Qualifications for Consultants to Conduct a Hotel Feasibility Study for the Town of Ashland

The Town of Ashland, Virginia is requesting proposals for a qualified consultant to conduct a hotel feasibility study on candidate sites within town limits under RFP #2026-02, with proposals due July 15, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. via electronic submission through eVA or paper submission to the Town's purchasing office. The Town will conduct competitive negotiations under Virginia Public Procurement Act Section 2.2-4302.2, with discussions held with two or more qualified offerors before award.

The scope comprises three primary tasks: demand analysis for sports and institutional tourism, peer locality audit of successful Economic Development Authority programs in comparable Virginia communities, and site assessments of six candidate hotel development locations. The study targets mid-scale to upscale and boutique hotel development opportunities. All finished documents, data, studies, drawings, and reports become property of the Town. The contractor must maintain Commercial General Liability coverage of $1 million combined single limit per occurrence, Business Automobile Liability of $1 million combined single limit, Umbrella Excess Liability of $1 million, and Worker's Compensation & Employer's Liability of $500,000 per accident, with the Town named as additional insured.

The contract term runs from signing through May 1, 2027, with potential extensions if services remain incomplete at initial expiration. The Town reserves the right to terminate with thirty days' written notice. Proposals are limited to fifty pages, excluding required forms and certifications. Evaluation criteria are equally weighted at 25% each: understanding of project vision and approach, experience with comparable projects, qualifications of the project team, and knowledge of local and regional conditions. A pre-submittal virtual meeting is scheduled for July 1, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST. Questions are due by July 3, 2026. The anticipated notice of award is August 2026, with contract commencement in September 2026. All vendors must register in eVA and provide State Corporation Commission identification numbers or certification of exemption from business authorization requirements. No contract value is specified.