REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) Project Title: Site Development Readiness Services Target Site: James H. Harless Industrial Park, Holden, West Virginia Issuing Agency: Mingo County Redevelopment Authority Funding Source: West Virginia Department of Economic Development (WVDED) YesWV Ready Sites Program 1. Introduction and Background In today's dynamic economy, it has never been more important for West Virginia to compete for business growth and attraction. To successfully compete for investment and industrial recruitment, we must move at the speed of business. A top concern for prospective businesses is the availability of development-ready properties that reduce uncertainty and expedite a company's ability to get to market. To address this need, the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority (MCRA) is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants and engineering firms to provide essential site development readiness services for the James H. Harless Industrial Park located near Holden, West Virginia. This initiative is funded by a $75,000 microgrant from the West Virginia Department of Economic Development (WVDED) through the YesWV Ready Sites Program. The goal of this project is to perform the necessary due diligence to elevate the site's level of preparedness, transforming it into a highly marketable, shovel-ready location that can be confidently catalogued in the state's inventory of developable land. 2. Scope of Work The selected consultant will perform critical due diligence services to cure developmental deficiencies, remove site location risk, and ensure the property meets the rigorous site selection criteria demanded by modern industries. Note that the Harless Industrial Park is a former surface mine site that was reclaimed in the late 1980s and transformed into an industrial park in the late 1990s. The Scope of Work must prioritize the following eligible activities: Wetlands Delineation Study on 150 developable acres Cultural Resources Study on 150 developable acres 3. Project Goals and Deliverables The primary goal is to improve the site's market-readiness specifically for manufacturing and/or industrial purposes. The site cannot be developed for retail, residential, educational, governmental, or healthcare purposes. By completing these assessments, the project will achieve three main objectives: 1. Remove uncertainty surrounding the selection of this site. 2. Reduce a future company's site development costs. 3. Accelerate a prospect's speed to market. Key Deliverables: For the Wetlands Delineation Study, the deliverables are as follows: Written delineation report per 1987 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wetland Delineation Manual and Eastern Mountains & Piedmont Regional Supplement; GPS-surveyed wetland boundary flags and mapped delineation lines (GIS-compatible shapefile and PDF map); Wetland data forms (vegetation, soils, hydrology indicators) for each sampling point; Categorization of all Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), including streams, seeps, and isolated wetlands; Acreage calculations for wetland and upland areas across the developable acres; Post-Sackett v. EPA jurisdictional analysis distinguishing federally vs. state-regulated features; Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (PJD) submittal package to USACE Huntington District (if requested); Site-ready development constraints map showing no-build zones and potential Section 404 permit areas; and Executive summary for inclusion in site marketing materials. For the Cultural Resources Study, the deliverables are as follows: Phase I cultural resources survey report meeting West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office (WVSHPO) Phase I guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation; Background research and literature review: WVSHPO site files, USGS topo maps, historic aerials, deed records, and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) database search; Pedestrian survey transect documentation with shovel test pit (STP) logs at WVSHPO-required density intervals; Archaeological site forms for any sites identified, submitted to WVSHPO site file system; Above-ground historic architectural resources survey for any structures over 50 years old; Cemetery identification and documentation (critical in Mingo County given coal-era history); NRHP eligibility recommendations for all identified resources; GIS maps showing survey coverage, STP locations, and any identified sites; WVSHPO concurrence letter (obtained post-submission; may take 30 60 days); and Development planning recommendations and constraint areas map. Anticipated Outcomes & Metrics: Delivery of data that will facilitate the successful cure of identified site deficiencies in order to meet WVDED site readiness criteria and advance the site toward "fully served" and "developable" status. Delivery of data that can be packaged directly into site marketing materials and uploaded to industrial site selector databases. Compliance with all WVDED exclusive industrial/manufacturing use restrictions. 4. Project Timeline Project Duration: 8 months total, allowing time for each study to be conducted separately, rather than concurrently Anticipated Start Date: August 17, 2026 Completion Deadline: May 27, 2027 5. Budget The total budget available for this engagement is $75,000, funded by the WVDED YesWV Ready Sites microgrant. Proposals exceeding this amount will not be considered. Funds will be disbursed upon presentation of invoice(s) from the selected firm to the MCRA. 6. Proposal Requirements Interested consultants must submit a proposal that includes: Executive Summary: A brief overview of the firm's understanding of the project and the importance of site certification/readiness in modern economic development. Firm Qualifications: (1) A brief description of firm's multi-disciplinary capabilities covering each of the study types, with a particular focus on the firm's experience in both USACOE (Wetlands Delineation Study) and WVSHPO (Cultural Resources Study) guidelines; (2) A brief description of the firm's project management structure for conducting both studies as one project; and (3) A brief description of the firm's experience in site development readiness, specifically regarding WVDED guidelines, site selection criteria, and preparing sites for industrial recruitment. Project Team: Bios of key personnel who will work on the project. Methodology: A detailed description of how the firm will approach the selected studies and assessments to effectively reduce site development risk for future investors. Work Plan & Timeline: A precise schedule of activities demonstrating the ability to meet the strict 12-month funding deadline. Cost Proposal: A detailed line-item budget not to exceed $75,000. 7. Proposal Submission Proposals must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. EDT on July 17, 2026. Proposals may be submitted electronically via email or by mail to: Greta Curry Executive Director Mingo County Redevelopment Authority P.O. Box 298 1657 East Fourth Avenue Williamson, WV 25661 Email: [email protected] Electronic submissions are preferred. LC-466766 06-02,09;2026
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