Project Information

Bid Title

On-Call Planning Services (Comprehensive Plan)

Issuing Agency

Sussex County

Location

Delaware

Published Date

Jan 29, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 27, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

On-Call Planning Services (Comprehensive Plan)

The Sussex County Council seeks multiple firms to provide on-call planning services for a six-year period to assist with the preparation of the County’s Comprehensive Plan update. The anticipated scope of services includes, but is not limited to:

• A 10-year update to the 2019 Sussex County Comprehensive Plan
• Public consultation during the Plan’s preparation
• Consultation with other Government Agencies
• Potential updates to existing Ordinances
• Miscellaneous planning reports and advice

Department:

Planning & Zoning

Bid/RFP Information:

Consultant Information Package - Planning Services (Comprehensive Plan).pdf

Closing Date:

Friday, March 27, 2026 - 3:00pm

Status:

Open

Attachment Preview

Sussex County, Delaware

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

ON- CALL PLANNING SERVICES

(COMPREHENSIVE PLAN)

FOR SUSSEX COUNTY

JANUARY 2026

CONSULTANT INFORMATION PACKAGE

FOR ON-CALL PLANNING SERVICES (COMPREHENSIVE PLAN) IN

SUSSEX COUNTY

CONTENTS:

I. Public Advertisement - Request for Planning Services

II. Instructions for Proposal

III. General Project Information

IV. Required Submittals

V. Insurance Requirements

VI. Contract and Payment Policies

VII. Evaluation and Selection Process

JANUARY 27, 2026:

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REQUEST FOR

ON-CALL PLANNING SERVICES

The Sussex County Council seeks multiple firms to provide on-call planning services for a six-year

period to assist with the preparation of the County’s Comprehensive Plan update. The anticipated

scope of services includes, but is not limited to:

1. A 10-year update to the 2019 Sussex County Comprehensive Plan

2. Public consultation during the Plan’s preparation

3. Consultation with other Government Agencies

4. Potential updates to existing Ordinances

5. Miscellaneous planning reports and advice

All services shall be assigned on an as-needed basis only.

Based on the criteria established, an evaluation committee will be selected to read, screen, and rank

in writing all proposals. The criteria for evaluation include: experience, expertise, capacity to

perform, credentials and certifications, and familiarity with Sussex County. In accordance with 29

Del. C. § 6982, the evaluation committee shall determine that all applicants meet the minimum

qualifications to perform the services. It shall then interview, at a minimum, the highest-ranked firm

and may request a presentation from the firm(s). Interviews and presentations may result in a change

of rank. At any point in the negotiation process, the evaluation committee and the requesting

department may, at its discretion, terminate negotiations with any and all firms.

Sealed proposals will be received by the Sussex County Council, c/o Mr. Jamie Whitehouse,

Planning & Zoning Director, Sussex County Administrative Office Building, 2 The Circle, P.O. Box

589, Georgetown, DE 19947, until 3:00 p.m., local time, on March 27, 2026. To be considered,

proposals must be submitted in writing and respond to the items outlined in this request for proposal

(RFP).

Interested parties must submit six (6) copies of written proposals along with an electronic copy of

the proposal. Proposals will be publicly opened, read aloud, and recording only the name of the

respondent(s). All other information shall be confidential. The award shall be made in writing to

the responsible respondent whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to the County.

The request for proposals may be obtained by visiting Sussex County’s website

www.sussexcountyde.gov/legal-notices/bids or by contacting Mr. Jamie Whitehouse, Planning &

Zoning Director at the Sussex County Administrative Office Building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown,

Delaware, telephone: (302) 855-7878, email: jamie.whitehouse@sussexcountyde.gov. The request

for proposals may be obtained during regular business hours, which are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday. In its sole discretion, Sussex County, Delaware, may extend the time and

place for opening of proposals from that described in the advertisement by providing not less than

two (2) calendar days’ notice, by posting an Addendum on the Sussex County website and by

providing notice thereof by certified delivery, facsimile machine, or other electronic means such as

email, to those potential respondents who obtained copies of the RFP and provided notice thereof

to Mr. Jamie Whitehouse, the email address provided herein.

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Any firms having questions concerning the proposal should submit them in writing via e-mail no

later than 12:00 p.m., February 20, 2026, to Mr. Jamie Whitehouse, Planning and Zoning Director,

at jamie.whitehouse@sussexcountyde.gov.

II. Instructions for Proposals

Each written proposal must be submitted in a sealed envelope, addressed to Mr. Jamie Whitehouse,

Planning & Zoning Director, Sussex County Administrative Office Building, 2 The Circle, P.O. Box

589, Georgetown, DE 19947. Each sealed envelope containing a proposal must be plainly marked

on the outside as “On-Call Planning Services (Comprehensive Plan) RFP” and “Confidential”.

