Destination Stafford PPEA - RFP

The Stafford County, Virginia and Springfield Census Designated Place (CDP) have issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Destination Stafford public-private partnership (PPEA) project. This opportunity seeks proposals from qualified firms to provide a range of destination and tourism management services, including destination marketing, visitor services, workforce development, and tourism infrastructure improvements. The scope of work requires the development of a comprehensive destination management plan, implementation of a marketing and promotion strategy, operation of visitor information centers, and facilitation of workforce training programs. Proposals are due by January 16, 2024, and the contract term is for three years with two optional one-year renewals. Evaluation criteria include the proposer's experience with similar projects, detailed pricing structures, and proposed timelines.

The RFP encourages participation from small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses, and will consider proposals that include set-aside opportunities for such firms. The project is funded through a combination of county and state tourism promotion funds, with a total budget of $5 million over the initial three-year term. While the RFP does not specify any incumbent vendors, it notes that the project is part of a larger public-private partnership initiative to develop a mixed-use, destination resort and conference center in the Stafford County and Springfield CDP region.