RFP: CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT REGIONAL STUDY ON BIOECONOMY AND FACILITATE ECOSYSTEM PLAN

Deadline to apply is 5:00 pm Central on May 1, 2024

I. PROJECT OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND

In 2000, the St. Louis Plant and Life Sciences Strategic plan was published after a comprehensive study of the St. Louis metro and regional bioeconomy. The plan served as the blueprint for BioSTL and other regional partners to build world-class research parks, raise venture capital funds, launch a nationally-leading venture development organization, and promote supportive public policies. With the growth of the bioscience innovation ecosystem since the initial study and strategy was developed, BioSTL is seeking to contract with an individual or consulting team (“Consultant”) to conduct another analysis of the St. Louis metro and regional bioeconomy to produce a second iteration of the St. Louis Plant and Life Sciences Strategic Plan for the bioscience innovation ecosystem (“Ecosystem Plan”) This project will grow and evolve the St. Louis bioscience innovation ecosystem and ensure the St. Louis metro thrives as the home to a world-class, wholly-inclusive, and globally connected innovation economy.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

1. SERVICES

Offer a key set of recommendations to drive near-term and long-term, inclusive economic impact by (A) conducting a comprehensive analysis and outline strategic growth recommendations for the bioscience innovation ecosystem and define key sub-cluster strengths within the regional bioeconomy; (B) conducting a comprehensive labor market and workforce analysis and outline strategic growth recommendations for the bioscience innovation ecosystem; (C) conducting an analysis of the regional biomanufacturing industry segment and outline strategic growth recommendations; (D) conducting an analysis of the regional neuroscience industry segment and outline strategic growth recommendations outline strategic recommendations; and (E) conducting an analysis of the regional regenerative agriculture industry segment and outline strategic growth recommendations.

Please submit your capacity, capability, and cost for each component – A, B, C, D, and E. Respondents can also choose to respond to specific components A, B, C, D, and/or E, but proposals must include capacity, capability, and cost for those individual components. This work is being funded through a combination of multiple federal awards and matching dollars. BioSTL, at its discretion, may execute contracts with one or more individuals/firms for subsets or combinations of this work.

1. Conduct an overall analysis and outline strategic growth recommendations for the bioscience innovation ecosystem and define key sub-cluster strengths within the regional bioeconomy.

1. Design study methodology, project timelines, and overall engagement approach inclusive of an analysis of:
   1. St. Louis regional profile (encompassing geography, population, employment, technology infrastructure, incentives, business support and capital, education, entrepreneurship, and quality of life)
   2. St. Louis Bioeconomy (encompassing industry size, composition, jobs and earnings, competencies and specailizations, competitive shifts, venture capital national benchmarks)
   3. St. Louis Bioscience Research and Discovery (encompassing patents, spending, publications, assets, business R&D, core strengths, and university-industry linkages)
2. Conduct analysis inclusive of quantitative and qualitative data
3. Facilitate stakeholder interviews and feedback sessions (inclusive of individual and multi-stakeholder engagement and internal and external audiences) as needed at major study milestones
4. Draft agendas for meetings and support in facilitation of meetings
5. Design and develop relevant communications materials including slide decks and executive summaries

2. Conduct a comprehensive labor market and workforce analysis and outline strategic growth recommendations for the bioscience innovation ecosystem

1. Design study methodlogy, project timelines, and overall engagement approach inclusive of an analysis of:
   1. St. Louis regional education and workforce development profile (encompassing relevant academic and training programs, enrollment and completer data, and institutional information)
   2. St. Louis Bioeconomy Employment Trends (encompassing occupational data, employment trends and projections, top employers, demand, openings, wages and earnings, educational, skills, and competency requirements, worker demographics)
2. Conduct analysis inclusive of quantitative and qualitative data
3. Facilitate stakeholder interviews and feedback sessions (inclusive of individual and multi-stakeholder engagement and internal and external audiences) as needed at major study milestones
4. Draft agendas for meetings and support in facilitation of meetings
5. Design and develop relevant communications materials including slide decks and executive summaries

3. Conduct an analysis of the regional biomanufacturing industry segment and outline strategic growth recommendations

1. Design study methodology, project timelines, and overall engagement approach inclusive of an analysis of:
   1. Sub-cluster analysis of the biomanufacturing segment of the St. Louis Bioeconomy (encompassing industry size, composition, jobs and earnings, competencies and specializations, competitive shifts, venture capital funds, federal, state, and local investments, angel investments, earnings, and national benchmarks) ad St. Louis Research and Discovery (encompassing patents, spending, publications, assets, business R&D, core strengths, and university-industry linkages)
   2. Conduct analysis inclusive of quantitative and qualitative data
   3. Facilitate stakeholder interviews and feedback sessions (inclusive of individual and multi-stakeholder engagement and internal and external audiences) as needed at major study milestones
   4. Draft agendas for meetings and support in facilitation of meetings
   5. Design and develop relevant communications materials including slide decks and executive summaries

4. Conduct an analysis of the regional neuroscience industry segment and outline strategic growth recommendations

1. Design study methodology, project timelines, and overall engagement approach inclusive of an analysis of:

1. Sub-cluster analysis of the neuroscience segment of the St. Louis Bioeconomy (encompassing industry size, composition, jobs and earnings, competencies and specializations, competitive shifts, venture capital funds, federal, state, and local investments, angel investments, earnings, and national benchmarks) ad St. Louis Research and Discovery (encompassing patents, spending, publications, assets, business R&D, core strengths, and university-industry linkages)
2. Conduct analysis inclusive of quantitative and qualitative data
3. Facilitate stakeholder interviews and feedback sessions (inclusive of individual and multi-stakeholder engagement and internal and external audiences) as needed at major study milestones
4. Draft agendas for meetings and support in facilitation of meetings
5. Design and develop relevant communications materials including slide decks and executive summaries