If sent by mail, the sealed envelope should be sent by certified mail and be indicated as received on

the certified receipt prior to the Bid Opening. Late bids will not be accepted. Sussex County may

extend the time and place for opening of bids from that described in the advertisement, by providing

not less than two (2) calendar days’ notice, by posting an Addendum on the Sussex County website

and by providing notice thereof by certified delivery, or other electronic means such as email, to

those potential respondents who obtained copies of the Request for Proposals and provided notice

thereof to Mr. Jamie Whitehouse at the email address provided herein.

Sussex County reserves the right to reject any and all bid proposals, to waive any informalities in

bids received, except with respect to the date, time, and place where the documents are submitted,

to cancel this RFP in whole or in part, to reissue this RFP, and/or to accept or reject items of bids

received. In the event this RFP is canceled in whole or in part prior to the opening of proposals, all

respondents shall receive a notice of cancellation, and all proposals received shall be returned to the

respective respondents unopened.

FAX proposals will not be accepted.

The schedule for procurement is estimated as:

RFP Advertisement

Deadline for Questions

RFP Submittal Deadline

Evaluation and Ranking

Council Actions

February 2, 4, 9,and 11th, 2026

February 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM

March 27, 2026, at 3:00 PM

Approximately 3 Weeks (Including any Presentations)

May 2026

III. General Project Information

The purpose of this Request for Proposal is to select one or multiple firms for a six-year period to

perform planning work for Sussex County’s Planning & Zoning Department, to include a 10-year

update of the Sussex County Comprehensive Plan and potential updates to existing Ordinances.

Sussex County intends to retain ownership of the GIS information, data, documents, reports, and

maps, both electronic and paper, that are generated through work items assigned under the selection.

A. 10-Year Update to the 2019 Comprehensive Plan

Sussex County adopted the current Comprehensive Plan Update in 2019. The update

of the Comprehensive Plan for each County is required by the State of Delaware

under Delaware Code Title 9. The Plan for the unincorporated area of Sussex County

shall be updated in compliance with State law (see Title 9, § 6956) pertaining to

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Comprehensive Plans in the following areas: coordination with the local

municipalities, education, capital improvements plan, future land use, transportation,

utilities, conservation, recreation and open space, housing, community design,

historical preservation, economic development, education, resilience,

intergovernmental coordination and recommendations and implementation of the

plan. There must also be coordination with the Office of State Planning

Coordination, State Agencies, including DelDOT and DNREC, as well as the

numerous municipalities concerning their respective Comprehensive Land Use

Plans. An amendment to the Comprehensive Plan may, depending on the extent of

the amendment, include public outreach and this may require facilitation, scheduling,

coordination and/or organization of the following (by way of example and not

intended to be all-inclusive): outreach avenues, public meetings (including potential

public meetings in each of the five Sussex Councilmanic Districts), workshops,

charrettes, committees, hearings, etc.

B. Updates to Current Ordinances

Sussex County is likely to consider potential updates to existing Ordinances during

a three-year period following the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan Update.

Planning work could include the provision of advice, research, drafting of

Ordinances, facilitating public workshops/workgroups, making presentations, etc.,

on various planning, land use, and zoning topics. Areas of work may include, but are

not limited to: mass rezoning of Sussex County, setbacks, uses within zoning

classifications, the creation of new zoning districts, and potential updates to

requirements within Chapters 99 and 115 of the Code for Sussex County.

IV. Required Submittals

The following items must be submitted with the consultant’s package:

1. A brief letter of interest providing a subjective discussion of your firm’s capabilities to

provide the proposed services in one page or less.

2. Submit descriptive summary and technical information on similar services that your

company has successfully completed within the last five (5) years. Include contact

information for references. Keep all information related to the type of projects described

in this packet.

3. Provide a subjective discussion of your firm’s understanding of the issues facing Sussex

County regarding zoning and future land use, and how they should be addressed.

4. Provide a letter detailing the litigation history of your firm. The letter shall list any

lawsuits or claims that have been filed or asserted against your firm (or any member of

your firm) in the last five (5) years. Please summarize the nature of the claim or suit and

specify the outcome.

5. Prepare a detailed description of any current or recent (within the past five years)

relationships between your firm and any private developers, contractors, builders, or

engineering firms doing work in Sussex County.

6. If used by your firm, submit a current GSA Standard Form (SF) 330 applicable to the

nature of the proposal request, based upon the activities of the consultant’s physical

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541330Engineering Services
• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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