Request for Information | Research, Education, and Art at the Dane County Sustainability Campus

Dane County, Wisconsin, through its Department of Waste & Renewables, is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) #2025-RFI-004 for potential partners in research, education, and creative fields at the upcoming Sustainability Campus. The RFI seeks to identify entities, processes, and technologies that can help divert significant waste volumes and create marketable outputs within a new 232-acre Sustainability Campus, which will be co-located with a future landfill. The project aims to develop a circular economy innovation hub, with the first phase of construction commencing in 2026 and initial operations expected by 2028. Responses are due by March 21, 2025, at 2:00 pm, with a non-mandatory webinar scheduled for January 27, 2025, and a non-mandatory site visit on February 11, 2025. The County is specifically interested in partners who can provide waste diversion through reuse, education on circular economy concepts, hands-on learning exhibits, or advanced research in waste diversion, with a priority on low-emission technologies and processes that can be stored indoors.

The RFI does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The Sustainability Campus will be located on approximately 30 developable acres within the City of Madison, centrally positioned near major highways and infrastructure. The County operates as an enterprise fund, funded by service fees rather than taxpayer dollars, which allows for significant capital investments like a $29 million renewable natural gas plant and a $15 million construction and demolition recycling facility. While no specific budget range is provided, the Facility Needs and Recommendations Report suggests potential facility development costs ranging from $19.4 million to $94.4 million. The project is part of a broader initiative that includes four concurrent RFIs covering different aspects of waste management and circular economy development. The campus will be designed to host waste processors, recycling businesses, research and development companies, and public-facing facilities, with a focus on transforming waste management through innovation and sustainability.