Economic Impact Study

Washington State University (WSU) is seeking proposals for a comprehensive economic impact study to be completed by May 2025, with proposals due on January 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. The study will analyze WSU's economic and fiscal impact across its six campuses, including Global Campus, and extension presence in all 39 Washington counties, as well as research and academic activities occurring outside the state and internationally. Key deliverables include examining WSU's impact on state vitality, employment benefits, business partnerships, agricultural education, research funding, regional campus economies, athletics impact, and graduate contributions. The evaluation criteria will assign points as follows: 30 points for contractor experience, 15 points for staff qualifications, 30 points for project approach, 25 points for cost, and 15 points for references. Qualified firms must have previous experience conducting economic impact studies for comparable higher education institutions and be registered or willing to register to do business in Washington state. Optional add-ons include breakouts by legislative district and analysis of remote facilities, which must be priced separately.

The RFP does not specify strict set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. While no incumbent vendor is explicitly mentioned, WSU will provide the previous 2014/2015 economic impact study to the successful respondent along with institutional data. Potential respondents should note some limitations exist regarding tracking graduate locations and comprehensive migration data. Although no specific budget was officially stated, industry experts have suggested a potential budget range of $75,000-$175,000, with the final scope and costs for analyzing remote facilities to be negotiated with the selected contractor. The project requires immediate work upon contract execution, with final project approval coming from the Executive Vice President for Finance & Administration. The study aims to serve multiple stakeholders, including elected officials, business leaders, philanthropic organizations, and media outlets, providing a comprehensive analysis of WSU's economic contributions across the state and beyond.