Economic Development Consulting Services

The City of St. Cloud in Florida is seeking Economic Development Consulting Services through a Request for Qualification (RFQ No. 2025-209) released on January 12, 2026, with proposals due by February 5, 2026, at 10:00 am local time. Interested firms must submit their qualifications electronically through the OpenGov Procurement portal at https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/stcloud, with no alternative submission methods permitted. The RFQ requires comprehensive proposals detailing the firm's qualifications, experience, and capabilities in providing economic development consulting services, with a focus on delivering strategic guidance and support to the city's economic growth initiatives. Potential respondents must submit detailed documentation including compliance forms, certifications related to public entity crimes, drug-free workplace compliance, debarment status, E-Verify compliance, and human trafficking affidavits. The evaluation criteria will likely assess the respondents' expertise, past performance, understanding of economic development strategies, and ability to meet the city's specific needs. The deadline for submitting questions about the RFQ was January 16, 2026, with a strict electronic submission process designed to ensure a fair and secure procurement method.

While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly detailed in the provided documentation, the RFQ suggests a comprehensive approach to vendor selection that may implicitly encourage diverse participation. The procurement appears to be open to qualified consulting firms with demonstrated expertise in economic development, though no specific restrictions on firm size or type are mentioned in the available information. The document requires extensive compliance documentation, which may indirectly create barriers for less-established firms or those with limited administrative capacity. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the provided materials, and no specific budget range or award value is explicitly stated. The contract appears to be structured with potential for extension, though the exact terms of any potential contract duration or renewal options are not clearly specified in the initial RFQ documentation. Interested firms should carefully review the full RFQ document to understand the complete scope of requirements and potential opportunities for economic development consulting services with the City of St. Cloud.