Notice is hereby given that the Board of Commissioners of the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) will receive proposals at JEDCO’s Administration Building, at the reception desk located in the lobby of the building at 700 Churchill Parkway in Avondale, LA 70094 on February 19, 2020 at or before 2:00 p.m. for the development of a five-year update to The Jefferson EDGE Economic Development Strategic Plan [RFP Number:  200219].  All proposers must submit sealed proposals with their qualifications, relevant experience, and proposed cost to develop a strategic plan update, including a review of existing and previous EDGE plans and work completed under the EDGE plans; review of other relevant economic development strategic plans; baseline assessment of regional demographic and economic data; research and analysis of market trends and growing industries in Jefferson Parish and the region; interviews and engagement with stakeholders and the public; development of strategic plan that includes a robust suite of recommended action items to improve the economy of Jefferson Parish over the next five years (2021-2025); and presentations of ongoing work and final product at various meetings.

Through RFP Number 200219, the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) is seeking a qualified firm to develop a five-year comprehensive update to the ongoing Jefferson EDGE Economic Development Strategic Plan for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The successful proposal will provide qualifications for the development of such a strategic plan, including relevant experience and references as well as a brief narrative approach for the plan’s development.

Background

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana is located in Southeast Louisiana within the Greater New Orleans region.  It is one of the most populated parish’s in the state, second only to East Baton Rouge Parish, and an economic driver for the region.  JEDCO is the economic development arm for Jefferson Parish. With a quasi-governmental structure, JEDCO is governed by a 21-member Board of Commissioners representing several local elected officials, the Parish President and thirteen business organizations in the region.  In addition to retaining and attracting businesses, jobs and investment in Jefferson Parish, JEDCO is charged with developing Jefferson Parish’s long-term economic development strategic plan, The Jefferson EDGE.

The Jefferson EDGE is the long-term economic development strategic plan to promote sustainability, job growth, and investment in Jefferson Parish. Over the course of its nearly 20-year history, the EDGE has served as a road map for Jefferson Parish economic development. The first iteration of The Jefferson EDGE plan was released in 2000 and adopted as the parish’s official plan for guiding economic growth. The EDGE has since undergone updates in 2005, 2009, and 2015, involving research of major market and economic drivers as well as extensive stakeholder input into the issues considered to be of critical importance to the future of Jefferson Parish. Many of Jefferson Parish’s most substantial initiatives were born out of the Jefferson EDGE, including but not limited to: the selection, initial development, and master planning of the 480-acre Churchill Technology and Business Park; a variety of Fat City improvement measures such as a TIF district, new zoning ordinances, and the Fat City Strategic Plan; prioritization of $14 billion in hurricane protection improvements and $1 billion on internal drainage infrastructure improvements; the establishment of a Permitting Committee that drove improvements to the Parish’s permitting process; the purchase of and redevelopment plans for Avondale Shipyard; and the development of the Jefferson Parish Housing Stock Enhancement Strategic Plan.

The EDGE and its implementation success would not be possible without private funding and investment made by members of the business community. These EDGE Investors provide the seed funding as well as valuable input needed to establish JEDCO’s and the Parish’s economic development priorities under the EDGE plans, and for JEDCO to drive the EDGE’s major initiatives and maintain their momentum.

The following outline is an anticipated scope of work for the final contract. It is not necessarily a final scope of work. Each listed task includes the minimum deliverables required for that item. JEDCO encourages proposers to submit a plan of work that they believe will best accomplish the desired result of a robust, comprehensive economic development strategic plan that guides economic growth in Jefferson Parish.

Throughout the contract period, regular meetings and communication with JEDCO as well as occasional presentations to JEDCO’s Board of Commissioners will be required, the timing of which will be determined based on the proposed timeline.

1) Baseline Assessment of Existing Data

a. Review existing EDGE plan and work completed under the EDGE plans via the implementation progress reports;

b. Review other relevant economic development strategic plans;

c. Conduct baseline assessment of regional and local demographic and economic data;

d. Conduct research and analysis of market trends and growing industries in Jefferson Parish and the region.

e. Deliverables: Presentation(s) and technical memorandum/a reporting on baseline assessment findings.

2) Stakeholder and Public Engagement:

a. In close coordination with JEDCO, create a stakeholder engagement plan and solicit input from stakeholders, partners, and thought leaders through interviews, meetings, and other proposer recommended means of input collection for the purpose of identifying priorities for economic development strategies and initiatives. At a minimum, stakeholder engagement should include but not be limited to the JEDCO board, JEDCO staff, Jefferson EDGE investors and Jefferson Parish elected officials. Meetings and input collection methods are to be facilitated by the selected firm(s) with participation by JEDCO. Meeting space and associated resources will be provided by JEDCO as appropriate.

b. Deliverables: Stakeholder engagement plan; Facilitation of stakeholder engagement plan; associated presentations; written summary/summaries of stakeholder input to JEDCO.

