Request for Proposal (RFP) for Rock Island Port District Master Plan and Implementation Strategy

Background
The Rock Island Regional Port District is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to develop a Master Plan and Implementation Strategy.
The Port District is located in Rock Island, Illinois, which has a population of 37,108 and is part of the Quad Cities metropolitan area.
The region has faced industrial decline and population loss since the 1960s, similar to larger rust belt cities.
The plan aims to address infrastructure improvements within the economically distressed Port District, particularly at the Sunset Business Park, to enhance transportation efficiency using river, rail, and highway assets.
This project is funded through a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation under Statewide Planning & Research Funds (SPR).

Work Details
The scope of work includes three main tasks:
1. **Determine Strategic Direction**: Review existing documentation and plans; assess physical assets; inventory freight facilities; conduct outreach with stakeholders; develop a vision and mission statement with goals and strategies.
2. **Operational Analysis, Assessment, and Evaluation**: Conduct SWOT analysis; perform freight data analysis by transportation mode; carry out commodity flow analysis; identify resource gaps for infrastructure needs; analyze market and industry clusters; evaluate the Port District's impact regionally and globally.
3. **Resources, Investment Priorities, and Planning**: Identify resources for operational support; generate freight development concepts; develop a land use and transportation plan; prioritize sites for target industries with conceptual site plans and cost estimates; create an economic development strategy focusing on attracting industries; recommend governance structure changes; identify capital projects to support the plan including infrastructure improvements.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed over a period that aligns with the planning horizon of 20 years for investment priorities.

Place of Performance
The contract will be performed within the Rock Island Regional Port District, specifically focusing on areas such as the Sunset Business Park.