AS the City has moved towards placing a greater emphasis on its business corridors, and development and promotion of small businesses Citywide, there is a need for the development of y strategies, plans, and initiatives that promote and improve the quality of life, boost business attraction and retention, and build a foundation for continued economic prosperity.
To assist with the stated goals, the City, through this RFQ, seeks to establish a prequalified pool of multidisciplinary consultant teams to provide economic development consultant services to the City that may include (but not be limited to): comprehensive economic development strategic planning, benchmarking and competitive assessment, asset-based economic development, sustainable development, SWOT analyses, cost modeling, leadership and organizational models, business development strategies, target industry analysis, marketing plans, prospect identification, contact plans, competitive and responsible economic development incentive policies, workforce trends and forecasts analysis, talent and business attraction and stakeholder and community outreach.
The pertinent areas of the RFQ include the following sections.
• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. Please Reference, Appendix C, Page 25, RFQ 2019-084-ND for Economic Development Consultant Services (attached).
• SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS. Please Reference Section 0300, Page 12, RFQ 2019-084-ND for Economic Development Consultant Services (attached).
• CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION. Please Reference Section 0400, Page 14, RFQ 2019-084-ND for Economic Development Consultant Services (attached).
Following the receipt of proposals an Evaluation Committee will review proposals in accordance with the criteria established in the RFP.
I am considering appointing the following individuals to serve on the Evaluation Committee:
• Matis N. Cohen, Resident, City of Miami Beach
• Jose Gonzalez, Director, Transportation Department, City of Miami Beach
• Amy Knowles, Deputy Resiliency Officer, Office of the City Manager, City of Miami Beach
• Jason Loeb, Chair, Mayor’s Small Business Task Force, City of Miami Beach
• Amy Mehu, Special Assistant, Office of the City Manager, City of Miami Beach
• James Murphy, Chief of Urban Planning, Planning and Zoning Department, City of Miami Beach
• Heather Shaw, Interim Director, Tourism, Culture & Economic Development Department, City of Miami Beach
I am also considering the following individuals as alternates:
• Sheila Duff-Lehrman, Co-chair, Mayor’s Small Business Task Force, City of Miami Beach
• Rodney Knowles, Greenspace Division Director, Public Works Department, City of Miami Beach
• Debbie Tackett, Chief of Historic Preservation, Planning Department, City of Miami Beach
• Lynda Westin, Transportation Manager, Transportation Department, City of Miami Beach