3) Development and Presentations of Jefferson EDGE 2025 Plan:

a. Prepare and submit an updated economic development strategic plan that includes recommended action items to grow Jefferson Parish’s economy through the retention and creation of quality jobs, entrepreneurship and investment over the next five years (2021-2025). In developing the plan update, proposer must demonstrate a thoughtful approach to measuring progress at regular intervals over the life of the plan through metrics, milestones and/or other methods of progress measurement.

b. Provide presentations of the final plan to JEDCO-selected stakeholders.

c. Deliverables: One (1) electronic and 35 bound hard copies of the final Jefferson EDGE 2025 plan; up to three public presentations of final product to stakeholders, including but not necessarily limited to JEDCO staff and JEDCO’s Board of Commissioners or Executive Committee; and electronic copy of final plan presentations. JEDCO may require the separate electronic submittal of other individual files created by the firm under this agreement, such as charts, tables, maps, images, renderings, photographs, and other graphic materials.

B. Submission Requirements

Proposals submitted for consideration should follow the format and order described below. Only submittals typed in ink and properly signed by a member of the firm or authorized representative will be accepted. Pencil figures or the absence of signatures will disqualify the proposal.

1) Cover Letter: Provide a cover letter that introduces the proposing firm and subcontractors (if applicable), briefly explains relevant past work, and includes a statement about the proposed project. The cover letter should include a summary of the proposer’s ability to perform the services described and confirm that the proposer is willing to perform those services and negotiate a contract with JEDCO. Cover letters should contain contact information for the proposer and should be signed by a person having authority to negotiate and to commit the proposer to a contract.

2) Table of Contents: Provide a clear table of contents listing each required submission section detailed below.

3) Qualifications and Experience: Provide the relevant qualifications and experience of the proposer for the scope of work and deliverables of this project, including the following:

a. Overview: Provide background information about and brief history of the proposed firm. If a team of firms is submitting the proposal, provide a brief history of each firm, the general responsibilities of each firm under this project, and whether the proposed group has previously worked together on other projects.

b. Project Team: List the name, title, and firm affiliation for each professional assigned to this project, as well as their area of specialty and proposed role on the project; years of relevant experience and education; and role in other similar projects.

c. Relevant Experience: Provide examples of prior projects within the past five years that best demonstrate the proposer’s ability to successfully undertake this project. Include the project name, client(s), description of the services provided, and length of time and cost of the project.

d. References: Provide a minimum of two references for the projects listed under Relevant Experience, including the reference’s name, title, organization, phone number, and e-mail address.

4) Conceptual Approach of Project: Provide a narrative and timeline for how the project team proposes to undertake the project Scope of Work as detailed in Part III-A. Include, at minimum, the following:

a. Summary of Approach: Describe the approach, methodologies, deliverables, and capabilities to perform the Scope of Work, identifying any economic modeling methods or software proposer intends to use, as well as specific stakeholder engagement methods. Present innovative concepts and methodologies, if any, not discussed in the Scope of Work for consideration.

b. Organization: Describe the proposed organizational structure for communication and project delivery between the project firms, between the proposer and JEDCO, and between the proposer and stakeholders.

c. Timeline: Present a timeline for the completion of the scope of work. Timeline should include all major tasks, responsible parties, and deliverables, including review of draft(s).

5) Affidavits: Firms must complete and submit signed affidavits required by JEDCO as detailed on page 9 of this RFP. Affidavits are included as Addendum II to this RFP and are available online along with the full RFP at http://www.jedco.org/public-notifications/ or in person at JEDCO’s offices:

Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO)
700 Churchill Parkway
Avondale, Louisiana 70094

6) Cost Proposal: Proposer’s fees and other costs shall be submitted in a sealed envelope separate from the proposal submission. Cost Proposal should break down the scope of work into tasks, estimate the direct labor hours per task, and identify the total cost by task as well as a final total for all services. Cost shall be worth 20% of the total points assigned. Evaluation of cost shall take place after the technical evaluation of the rest of the proposal has been completed. The proposal with the lowest cost shall receive the highest cost evaluation score (20 points). Other proposals will receive a cost score computed as follows:

Cost Proposal Score = (LPC/PC)*X, where:

LPC = Lowest proposed cost of all proposals

PC = Proposer’s cost

X = 20 points

C. Selection Criteria

CATEGORY POINTS

Qualifications and Experience 40

Conceptual Approach of Project 40

Cost Proposal 20

TOTAL 100

Period of Agreement

The term of any contract resulting from this solicitation shall begin on (or about) May 1, 2020, and shall terminate on a date to be determined based on proposed timeline, no later than Dec. 31, 2020.

The service agreement that JEDCO expects to award shall in no event become effective until an award of contract is approved by resolution of JEDCO’s Board of Commissioners or its Executive Committee.

JEDCO’s policy in awarding this service agreement will be based primarily on the most qualified contractor and the costs proposed. JEDCO will carefully investigate each proposer’s background and experience in providing like services.

RFPs may be picked up at the JEDCO Administration Building, 700 Churchill Parkway, Avondale or by contacting JEDCO at (504) 875-3908 or info@jedco.org. RFPs will be available on JEDCO’s website at http://www.jedco.org/public-notifications/ from January 13, 2020, to February 19, 2020.