Director of the European Office for the Fairfax County (Virginia) Economic Development Authority

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is seeking a qualified consultant or consulting firm to serve as the Director of the European Office, focusing on international business attraction efforts in Continental Europe. The primary objective is to identify, qualify, and initiate contact with European companies that may have a strategic interest in establishing a presence in the United States, with a particular emphasis on Fairfax County, Virginia. The selected consultant will target priority technology industry sectors, including information technology, cybersecurity, big data, aerospace, software development, health IT, systems integration, quantum technologies, and emerging fields like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. The evaluation process is comprehensive, allocating 100 points to the proposal and 100 points to an interview, assessing criteria such as marketing strategy, business development experience, knowledge of Fairfax County as a business location, office technology capabilities, social media promotion, and overall professional readiness. The contract is anticipated to begin on October 1, 2025, for an initial one-year term with options for two additional one-year renewals. Proposals are due by 2:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, August 4, 2025, and must be submitted through the Euna Procurement portal.

There are no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond to this Request for Proposals (RFP). The contract covers specific European countries including Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Finland, and Spain, explicitly excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland. The contract is valued between $80,000 and $83,000 USD per year, with an additional monthly operating expense budget of up to $500 subject to FCEDA pre-approval. Travel, events, marketing, and meal costs are reimbursable but must be pre-approved. The consultant is required to provide weekly reports, hold weekly virtual meetings with the market manager, and submit monthly and annual performance reports. There are no specific staffing level requirements, and the consultant must build relationships with media outlets and PR firms from scratch. Key performance events for the European market include attending conferences like Mobile World Congress and Vivatech, with the ultimate goal of attracting business investments to Fairfax County.