Project Title: Community Capacity Building for Tuscarawas County
Issuing Agency: Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC)
RFP Release Date: 1/20/2026
Proposal Submission Deadline: 02/06/2026
Project Budget: $95,000 (Contractual Maximum)
1. Project Overview
The Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) is seeking proposals from qualified engineering and planning consultants to provide technical assistance and capacity-building for twelve (12) communities within Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
This project, funded in part by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) READY Grants to Grow Initiative, aims to empower local cities and villages with individualized projects. These plans will eventually inform a comprehensive countywide strategic land-use plan managed by the restructured Regional Planning Commission.
Participating Communities: Baltic, Bolivar, Dennison, Dover, Gnadenhutten, Mineral City, Newcomerstown, New Philadelphia, Sugarcreek, Strasburg, Uhrichsville, and Port Washington.
2. Scope of Work
The selected consultant will be responsible for executing a five-phase planning process over an 18-month timeline.
Core Deliverables:
Leadership Engagement: Facilitation of work sessions and meetings to ensure local buy-in and capacity building.
Individualized Community Plans: Twelve distinct roadmaps addressing at least one of following:
· Needs Assessments: Evaluations of current assets and deficiencies to prioritize future investment.
Project Phases:
Initiation & Engagement: Kick-off meeting and data collection for all 12 communities.
Assessment & Analysis: project audits.
Plan Development: Drafting tailored strategies and refining them based on leadership feedback.
Adoption: Assisting councils with formal resolutions and identifying funding opportunities.
Evaluation: Final reporting and performance measurement analysis.
3. Proposal Requirements
To ensure a competitive selection process, respondents must provide:
Technical Approach: A plan for managing 12 municipal planning processes.
Relevant Experience: Evidence of past performance in ARC-funded projects or multi-municipal planning.
Staffing Plan: Profiles of the lead engineering consultants and support staff.
Cost Proposal: A breakdown of fees consistent with the $95,000 contractual budget.
Timeline: A confirmation of the ability to meet the 18-month performance period.
4. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:
Qualifications (30%): Firm’s experience with rural community planning and engineering projects.
Project Methodology (30%): Clarity and feasibility of the workplan for the 12 communities.
Capacity-Building Focus (20%): Demonstrated ability to engage and educate local leadership.
Budget & Value (20%): Cost-effectiveness and alignment with ARC fiscal requirements.
5. Submission Instructions
Proposals must be submitted via our website below or via email in PDF format to makridge@tuscedc.com by the deadline listed above. Questions regarding this RFP should be submitted to makridge@tuscedc.com no later than January 30th.
Deadline to submit: Friday, February 6th, by 2:00 pm.
Note to Applicants: This project is part of a broader countywide restructuring effort. The selected firm must be prepared to collaborate with the TCEDC and the future County Planner to ensure local plans align with regional strategic goals.