RFP for Dawson County Economic Development Plan Update

The Development Authority of Dawson County, Georgia, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure professional consulting services for the development of a comprehensive Economic Development Plan under Solicitation No. EDP-0001-2026. The selected consultant or firm will be responsible for creating both a 3-year actionable roadmap and a 5-year strategic vision to guide Dawson County's economic growth, industry attraction, and infrastructure priorities. Key objectives include diversifying the local economy through the recruitment of clean technology, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, advanced manufacturing, and research and development sectors, while also addressing the activation and development of a 77-acre Business & Innovation Park. The plan must incorporate robust public and stakeholder engagement through interviews, surveys, and community feedback, and must align with the strategic goals of the State of Georgia and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Required deliverables include a comprehensive narrative proposal, detailed cost breakdown, project timeline, team biographies with relevant project examples, a target industry list, infrastructure recommendations, development area identification, implementation action steps with measurable success metrics, and public engagement methodology. Proposals will be evaluated equally across five criteria, each weighted at 20 percent: Relevant Experience, Methodology & Approach, Innovation, Public Engagement Plan, and Cost and Value. The deadline for submitting written clarifying questions is May 15, 2026, with proposals due on June 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST, submitted either by hard copy delivery or email to Kevin L. Herrit, Director of Economic Development, at 44 Commerce Drive, Dawsonville, GA 30534, or k.herrit@dawson.org.

The Development Authority of Dawson County emphasizes its commitment to providing small businesses, female-owned businesses, and minority businesses with fair and equal participation opportunities, and contractors and subcontractors utilizing qualified minority subcontractors may be eligible for state income tax credits under Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 48-7-38. All prospective proposers must provide legal compliance documentation including E-Verify certification and conflict-of-interest statements, and must certify that their proposal is genuine, has not involved collusion with other proposers, and contains no false or insincere elements. Proposers are restricted from communicating with Selection Committee members or Owner staff except through formal question submission, with violation resulting in proposal rejection. The project budget ranges from $30,000 to $60,000, and the Development Authority of Dawson County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and waive technicalities and informalities at its discretion. One or more qualified firms may be selected for invitation to discuss and negotiate terms upon completion of the evaluation process.