Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Central Florida Aviation Cluster and Feasibility Study and Strategic Action Plan for Central Florida Regional Planning Council (CFRPC) Background:
Request for Proposals:
Central Florida Aviation Cluster and Feasibility Study and Strategic Action Plan for Central Florida Regional Planning Council (CFRPC)
Background:
The CFRPC’s newly updated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) identified a new emerging regional Aviation Cluster. The potential for Aviation related jobs has the greatest short-term potential in the Central Florida Counties of Polk and Highlands. These communities have assets that may make our region more competitive for aerospace parts manufacturing, assembly and maintenance, repair, and overhaul as well as operations management opportunities. As examples, recent large investments in aerospace and supporting industry include: Polk State College Aerospace Program, Polk State College Advanced Technology Center, Central Florida Aerospace Academy, South Florida State College Mechatronics Program, CSX Intermodal Logistics Terminal, Florida’s Gateway Intermodal Logistics Center, and Florida Polytechnic University. These programs, institutions, and facilities support aerospace education, manufacturing/design education, and the collaborative nature of our industry partners to recruit the aviation sector, which is a targeted, specific industry that will diversify our local economies and provide long term, stable jobs.
To bring these industries to the two-county area which has six publicly owned general aviation airports (Lakeland Linder International Airport, Bartow Municipal Airport, Winter Haven Regional Airport, Lake Wales Municipal Airport, Sebring Regional Airport (Sebring Multimodal Logistics Center), Avon Park Executive Airport), an Aviation Industries Cluster Collaboration, Feasibility Study, and Strategic Action Plan is needed to identify our assets and opportunities, and to build on those assets while creating a collaborative network to support the growth of this global industry and bring its economic and employment benefits to our region. The Study and Strategic Action Plan are needed to formally encourage and grow the Aviation Industry and its associated industries including aerospace and logistics, in order to prepare the Central Florida region for its future as a hub of a globally competitive network which will provide long term resiliency in economic development and talent pipeline.
The project activities will include an asset inventory for aviation, aerospace, logistics, and accessory/associated industries; a cluster and feasibility study; and a strategic action plan.
The CFRPC is committed to diversity in its employees and consultants and therefore encourages qualified minority and disadvantaged firms to apply.
Areas of Expertise:
Areas of expertise needed for this project include:
• Aviation master plan development or related plans, specifically where the plans involve growing cluster areas, connectivity, and a holistic approach to talent pipeline, associated industries, and the industry as a driver of economic development;
• Long Term Economic Development;
• Aviation Cluster and Feasibility Study Development;
• Strategic Action Plan Development;
• Asset Inventory Development;
• Working with a variety of stakeholders
Submissions:
Interested consultants should request a Proposal Package via email to Shannon McPherson at smcpherson@cfrpc.org. A complete package of items specified in the Proposal Package should be mailed or delivered to:
Attention: Shannon McPherson
Central Florida Regional Planning Council
555 East Church Street
Bartow, FL 33830-3931
All submissions must be received in the Council’s offices by April 11, 2019, 4:00 p.m. EDT.
Questions:
Questions should be addressed in writing via email to Shannon McPherson at smcpherson@cfrpc.org no later than 4:00 p.m. ET on March 25, 2019. Responses shall be in writing. Responses to questions shall be provided to all persons who have requested a copy of this RFP and will be posted on www.cfrpc.org website.
No questions regarding this RFP may be directed to the Project Partners, Selection Committee, CFRPC Board members or CFRPC staff members other than the above designee. Violation of this prohibition shall result in the disqualification of the consultant from further consideration. The CFRPC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject all submissions, reissue a subsequent RFP, terminate, restructure or amend this procurement process at any time.
