Details
07/17/2026
RFP - Hancock County Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Hancock Regional Planning Commission
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Hancock County Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Hancock County, Ohio
Issued by Hancock Regional Planning Commission, on behalf of the Hancock County Board of Commissioners
Issue Date: July, 17th 2026
Proposal Due: July 31st, 2026 – 1:00 PM
Project Budget: Not to exceed $100,000
Anticipated Completion: May 31st, 2027
Submission Format One electronic PDF copy and 5 hard copies
Contact Matt Cordonnier, Director, Hancock Regional Planning Commission
318 Dorney Plaza, Room 304
mcordonnier@findlayohio.gov
419-424-7094
1. Purpose
Hancock County is seeking proposals from qualified planning consultants to prepare a new countywide Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The Plan should provide a practical, easy-to-use guide for future land use, growth, development, infrastructure planning, preservation of agricultural and natural resources, housing, economic development, and implementation priorities.
The final document should be clear enough for elected officials, township officials, local boards, residents, property owners, and developers to understand and use. The County is not looking for an overly technical plan that sits on a shelf. The goal is a realistic plan that helps guide local decisions over the next 10 to 20 years.
2. Hancock County Background
Hancock County is located in northwest Ohio and includes the City of Findlay, multiple villages, and 17 townships. The County includes a mix of urban, suburban, village, agricultural, industrial, commercial, and rural residential areas. The Plan should recognize that different areas of the County have different needs, growth pressures, infrastructure conditions, and land use patterns.
The planning process should also recognize the role of the Hancock Regional Planning Commission, the Hancock County Commissioners, township trustees, villages, the City of Findlay, economic development partners, residents, landowners, agricultural interests, utility providers, and other local stakeholders.
3. Scope of Work
The consultant should propose a simple and effective planning process. At a minimum, the work should include the following tasks:
Project Kickoff and Management: Meet with County staff and the project steering committee to confirm the schedule, public engagement plan, roles, deliverables, and communication expectations. The consultant should provide regular progress updates throughout the project.
Review of Existing Information: Review existing plans, maps, zoning information, land use data, infrastructure information, population and housing data, economic development information, transportation information, farmland and natural resource data, and other relevant studies.
Existing Conditions and Trends: Prepare a concise summary of current conditions and trends affecting Hancock County. This should include population, housing, employment, land use, development patterns, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, natural resources, and community facilities.
Public and Stakeholder Engagement: Develop and carry out a public engagement process that is realistic for a countywide plan. This may include steering committee meetings, township and village outreach, stakeholder interviews, public open houses, online surveys, and coordination with local organizations.
Vision, Goals, and Priorities: Use the public input and data analysis to develop a countywide vision, goals, and priorities. The goals should be practical, specific, and understandable.
Future Land Use Plan: Prepare a future land use plan and map for Hancock County. The map should recognize existing development patterns, infrastructure availability, agricultural preservation, village and township needs, areas appropriate for growth, and areas where development should be limited or carefully managed.
Policy Recommendations: Provide recommendations on land use, housing, economic development, transportation, infrastructure, agriculture, natural resources, recreation/open space, community facilities, and intergovernmental coordination.
Implementation Strategy: Prepare an implementation strategy that identifies recommended actions, responsible parties, general timeframes, potential funding sources, and measurable benchmarks. The implementation section should be easy to track and update over time.
Final Plan and Adoption Support: Prepare draft and final plan documents and assist with presentations to the steering committee, Planning Commission, County Commissioners, and other local bodies as needed.
4. Public Engagement Expectations
The County expects the consultant to recommend an engagement process that is meaningful but not unnecessarily complicated. The proposal should identify the number and type of meetings the consultant recommends. At a minimum, the County expects:
• Regular meetings with County staff and/or the steering committee;
• Outreach to township and village officials;
• Stakeholder interviews or focus groups with major community interests;
• At least two public meetings or open houses;
• An online survey or other method for broad public input;
• A clear summary of public input and how it shaped the Plan.
5. Deliverables
At the completion of the project, all work products shall become the property of Hancock County. Deliverables should include:
• Draft and final Comprehensive Land Use Plan;
• Executive summary suitable for elected officials and the public;
• Future land use map and related GIS files;
• Implementation strategy with measurable benchmarks;
• Public engagement summary;
• Print-ready searchable PDF of the final Plan;
• Editable Word version of the final Plan;
• All supporting digital files, including GIS, Excel, Word, and presentation files;
• PowerPoint presentation summarizing the final Plan.
6. Proposal Requirements
Proposals should be simple and should not exceed 15 pages, excluding resumes, required forms, and sample work. Please organize proposals in the following order:
1. Cover letter;
2. Firm overview and identification of any subcontractors;
3. Project manager and key staff assigned to the project;
4. Relevant experience with countywide, rural, township, village, and Ohio comprehensive plans;
5. Similar projects completed within the last five years;
6. Three professional references;
7. Proposed approach and public engagement process;
8. Proposed schedule;
9. Current workload and ability to complete the project within the proposed schedule;
10. Proposed fee, including a not-to-exceed amount and itemized costs.
7. Anticipated Schedule
RFP Issued: July 17th, 2026
Questions Due: July 20th, 2026
Proposals Due: July 31st, 2026 1:00 PM
Interviews, if needed: NA
Contract Award: August 14th 2026
8. Budget and Payment
The anticipated budget for consultant services is not to exceed $100,000. Proposals should include all labor, travel, materials, meeting expenses, printing, and other costs necessary to complete the project. Payment terms will be negotiated as part of the final contract and may be based on completed tasks, milestones, or monthly progress invoices.
9. Evaluation and Selection
Proposals will be reviewed by County representatives. The County may invite one or more firms for interviews. The County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive minor irregularities, request additional information, and negotiate a final scope and contract with the selected firm.
Proposals will generally be evaluated using the following criteria:
Experience and qualifications of the firm and assigned staff: 25 Points
Understanding of Hancock County and the project needs: 25 Points
Past performance on similar projects: 20 Points
Proposed approach, schedule, and ability to complete the work: 15 Points
References: 10 Points
Cover letter and overall clarity of proposal: 5 Points
100 Points Total
10. Questions and Submittal Instructions
All questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted in writing to the contact listed in Section 1 by the deadline listed in the anticipated schedule. Responses may be shared with all known interested firms.
Proposals must be received by the deadline listed in this RFP. Late proposals may not be considered. All costs associated with preparing and submitting a proposal are the responsibility of the proposer.
11. General Conditions
• The County is not obligated to select the lowest-cost proposal.
• The County may negotiate the final scope, schedule, and fee with the selected consultant.
• The selected consultant shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements associated with the project funding source.
• The selected consultant shall maintain appropriate insurance and provide documentation upon request.
• All final work products shall become the property of Hancock County.
• The above outlined Processes and Deliverable are a general outline; the County is open to differing methods and deliverables based upon the consultants experience and recommendations.