5. Conduct an analysis of the regional regenerative agriculture industry segment and outline strategic growth recommendations

1. Design study methodology, project timelines, and overall engagement approach inclusive of an analysis of:
2. Sub-cluster analysis of the regenerative agriculture segement of the St. Louis Bioeconomy (encompassing industry size, composition, jobs and earnings, competencies and specializations, competitive shifts, venture capital funds, federal, state, and local investments, angel investments, earnings, and national benchmarks) ad St. Louis Research and Discovery (encompassing patents, spending, publications, assets, business R&D, core strengths, and university-industry linkages)
3. Conduct analysis inclusive of quantitative and qualitative data
4. Facilitate stakeholder interviews and feedback sessions (inclusive of individual and multi-stakeholder engagement and internal and external audiences) as needed at major study milestones
5. Draft agendas for meetings and support in facilitation of meetings
6. Design and develop relevant communications materials including slide decks and executive summaries

2. REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES:

1. Project plan and management framework for the study components.
2. Word documents and/or PowerPoint summaries with tables where appropriate.

III. PROPOSAL COMPONENTS

Applicants must provide separate technical and cost proposals.

Technical Proposal: Technical proposals must include the following information in the order specified.

1. A detailed description of Contractor’s approach to providing the requested services in Section II to BioSTL. If an entity with multiple staff, please include the names of each anticipated staff member and the estimated number of hours required of each. For individuals, please include the estimated number of hours required for each.
2. Qualifications narrative describing the assigned staff’s relevant expertise and experience that demonstrates their ability to advise BioSTL and execute the tasks outlined in Section II.
3. Three examples of the assigned staff’s experience within the past five years of executing related projects. Such examples must include a detailed description of project objectives and results, and a reference for each including a telephone number and e-mail address.

Cost Proposal: Contractor must supply a specific, discrete estimation of the total cost of the project – either as a fixed fee or a summation of hourly fees. With an hourly option, please provide the breakdown of hours for each staff member provided in the Contractor’s technical proposal, identify each member’s hourly rates and the total cost for the initial term, and indicate whether staff are employees or contractors. Additionally, identify each anticipated staff member’s hourly rate during potential renewal terms.

IV. SELECTION CRITERIA

Responses to this Request for Proposals (RFP) will be evaluated using the following criteria with the associated weight.

Quality of Contractor’s approach to perform the tasks described in Section II (35%)

Qualifications of Contractor and any applicable assigned staff to perform the tasks described in Section II (25%)

Quality and relevance of the examples (20%)

Cost Proposal – reasonableness of the cost (20%)

V. COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION & EQUITY

BioSTL is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable ecosystem. We encourage submissions from diverse vendors who will bring diverse perspectives to this work, including certified MBEs, WBEs, LGBT-owned businesses, VOBs, and SDVOBs.

VI. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The following terms and conditions apply to all proposals:

1. BioSTL reserves the right to reject any and all proposals submitted; to select one or more responding parties; to void this RFP and the review process and/or terminate negotiations at any time; to select separate responding parties for various components of the scope of services, and to select a final party/parties from among the proposals received in response to this RFP. Additionally, any and all RFP project elements, requirements, and schedules are subject to change and modification. BioSTL also reserves the unqualified right to modify, suspend, or terminate at its sole discretion any and all aspects of this RFP process, to obtain further information from any and all responding parties, and to waive any defects as to form or content of the RFP or any responses by any party.
2. This RFP does not commit BioSTL to award a contract, defray any costs incurred in preparing a response to this RFP, or contract for any services. All submitted responses to this RFP become the property of BioSTL as a record.
3. By accepting this RFP and/or submitting a proposal in response thereto, each responding party agrees for itself, its successors and assigns, to hold BioSTL and its affiliated entities, and all of their various agents, officers, and employees harmless from and against any and all claims and damages of whatever nature or type, which any such responding company, its representatives, agents, contractors, successors or assigns may have against any of them as a result of issuing this RFP, revising this RFP, conducting the selection process and subsequent negotiations, making a final recommendation, selecting a responding party/parties or negotiating or executing an agreement incorporating the commitments of the selected responding party.
4. By submitting responses, each responding party acknowledges having read this RFP in its entirety and agrees to all terms and conditions set out in this RFP.
5. Responses shall be open and valid for a period of ninety (90) days from the due date of this RFP.

VII. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Technical and cost proposals are due no later than May 1, 2024, 5:00 pm CDT by e-mail to Justin Raymundo at jraymundo@biostl.org. Please direct questions and confidential inquiries, in writing, to Justin Raymundo at the email address above. BioSTL may request applicants with the top scores to meet with BioSTL management via video conferencing. If so, BioSTL will notify the selected applicants of the time and date. Furthermore, BioSTL reserves the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to amend or modify any provision of this RFP, or to withdraw this RFP at any time prior to contract award. BioSTL shall not be bound by or liable under this RFP and/or any response thereto until a final written contract has been executed by BioSTL and the grantee incorporating the terms and conditions of the award.