The City of Birmingham, Alabama (sometimes hereinafter, "the City") is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional services to conduct a comprehensive Farmers' Market Study.

This initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) award and aims to strengthen urban agriculture, improve market access, and advance food sovereignty within the city.

To achieve these goals, the City of Birmingham seeks to build opportunities within its urban agricultural and farmers' market landscape by studying existing markets and developing recommendations for new market models. This study will provide a deeper understanding of the current food environment, including key food access indicators, supply chain gaps, and opportunities for local producers. It will assess existing resources, assets, and challenges within the local food system and identify solutions that support the growth of urban agriculture and local markets.

The primary goals of this study are to:

• Provide a deep understanding of the current food environment, including key food access indicators, supply chain gaps, and market opportunities for local producers.
• Improve opportunities within Birmingham's urban agricultural and market landscape by assessing resources, assets, and challenges.
• Develop recommendations for supporting sustainable and scalable market models that support the growth of urban agriculture and local markets.

The full RFP and proposed scope of work can be viewed at: https://www.birminghamal.gov/work/bidding-opportunities

The selected firm will work closely with the City of Birmingham's Office of Resiliency and Sustainability and the Food Systems Manager to deliver a comprehensive report by November 14th, 2025.