Planning Team - Town of Amherst 2025 Comprehensive Plan

The Town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, is seeking a qualified planning team to develop a comprehensive plan through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ #202507) for municipal development strategies. The procurement solicits a comprehensive planning team to assist in formulating a new 25-year strategic plan that will guide the town's development, revitalization, and sustainability efforts. Key deliverables include creating an implementation toolkit, reviewing and potentially revising town regulations, developing a user-friendly and graphics-oriented plan, and conducting extensive public engagement to establish community vision, goals, and objectives. The selected team must demonstrate expertise in addressing emerging trends across technology, demographics, housing, economics, mobility, land use, and lifestyle sectors. Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) are due on September 18, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with submission requirements of five sealed copies and one electronic copy. The anticipated project timeline is 24 months, with an emphasis on innovative approaches and creative processes that can position Amherst as a model of innovation and resilience in Western New York.

The Town of Amherst has established specific set-aside goals for Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) with a 30% utilization target and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB) with a 6% utilization goal. The town has applied for a Smart Growth Community Planning Grant, which may influence the project's implementation if awarded, requiring the comprehensive plan to incorporate Smart Growth principles. While no specific budget range was disclosed in the available documentation, the complexity of the project suggests a substantial investment in comprehensive municipal planning. The procurement appears open to consulting firms, planning agencies, and professional teams with demonstrated expertise in municipal strategic planning, community engagement, and regulatory development. No incumbent vendors were identified in the procurement documents, and the town seems focused on securing a forward-thinking planning team capable of creating a flexible, adaptable strategic framework for future municipal development.