025
- Questions Due: November 18, 2025
- Proposal Submission Deadline: January 12, 2026
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| FINAL USRC CEDS RFP - Oct 31.pdf | ||
| FINAL USRC CEDS RFP - Oct 29.pdf |
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