Food Terminal Cross Docking Facility Feasibility Study

The City of Madison Mayor's Office and Food Policy Council are seeking a consultant to conduct a Food Terminal Cross Docking Facility Feasibility Study focused on the Oscar Mayer site. The primary objective is to determine the feasibility of developing a wholesale food terminal and cross-docking facility serving growers in southern Wisconsin and buyers in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Deliverables include a comprehensive business plan, comparative site analysis, economic impact analysis, and community benefits assessment, to be completed within six months of contract execution. The study will evaluate three specific buildings: Building 43 (55,700 sq ft), Building 71 (30,700 sq ft), and Building 72 (58,000 sq ft), with cooling capabilities ranging from 32-60 degrees. Required consultant qualifications include expertise in wholesale food sector business planning, site analysis, food terminals or hubs, and economic impact assessment, with demonstrated ability to collaborate with local stakeholders such as the University of Wisconsin Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. Proposals must be submitted in seven physical copies, with a separate cost proposal and electronic PDF, by October 29, 2018, at 2:00 PM CST. Proposers must complete Forms A through E and provide references from three similar projects.

The procurement opportunity includes local vendor preference scoring for registered suppliers. Bidders must comply with the City's Affirmative Action Ordinance, non-discrimination requirements, and ban-the-box hiring policies for contractors with 15 or more employees and annual business exceeding $25,000 with the City. Professional liability insurance of $1,000,000 and workers' compensation insurance are mandatory. The study builds upon previous research, including a 2011 Southern Wisconsin Food Hub Feasibility Study that identified approximately 1,000 acres of available production and buyer demand of $18-26 million annually for local produce. The scope allows flexibility for various food-related businesses, including food processing, meat kit companies, and grocery delivery services, modeled after existing proof-of-concept facilities like the Ontario Food Terminal and San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market. While a specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the study suggests a substantial professional services contract. Finalists will be required to present in Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, with all work products becoming the sole property of the City.