Open Space, Trails, and Regional Parks Fee Study

Pinal County, Arizona, is seeking a qualified consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive Open Space, Trails, and Regional Parks (OSTRP) Fee Study through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The primary objective is to update the county's current fee schedule and develop recommendations for new fees related to expanded departmental services. The scope of work encompasses six critical tasks: conducting a strategic kick-off meeting, obtaining departmental financial information, preparing cost recovery models with multiple scenarios, meeting with staff to discuss findings, revising the draft report based on feedback, and preparing a final report with presentation support. Consultants must benchmark fees from comparable agencies like Maricopa County, Pima County, and Arizona State Parks, analyze existing and proposed facility costs, conduct feasibility studies for system-wide annual passes, and develop site-specific five-year pro forma documents. The RFP requires consultants to have a minimum of five years of experience in fee analysis for county parks and trails programs, with evidence of three sample projects from other government agencies. Proposals are due on February 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. MST through the Bonfire Purchasing System, with a deadline for submitting questions on January 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Evaluation criteria will focus on key personnel qualifications, firm experience, knowledge of current trends and best practices, local recreational resource understanding, and conflict of interest management.

The contract will initially run from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, with an option for the County to renew for four additional one-year periods. The project budget is estimated between $15,000 and $30,000, with pricing to be submitted on the County's fee schedule form detailing costs for each task and additional services. Consultants must provide comprehensive documentation, including a signed cover sheet, consultant information form, proprietary/confidentiality statement, non-collusion affidavit, and lobbying certification, submitted as a single PDF document. Insurance requirements are stringent, including professional licensure, a Certificate of Good Standing from the Arizona Corporate Commission, workers' compensation insurance, commercial general liability insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence limits, automobile liability insurance, and professional liability insurance covering the statute of repose. The County reserves the right to invite selected proposers for oral presentations and discussions, with the final award decision based on both technical qualifications and cost considerations. There are no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types mentioned in the RFP, and no incumbent vendor information is provided in the available documentation.