RFP 2026-005 fire, rescue, and EMS services comprehensive master plan

Calvert County Government is requesting proposals for a comprehensive master plan updating Fire, Rescue, and EMS Services for the County, with proposals due December 22, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. and final written questions due December 10, 2025. No pre-proposal meeting will be held.

The scope requires the consultant to identify and analyze factors driving Fire, Rescue, and EMS service requirements; project needs across near-term (0–5 years), mid-term (6–10 years), and long-term (11–20 years) horizons; compare current capabilities against projected needs; and recommend actions to address gaps. Deliverables include one consolidated draft report and one consolidated final report for review by County officials and an appointed Steering Committee. The consultant must conduct physical inspections of nine volunteer fire and rescue stations, review apparatus maintenance records to inform lifecycle replacement recommendations, and integrate external stakeholders including representatives from nine volunteer departments operating as individual corporations, the Calvert County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, and the Board of County Commissioners' financial oversight board. The County will provide the current master plan and the 2008 strategic plan as reference documents.

The consultant must have a minimum of three years' experience providing comprehensive master plans for fire, rescue, and EMS services and must provide references from similar projects, preferably with other local governments. No subcontracting is permitted; only the primary contractor must submit RFP forms. Insurance requirements include commercial general liability of $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate, workers compensation per Maryland statute, automobile liability of $1 million per accident, and professional liability of $1 million per occurrence / $1 million aggregate.

The contract term is six months from Notice to Proceed. Compensation is structured as a lump-sum bid divided into four equal installments tied to milestones: 25% upon conclusion of the kick-off meeting, 25% upon receipt of task-area draft reports, 25% upon receipt of the consolidated draft final report, and 25% upon completion. The consultant must provide a detailed cost breakdown including hourly rates, consultant hours, subcontractor fees, and all associated project costs. Calvert County is tax-exempt; prices must exclude federal and state taxes. Evaluation will consider technical qualifications, personnel expertise, project experience, proposed approach, and work plan methodology, with price used to establish best value among technically qualified proposals.