Farm and Food Strategic Plan for Westchester County

The Westchester County Department of Planning seeks a consultant to develop a comprehensive Farm and Food Strategic Plan. This plan will address the agricultural and food systems in Westchester County, focusing on creating a secure and resilient food system. The consultant should have expertise in local agriculture, urban agriculture, food security, land use planning, and GIS analysis. The project involves developing a strategic vision, identifying key focus areas, and creating a fiscal strategy, with additional services including data mapping and partnership frameworks.

Services Requested

The vendor must develop a comprehensive Farm and Food Strategic Plan for Westchester County, addressing the agricultural and food systems with a focus on creating a secure and resilient food system. Key responsibilities include crafting a strategic vision, identifying core focus areas, and developing a fiscal strategy. The vendor must also provide a comprehensive analysis of the local agriculture industry, urban agriculture, and food security, demonstrating expertise in GIS analysis and land use planning. Deliverables include a strategic plan with an executive summary, vision and mission statements, a SWOT analysis, and recommendations with an implementation matrix. Additional services include creating usable graphics and figures for marketing, spatial mapping data, and a framework for partnership coordination. The vendor must also propose the structure of a Westchester County Agriculture and Food Council and outline a fiscal strategy.

Business Requirements

• Knowledge of the unique conditions and issues facing Westchester County agriculture.
• Experience with local agriculture, urban agriculture, food security, land use planning, and GIS analysis.
• Demonstrated knowledge of land use planning practices and laws in New York State.
• Experience working in the New York City metropolitan region and New York State agriculture.
• Knowledge of various types of funding sources, processes, requirements, and time frames.
• Knowledge of state-of-the-art community and urban agricultural programs.
• Understanding of food systems analysis and the link between agriculture and public health.
• Experience in GIS and statistical analysis.
• Compliance with Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
• Ability to hold quoted price for 180 days from the deadline for submitting quotes.
• Appropriate insurance coverage.