Request for Qualifications

Request for Qualifications REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) COLUMBIA FORWARD: M-167 REGIONAL MARKET AND INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY The Columbia Port Commission is requesting Statements of Qualifications from professional consulting firms to prepare a regional strategic plan for the Ouachita–Black River Corridor (M-167 Marine Highway), funded in part by a Delta Regional Authority Strategic Planning Grant. The plan will assess and coordinate freight markets and multimodal infrastructure along the 337-mile corridor from Camden, AR to Jonesville, LA, with a focus on distressed rural communities. Major tasks will include: project management and coordination; stakeholder engagement and regional workshops in Arkansas and Louisiana; corridor freight market and commodity analysis; GIS-based infrastructure mapping and investment gap analysis; and development of a final strategic plan, executive summary, and implementation/funding roadmap. Interested firms should demonstrate qualifications and experience in: Working on MARAD Marine Highway Program elements, including Marine Highway workshops and related planning or project support; Conducting regional workshops, stakeholder engagement, and port/terminal site visits; Data management and analysis for rural communities, including building local capacity and providing training; Knowledge of state and local grant resources and application requirements, particularly for transportation, port, and economic development projects; Understanding of regional port, inland waterway, and multimodal freight activities in Arkansas and Louisiana. Firms should submit a concise Statement of Qualifications including: firm profile, relevant project experience, key staff resumes, and references for similar corridor, marine highway, or inland waterway/port planning projects. Statements of Qualifications must be received by 2:00 PM CST, Friday, January 9, at: Columbia Port Commission, Attn: Greg Richardson, P.O.Box 367, Columbia La. 71418. Electronic submissions may be sent to: greg@portcolumbia.com A detailed scope of work and evaluation criteria may be obtained from the Columbia Port Commission's Request for Qualification Packet at (318) 594 1657, greg@portcolumbia.com. The Columbia Port Commission reserves the right to reject any and all responses and to waive informalities. Publication Dates LLOU0415778