Payson City- Outdoor Recreation Strategic Plan

Payson City, located in Utah County, is seeking professional planning and design firms to develop a comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Strategic Plan through a Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ). The project aims to enhance outdoor recreation assets and improve park and trail connectivity, aligning with the city's "Home to Adventure" brand. Key deliverables include evaluating existing recreation assets, developing an actionable vision, providing strategic recommendations for specific sites such as Payson Forebay Recreation Area, Spring Lake, Mt. Nebo Scenic Byway, Gladstan Golf Course, and West Mountain Regional Recreation Area. The consultant will create data-driven implementation frameworks with phased timelines and funding strategies, including GIS-based maps and City Council presentations. Submissions must not exceed eight pages and include a cover letter, project understanding, team qualifications, comparable project examples, client references, and a proposed schedule. The evaluation criteria will weight submissions as follows: Project Understanding and Approach (25%), Team Experience and Expertise (25%), Relevant Project Examples (25%), Community Engagement and Collaboration Methods (15%), and Proposed Schedule and Capacity (10%). Key dates include a virtual Q&A session on January 14, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 PM, with statements of qualifications due by January 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM MST, and consultant interviews scheduled for January 28-29, 2026.

The procurement opportunity is supported in part by the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation's Outdoor Recreation Planning Assistance (ORPA) Grant Program, with no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations mentioned. The project has an anticipated timeline of 6-9 months from notice to proceed, with completion required no later than November 30, 2026. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the final scope and fees will be negotiated following consultant selection. All questions must be submitted through Bonfire/U3P no later than January 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM, with submissions also required through the same platform. Payson City reserves the right to reject any or all submissions, and all submitted materials will become the property of the city. The Selection Committee will review all submittals and may invite firms scoring over 80% to interview, with the goal of selecting and awarding the contract by February 4, 2026.